Link between polished rice intake and diabetes found

By-R.Prasad

Rice is a major source of dietary carbohydrates. But the link between diet, rice in particular, and diabetes has not been studied in great detail till now. A paper published recently in the British Journal of Nutrition shows a clear link between the consumption of white, polished (refined) rice and the prevalence of diabetes.

Every tenth participant of the 2001-02 Phase I CURES (Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study) conducted by Dr. V. Mohan of the Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre in Chennai was chosen for the current study to see for a link between dietary carbohydrate and diabetes. 1,843 people who did not know their diabetes status were selected for the study.

The chosen participants were then tested for diabetes and their food habits were recorded. The risk factors for diabetes such as sedentary lifestyle, age, BMI (body mass index), etc., were adjusted before trying to find a link between the kind/quantity of food consumed and diabetes.

When the food habits of the chosen participants were studied, it became clear that those who consumed more rice (polished and refined) were more likely to have diabetes.

For instance, the study participants were split into four quartiles based on the amount of various food consumed. It was found that people in the lowest quartile consumed about 320 grams per day of rice compared with 516 grams per day by those in the highest quartile.

“What we found was, as the amount of rice consumption increased, the consumption of other food items, like fruits and vegetables, legumes and dairy products became less,” said Dr. Mohan. “We found a link not just between carbohydrate consumption and diabetes but the kind of carbohydrate consumed and its effect,” said Dr. Mohan.

The carbohydrate derived from polished white rice is 66 per cent of the total carbohydrate intake.

“Another interesting finding was that as the increased intake of rice was at the cost of other other food items,” he said. For instance, in the lowest quartile that consumed less rice, the intake of fruits was about 300 grams per day, while fruit consumption in the highest quartile was 233 grams per day. The same trend was observed in the case of other food items.

But the biggest positive link was found in the case of dairy products. Those having the least quantity of dairy products were more likely to have diabetes; those who consumed the most had less chances of having diabetes.

Polished rice

“It is not that our eating habits have changed in the recent past. Our fathers and grandfathers had also consumed rice. But the kind of rice they consumed and what we consume today are totally different,” he said.

The rice that we get today is the highly refined and polished variety. “The more polished the rice, the more glycaemic index (GI) it would have,” he said. The GI indicates the glucose-raising effect of a food.

Polishing removes the bran and the germ. While the bran contains fibre, protein and vitamin B-complex; polished rice has only starch, which is nothing but carbohydrate.

According to Dr. Mohan, rice used to be 2 per cent polished earlier; now it is polished to 8 per cent -10 per cent.

The only good news is that increased consumer awareness of the ill-effects of various food items has made many companies produce healthier food products. Rice that is relatively less polished is now available in the market. Similarly, many products made from whole-wheat are available.

Courtessy-the hindu

Nutrition Update

Should India Use Commercially Produced Ready To Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) For Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) ?
vandana prasad, radha holla, arun gupta

Abstract

Globally, nearly 20 million children under five suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), a condition which contributes to one million child deaths annually. In India 48% of children under five years of age are stunted and 43 percent are underweight; almost 8 million suffer from SAM. Malnutrition is not a new problem in India, nor is SAM. Several hospitals and non-government organizations are engaged in community-based management of malnutrition using locally produced/procured and locally processed foods along with intensive nutrition education. These programs enable parents to meet the nutritional requirements of their children with foods that are available at low cost. The Supreme Court of India has also directed the government to universalize the Integrated Child Development Scheme and provide one hot cooked meal to children under six years of age to supplement their nutrition.
The blame for the increasing number of severely malnourish children can be laid at the door of policies that have destroyed poor people’s access to food. Nonetheless, there is urgent need to ensure that these children do not die; that they recover and maintain a healthy nutritional status. The current thinking – that a centrally produced and processed Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) should supplant the locally prepared indigenous foods in treatment of SAM – ignores the multiple causes of malnutrition and destroys the diversity of potential solutions based on locally available foods. This position paper has been drafted by Dr. Vandana Prasad, Radha Holla and Dr. Arun Gupta, members of the Working Group for Children Under Six – a joint effort of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (People’s Health Movement – India) and the Right to Food Campaign which been advocating for the last three years with the Indian government for decentralized and community-based strategies to combat and prevent malnutrition in children.


Editorial Offices:
Department of Family and Social Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, New York, 10461

Grape Seed Extract May Help Neurodegenerative Diseases

Tauopathies—a group of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease—have been linked to the build-up of "misfolded" tau proteins in the brain. (Tau proteins are associated with microtubules, which help to regulate important cellular processes.) In light of previous studies indicating that grape-derived polyphenols may inhibit protein misfolding, an NCCAM-funded research center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine recently examined the potential role of a particular grape seed polyphenol extract (GSPE) in preventing and treating tau-associated neurodegenerative disorders.

The results of their in vitro study showed that GSPE is capable of interfering with the generation of tau protein aggregates and also disassociating preformed aggregates, suggesting that GSPE may affect processes critical to the onset and progression of neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunctions in tauopathies.

An earlier study by the Mount Sinai researchers found that this GSPE reduced Alzheimer's-type neuropathology and cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and inhibited an Alzheimer's-linked process called cerebral amyloid deposition. In another recent study, the researchers used a variety of analytical techniques to further clarify how the GSPE affects Alzheimer's-related processes; an important finding was the extract's protective effects against cellular toxicity.

The researchers concluded that their laboratory findings, together with indications that this GSPE is likely to be safe and well-tolerated in people, support its development and testing as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

FOODS THAT PROTECT EYESIGHT

Glaucoma. Just one serving a month of kale or collard greens or more than two servings of carrots a week reduced the risk of glaucoma by more than 60 percent in a UCLA study of 1,000 women. Scientists believe that high levels of vitamin A and other antioxidants in these veggies help protect crucial cells in the optic nerve.

Cataracts. Adults who regularly drink orange juice and also include C-rich foods such as red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli in their daily diet are 45 percent less likely to develop cataracts, according to new research from Australia. Vitamin C may help counteract the lens-clouding effects of light and heat.

Macular degeneration. Eating oatmeal, high-fiber cereals, and whole-grain breads cuts the risk of macular degeneration by about 39 percent, shows a recent study. Complex carbs prevent blood sugar swings that can damage delicate cells in the center of the retina.
From Reader's Digest -

Watchdog warns over apricot seeds

Some claim apricot seeds can cure cancer.Apricot stones sold for health benefits could be fatal in high doses, the food safety watchdog has warned.

Apricot kernels are thought to contain high levels of vitamin B17, which is described as an immune system booster and even sold as a cancer treatment. But the Food Standards Agency said they also produce cyanide and can be poisonous in high doses.

It is now recommending that people consume no more than two bitter apricot kernels in a single day.

An FSA spokesman said there were reports from overseas of "very serious health effects" being associated with the consumption of 20 to 30 kernels in a short period of time.

He added: "They could be potentially lethal in high enough doses."

If simply eating apricot seeds could cure cancer, no one would be more delighted than us

Cancer Research UK
Natural food retailer Julian Graves was selling packs with a recommended daily dose of 10 kernels and has since pulled them from its shelves.

It said it had begun selling the apricot kernels due to customer demand and would do so again with a revised recommended dosage if the food watchdog gave it permission.

The seeds however are also available through specialist websites.

Cancer Research UK says of vitamin B17: "According to claims made on the Internet, this substance found in apricot pips is a highly active compound that can cure cancer.

"Unfortunately this is simply not true. The whole reason for the existence of Cancer Research UK is to find cures for cancers.

"If simply eating apricot seeds could cure cancer, no one would be more delighted than us."

Nutrion Update

THE DIETARY MANAGEMENT of PEPTIC ULCER and ULCERATIVE COLITIS
STEWART WOLF M.D.
Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Okla



Evidence is presented which suggests that settings of anxiety and tension can nullify the beneficial effects of a high fat meal on gastric acidity and motility. One should not count very heavily on the inhibitory effects of diet in peptic ulcer when the stomach is under stimulation from stressful situations in the patient's daily life. There is also a great need to study the true effects of certain so-called irritating foods, condiments, and chemicals on the stomach. In a fistulous subject, the direct application of commonly accepted irritants produced fewer and lesser changes in the stomach than on the skin.

Similarly, the colon in ulcerative colitis responds more violently to certain situational stimuli than to foods and fecal contents.

Courtessy: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JUICES FOR QUICK REJUVINATION

Fruit and vegetable juices supply the body with all the essential minerals and vitamins which is easily digested, absorbed and quickly assimilated.This property is useful in the debilitating condition and weak digestive system.

There are various organic compounds of highly complex chemical structure that exists as vegetable amino-acid compounds which act similar to some of the body secretions & hormones.There are other compounds that have enzyme properties and they act as fements in the digestive process.

Thus fruit and vegetable juices are distinct and incomparable and aid in the reconstruction and rejuvination of human organism.


HINTS ON MAKING JUICES:

While juicing we should get all the juice as some of the richest minerals come out from the toughest fibers.To put the mush through extractor second time can serve the purpose.

No other source supplies so much vit c as fruits and vegetables and the vit c is lost when subjected to heat.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF TAKING JUICES:

Fruit juices are cleansors of human system and vegetable juices are builders and regenerators of body.

Initial course of raw juice intake may cause some physical disturbance, in the course of starting the cleansing process there may be aches and pain in the region where cleansing is taking place, at times there may be inclination to vomiting.They show cleansing and healing process is well on its way.

JUICES FOR SPECIFIC DISORDERS:

ACIDOSIS:
spinach, beet, carrot, peach, pear, tomato, orange, grape, lettuce

ACNE:
carrot & spinach, cucumber, grapefruit

ANAEMIA:
carrot & spinach, carrot & beet, lettuce, apple, peach, raisins, grape, orange, prune, fig

APPENDICITIS:
carrot, cucumber

LOSS OF APETITE:
apple, grapefruit,radish

ARTHRITIS:
cucumber, carrot, spinach, tomato, orange, lemon, apple, pomegranate

ASTHMA:
carrot & spinach, raisins, apricot, lemon, pineapple, orange, pear, peach

BLOOD BUILDER:
spinach, carrot, beet, pomegranate,grape

BLOOD PURIFIER:
cabbage, beet, tomato, plum, carrot, orange, lemon, pomegranate, apple, peach

HYPERTENTION:
cucumber, raisin, grapefruit, lemon, orange, peach, pear, pineapple

HYPOTENTION:
beet, grape, pomegranate

BOIL &CARBUNCLE:
carrot & spinach, carrot &cucumber, carrot

BRONCHITIS:
carrot, orange, grape, lemon, pineapple

CANCEROUS CONDITION:
carrot, raisins

DIABETESE:
carrot & spinach, cabbage, orange

WORMS:
apricot, pomegranate

Vit-C SLOWS GROWTH OF CANCER

An injection of a high dose of vitamin C may be able to hold back the advance of cancers, US scientists claim.

The vitamin may start a destructive chain reaction within the cancer cell, they add.

The jab halved the size of brain, ovarian and pancreatic tumours in mice, reported the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

However, Cancer Research UK said other studies suggested large vitamin C doses may interfere with cancer treatment.

This is encouraging work but it's at a very early stage because it involves cells grown in the lab and mice

Dr Alison Ross
Cancer Research UK

Earlier research by the team at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland had suggested that the vitamin, also called ascorbate, could kill cancer cells in the laboratory.

After these successful tests in mice, they are now suggesting that the treatment be considered for human use at similar levels.

The dose they employed - up to four grams per kilo of bodyweight - was far greater than any that could be achieved using diet or vitamin pills, as the digestive system does not absorb more than a fixed amount taken orally.

The mice were bred to have malfunctioning immune systems, then injected with human cancer cells, which as a result, grew quickly into large tumours. The vitamin was then injected into their abdominal cavity.

Tumour growth and weight fell by between 41% and 53%, and while in untreated mice, the disease spread rapidly to involve other body parts, no such spread was seen in the vitamin C-treated animals.

The researchers wrote: "These pre-clinical data provide the first firm basis for advancing pharmacologic ascorbate in cancer treatment in humans."

Peroxide bomb

The treatment works because a tumour cell is chemically different to a healthy cell.

The vitamin C reacts with this chemical make-up, producing enough hydrogen peroxide to kill the cell, while leaving healthy cells unscathed.

However, Dr Alison Ross, from Cancer Research UK said that much more work would have to be done to see if vitamin C could be a viable treatment.

"This is encouraging work but it's at a very early stage because it involves cells grown in the lab and mice.

"There is currently no evidence from clinical trials in humans that injecting or consuming vitamin C is an effective way to treat cancer.

"Some research even suggests that high doses of antioxidants can make cancer treatment less effective, reducing the benefits of radiotherapy and chemotherapy."

BROCCOLI HEALS

Broccoli may undo diabetes damage


Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests.

A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane.

It encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.

Brassica vegetables such as broccoli have previously been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes

Professor Paul Thornalley
University of Warwick

People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes; both are linked to damaged blood vessels.

The Warwick team, whose work is reported in the journal Diabetes, tested the effects of sulforaphane on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), which are associated with diabetes.

They recorded a 73% reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells.

The researchers also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes.

Countering vascular disease

Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley said: "Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.

"In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will."

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, stressed that research carried out on cells in the lab was a long way from the real life situation.

However, he said: "It is encouraging to see that Professor Thornalley and his team have identified a potentially important substance that may protect and repair blood vessels from the damaging effects of diabetes.

"It also may help add some scientific weight to the argument that eating broccoli is good for you."




Broccoli chemical's cancer check


Scientists have been looking at why vegetables like broccoli could protect against cancer.

A chemical in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can boost DNA repair in cells and may stop them becoming cancerous, a study says.
Another chemical in soy also performs the same role, the Georgetown University team said.

Although a link has already been found between eating these foods and a reduced cancer risk, this research shows how that might happen.

The research is published in the British Journal of Cancer.

It is now clear that the function of crucial cancer genes can be influenced by compounds in the things we eat

Professor Eliot Rosen, Georgetown University

Vegetables such as broccoli were found to contain a compound called I3C.

And a chemical called genistein found in soy beans.

The repair proteins, regulated by genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, are important for preventing damaged genetic information being passed on to the next generation of cells.

If people have a faulty BRCA gene they are at a higher risk of developing some forms of cancer, including breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Low amounts of the BRCA proteins are seen in cancer cells, so the scientists propose higher levels might prevent cancer developing.

Researchers suggest the ability of I3C and genistein to boost the amount of BRCA proteins could explain their protective effects.

'Clear process'

Professor Eliot Rosen, who led the research, said: "Studies that monitor people's diets and their health have found links between certain types of food and cancer risk.

"However, before we can say a food protects against cancer, we have to understand how it does this at a molecular level."

He added: "It is now clear that the function of crucial cancer genes can be influenced by compounds in the things we eat.

"Our findings suggest a clear molecular process that would explain the connection between diet and cancer prevention."

Professor John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK, which owns the British Journal of Cancer, said: "Diet's role in cancer prevention is complex.

"This research explores an interesting hypothesis as to how certain components of diet can affect cancer risk.

"The evidence is building that these chemical compounds act on some of the genes inside cells that help prevent cancer developing."

But he added: "We still don't know if this is exactly how these chemicals might act in every day life."

However he said it had been established that eating a balanced diet, which was high in fibre plus plenty of fruit and vegetables, lowered the risks of developing many forms of cancer.

COURTESY BBC Health -Medical notes.

Facts and Myths about free Radicals.

Few "Free Radicals" donot create any nuisance but in excess may cause major threat to our Immune System and entire metabolic function of the body. Polluted environment, excessive exercise, stress, radiation, smog, Pesticide, Herbicide, Junk food,Ultra-voilet radiation from Sunlight,excessive medication, accumulation of toxins in body,smoking and Alcoholism promote production of free radicals in excess.

As we grow old or whenever cells donot get adequate nutrition, production of natural anti-oxidants gets reduced which in turn helps free radicals to cause damage.

ANTI-OXIDANTS

Food nutrients are anti-oxidants. These have ability to release extra Hydrogen Electron to free radicals, thus neutralize them and produce "Stable Molecules". Cu,Zn,Mn,Se, Vit--A,B,C,E and Bioflavinoids help in re-inforcing the chemical reaction of the anti-oxidants against free radicals.

Few Important Bioflavinoids are--
1. Quercetin--Its found in fruits and vegetables and have positive effect in lessening the side effects of Radiation therapy, Diabetic complications and Arrhythmias.

2.Hesperidins--Its found in "Oranges" which increases capillary resistance in patients with capillary fragility,anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

3.Naringin-Its found in "Grapes" protects against Alcoholic ulceration.

4.Promthocyanidin--This is found in Grape seed extract and improves functioning of capillaries.