Today's Natural Cure: Knowing Your Food

This article is from  naturalhealth365.com

(NaturalHealth365) According to researchers from Denmark, the conventional advice that type 2 diabetics should restrict fruit consumption is absolutely absurd. The article, published in Nutritional Journal, evaluated the effects that fruit restriction had on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (TDM2) by taking 63 men and women recently diagnosed with TDM2 and randomly split them into two groups that they termed as “high-fruit” and “low-fruit.”

The high-fruit intervention consisted of medical nutrition therapy plus advice to consume at least two pieces of fruit a day, whereas the low-fruit treatment included medical nutrition therapy plus advice to consume no more than two pieces of fruit a day. Researchers determined the following after evaluating 12 weeks of self-reported 3-day fruit records:

• The high-fruit group was compliant with the recommendations and increased fruit intake to an average of 125 grams per day.

• The low-fruit group was also complaint and limited fruit intake to an average of 51 grams per day.

• HbA1C (three month blood glucose average) decreased in both groups with no difference between the groups.

• Body weight and waist circumference were decreased in both groups with no difference between the groups.

From this data, the researchers concluded, “That an advice to restrict fruit intake as part of standard medical nutrition therapy in overweight adults with newly diagnosed TDM2 does not improve glycemic control, body weight or waist circumference. Considering the many possible beneficial effects of fruit, we recommend that fruit intake should not be restricted in T2DM subjects.”

Current standard of care is based off of speculation – not fact

Ignoring the substantial proven benefits of fruit, health care providers historically have had concerns with its sugar content and have, subsequently, recommended that individuals with T2DM restrict their intake to a maximum of two pieces a day.

However, according to the Danish researchers, “Few studies have addressed whether high fruit intake is associated with glycemic control and these have shown either no association or an inverse association between fruit intake and either HbA1C or blood glucose. However, these are all observational studies and none are performed in subjects with T2DM.”

Leading U.S. healthcare providers will not change

Paradoxically, major health care providers like the Mayo Clinic refuse to take heed to the proven anti-inflammatory and cancer killing properties of fruit. According to their website, they advise diabetics to follow American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines dating back to 2011, which restrict fruit consumption to 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

To help put this advice into perspective, the following fruit servings contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates:

• 1/2 medium banana
• 1/2 cup cubed mango
• 3/4 cup cubed pineapple
• 1 1/4 cup whole strawberries
• 1 1/4 cup cubed watermelon

When you take into account the ADA’s recommendation that diabetics should restrict their carb intake to 45-60 grams per meal, you can quickly see how this can be a problem. In essence, the medical community is telling diabetics that they are running a risk of being thrown into a hyperglycemic episode if they eat more than a banana and handful of strawberries worth of carbs in one sitting.

Combat obesity and inactivity with an open mind

It is important to remember that type 2 diabetes is not only readily reversible, it is easily prevented. As it has been proven that the two primary risk factors are obesity and inactivity, it would behoove everyone to take a common sense approach in tackling these two killers.

As stated, fruit restriction is absolutely absurd. However, limiting your intake of all processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and eating an anti-inflammatory diet is a good place to start. Make it a point to remain active.

With over 350 million people affected by T2DM today, our very lives depend on it. Consult with a trusted, natural healthcare provider on how to tweak your daily food and activity plan to best suit your needs.

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Sources:
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/29
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/diabetes-diet
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/AN01691
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/
http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/carb-counting/

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