Diabetes Study: Fasting Restores Pancreas Function
A study recently published in the journal Cell revealed a potential breakthrough in diabetes treatment. According to researchers, a type of fasting diet may help trigger the pancreas to regenerate. People with diabetes should not modify their diet or treatment without talking to their health care providers.
In animal studies, subjects were given a fast-mimicking dietlow-calorie, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is high in unsaturated-fat diet, similar to a vegan diet with soups and nutsfor five days, followed by 25 days of unlimited eating, mimicking periods of famine and feast. The research showed this type of diet helped regenerate special cells in the pancreas called beta cells.
Normally, beta cells detect blood sugar levels and release the hormone insulin if glucose levels get too high. In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, however, these cells do not function properly. More research is needed to determine if this type of diet can be used to effectively and safely treat diabetes.
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Sourced from: BBC
A recent study showed a connection between high blood glucose levelshyperglycemiaand Alzheimers disease risk. Researchers in Australia discovered a molecular link between glucose and Alzheimersspecifically that high blood sugar can damage an important enzyme involved in brain inflammation in the early stages of Alzheimers disease.
Hyperglycemia is characteristic of both diabetes and obesity. Earlier research proved that people with diabetes are at increased risk for Alzheimers diseasea condition in which abnormal proteins accumulate in the brain and form plaques and tanglesand that blood glucose and its byproducts damage cell proteins through a process known as glycation.
In this recent study, scientists determined that glycation damages macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) enzymes in early Alzheimers. According to researchers, we now have yet another reason to limit the amount of sugar in our diets.
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Sourced from: FOX News
Living in an area with plenty of trees, bushes, and birdswhether in a rural, suburban, or urban neighborhoodcan be good for your mental health and well-being, according to a recent study. Researchers in Great Britain found that people who can watch birds from their homes have a lower risk for depression, stress, and anxiety than those who live in areas with limited bird activity. The study also showed that people report higher levels of depression and anxiety when they have to spend more time than usual indoors over a given period of time.
Specifically, researchers determined that the more birds people could watch during the afternoon hours, the less stressed they were likely to be. The study, which included many types of birdsincluding robins, crows, and othersand didnt show a correlation between bird species and mental health.
The benefits of bird watching were consistenteven when the researchers controlled for other factors like household income, age, and other socio-demographic factors. In general, watching birds was shown to help people relax and feel more connected to nature.
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Sourced from: ScienceDaily
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Diabetes Study: Fasting Restores Pancreas Function - HealthCentral.com
