Happy Thanksgiving!

In the United States, about one in ten people have diabetes. About 90-95% of those people have Type 2 Diabetes, which means they develop it later in life rather than as children, who are considered Type 1 Diabetics. According to the National Institutes of Health, that amounts to about 38.4 million Americans with Type 2 Diabetes.

That’s a lot of people! But now there is good news for these people. Huey Freeman, writing for The Epoch Times, tells us there is new information that suggests a low carbohydrate diet can make a real difference in their lives.

Freeman says, “Type 2 diabetes patients who went on a low-carbohydrate diet saw their insulin production double, potentially eliminating their need for medication, according to a new study published on October 22 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.”

Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells become less effective. Insulin is needed to regulate blood sugar levels, and when there is not enough being produced, blood sugar levels rise, causing various diseases linked to Type 2 diabetes.

No conventional drug for Type 2 diabetes has been shown to improve beta cells’ immediate insulin secretion. Beta cell function usually declines despite treatment with anti-hyperglycemic agents, the researchers wrote in the study.

“This study shows people with type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta-cells, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication,” Barbara Gower, lead author and professor of nutritional science at the University of Alabama–Birmingham, said in a statement. “People with mild type 2 diabetes who reduce their carbohydrate intake may be able to discontinue medication and enjoy eating meals and snacks that are higher in protein and meet their energy needs.”

Carbohydrates are converted into sugars in the liver. That means a high carbohydrate diet produces more sugar which increases the burden on the pancreas to produce insulin to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. A low-carb diet reduces the demand on the pancreas to produce insulin, which is in low supply in diabetics.

Insulin Production Doubled

Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial with 57 Type 2 diabetes patients who weren’t using insulin treatments. The trial was designed to determine whether a change in diet alone would affect the beta cell function in people with Type 2 diabetes.

After discontinuing participants’ medications for one to two weeks, researchers divided participants into two groups: a low-carb group eating 9 percent carbohydrates and 65 percent fat and a high-carb group eating 55 percent carbohydrates and 20 percent fat.

After 12 weeks, participants whose diet was low in carbohydrates experienced a twofold increase in activity in the insulin-producing cells. Those served the higher-carbohydrate meals had a 32 percent increase in beta cell activity.

The researchers concluded that a carbohydrate-restricted diet “has beneficial effects on [beta cell] function in patients with mild [Type 2 diabetes]. ”The new research could be very beneficial for diabetes patients, Dr. Jason Fung, a physician and the author of “The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally,” told The Epoch Times.

“People with Type 2 diabetes need to know that a dietary intervention, reducing carbohydrates, has the potential to reverse their disease without the need for medication,” Fung wrote in an email. While medication can help manage Type 2 diabetes, it cannot reverse the condition on its own, as it does not address its root cause: diet, according to Fung.

Improved Beta Cell Activity May Halt Diabetes Progression

Beta cells’ insulin secretion immediately after meals, known as first-phase secretion, is important in removing excess glucose from the blood.

The researchers noted that inadequate first-phase secretion leads to high blood sugar levels, which initiates the development of Type 2 diabetes. The study showed that low-carb dietary interventions could increase beta cell activity, suggesting that this dietary approach may be able to stop diabetes before it takes hold. “This result reinforces the results of many other studies that showed the same thing: that reducing carbohydrates could reverse Type 2 diabetes,” Fung said.

This is great news for diabetics and for older adults who may yet develop diabetes. This should be very comforting as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving!

When I was in college, I took a course in Genetics. I clearly remember a trick question on the mid-term exam: What is a safe level of radiation? The correct answer was zero! There is no such thing as a safe level of radiation.

If you asked most people a similar question about alcohol, they probably would say “One beer, or one glass of wine.” Even the Bible says “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” (I Timothy 5:23)

But George Citroner, writing for The Epoch Times, tells us there is a new study challenging the long-held beliefs about alcohol and brain health. He says, “There may be no safe amount to drink if you want to protect your mind from dementia. Researchers have uncovered evidence that the comforting notion that light to moderate drinking can provide cognitive benefits may not be true. The research directly links alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing dementia.”

Projected estimates indicate that worldwide, the number of people living with dementia could balloon from more than 57 million in 2019 to nearly 153 million by 2050. This trend points to an urgent need for effective prevention strategies, particularly as research continues to elucidate the complexities of known modifiable risk factors for the condition, such as alcohol consumption. Research published this month in eClinicalMedicine found that increased predicted alcohol consumption based on genetic factors is positively linked with a greater risk of developing dementia among current drinkers.

The findings cast doubt on the idea that any level of alcohol consumption is safe for dementia prevention. While heavy drinking is a well-established risk factor for dementia, whether there is a similar association between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and dementia has remained a subject of debate.

Past studies often contained biases, such as “abstainer bias” in which nondrinkers tended to be compared with drinkers who may enjoy better health or cognitive function, skewing the results. These analyses sometimes didn’t account for cognitive decline occurring before the study or interactions with pre-existing health conditions.

Claire Sexton, senior director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association, told The Epoch Times that there remains some debate regarding the impact of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption. According to Sexton, some studies suggest that “among adults at midlife and older, light to moderate drinking may be associated with lower risk of cognitive decline compared with not drinking.” At the same time, she said, other studies show that “moderate levels of alcohol may be associated with adverse brain outcomes, including lower hippocampal volumes.”

Is there a genetic predisposition to drinking?

The findings of this recent study indicated that individuals possessing genes associated with greater alcohol consumption were more likely to develop dementia, particularly women. According to researchers, this suggests that alcohol may have a direct role in elevating dementia risk, especially among those who consume higher amounts. In men, the risks of alcohol may be masked by other associated risk factors, such as smoking.

The study concluded that a linear relationship exists between alcohol intake and the likelihood of developing dementia, which contradicts prior epidemiological findings suggesting that moderate alcohol intake conferred protective benefits.

“This study reports that higher levels of current alcohol consumption were linked with increased incidence of dementia among current drinkers, and found no ‘safe’ level of alcohol consumption,” Sexton said.

Dr. Asish Gulati, a board-certified neurologist affiliated with George Washington University Hospital in Washington, told The Epoch Times in an email that alcohol can significantly affect brain health, “particularly in areas responsible for memory and cognition.” “Research shows that the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to alcohol, and even moderate consumption can lead to its shrinkage,” she said.

“Additionally, alcohol use can contribute to overall brain shrinkage and disrupt white matter integrity, which affects brain function.” Gulati said that long-term drinking is associated with various cognitive impairments, including difficulties with learning, memory recall, and executive functioning. “The negative effects of alcohol on brain health are profound, highlighting the importance of moderation and abstinence and awareness of its potential consequences,” she said.

However, ceasing alcohol consumption and adopting a healthy lifestyle can promote recovery. According to Gulati, neurogenesis, or the formation of new neurons, can occur, particularly in the hippocampus, and this can lead to improvements in cognitive functions. “Though complete recovery may not be possible,” she said, “significant benefits can arise from lifestyle changes and abstaining from alcohol.”

“The current study found a positive linear relationship between any level of alcohol consumption and dementia risk,” Gulati said. “While the focus on current drinkers of white British descent may limit the generalizability of the findings, the results underscore the necessity for increased caution regarding any alcohol intake due to its potential detrimental effects on cognitive health.”

Makes you think twice about that beer you were looking forward to drinking!

In Part I of this series, we learned that your mattress may be the source of your pains, especially in your low back. A firmer and newer mattress may be the solution.

But there are other threats to your health in your mattress. In Part II we will discuss these other threats. Flora Zhao, writing in The Epoch Times, tells us many people with unexplained symptoms simply need to replace their mattress. What are these threats?

Dust Mites and Allergens

An old mattress not only compromises support for your body, but can also lead to other problems. For example, dust mites can thrive in an old mattress. Human skin renews itself constantly, shedding an average of 1.5 grams of dead skin cells each day. This amounts to roughly 1.1 pounds of skin flakes annually, most of which become “house dust.”

The continuous shedding and accumulation of skin cells in the environment is not a problem in and of itself. The real problem is that these skin cells serve as food for dust mites. Old mattresses often harbor large populations of these mites. They are microscopic, measuring about 0.4 millimeters in length, and invisible to the naked eye. They thrive in warm, humid conditions with ample food, which means mattresses are their ideal habitat.

Dust mites carry various allergens in their droppings, exoskeletons, and eggs. More than 20 known mite-related allergens can trigger allergic reactions and contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. One study found that approximately half of U.S. households have dust allergen levels at or above the presumed allergy sensitization level (more than 2 micrograms per gram of dust). Dust mite allergens at levels exceeding 10 micrograms per gram (µg/g) of dust are considered likely to induce allergic symptoms. A study conducted on mattresses in a dormitory for hospital staff in Thailand showed that after nine months of regular use, the average dust mite allergen level in sponge-like polyurethane mattresses increased to 11.2 µg/g of dust. After 12 months, this level had doubled.

The type of mattress can also influence dust mite density. An early study conducted by Norwegian scientists on more than 100 mattresses found that foam mattresses were about three times more likely to harbor dust mite droppings than spring mattresses, and foam mattresses without covers were five times more likely to have them. Researchers in Brazil found that dust collected from the lower surface of mattresses was significantly more infested with dust mites than the upper surface—3.5 times more.

These microorganisms can cause a range of symptoms, including headache, fatigue, chest tightness, coughing, asthma, allergies, eye and nasal irritation, rashes, and muscle pain. For individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease, bacteria can infect the lungs, potentially leading to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Bacterial growth in mattresses has also been linked with some cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Flame Retardants

Since the 1970s, regulations have mandated the addition of flame retardants to consumer products. These substances are known for their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. From 2004 to 2017, regulatory controls on these chemicals were gradually included in the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty that protects people from persistent organic pollutants. Today, many of the controversial flame retardants have been phased out in most countries.

However, households may still be using mattresses containing these potentially hazardous substances. Flame retardants typically constitute about 3 percent to 7 percent of the weight in polyurethane foam. Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission approved a petition in 2017 to stop requiring flame retardants, it will take years to eliminate these toxic substances from household environments.

A 2022 study showed that mattress covers were found to contain flame retardants despite certifications for the foam. In four newly purchased mattress covers tested by researchers, two contained more than 50 percent fiberglass—a common flame retardant used in mattresses—in the inner layers. The fiberglass fragments, ranging from 30 to 50 micrometers in diameter, could be inhaled into the nose, mouth, and throat. Some materials, like natural rubber and wool, are naturally flame-resistant. Opting for mattresses made from these materials can help minimize exposure to flame retardants.

In summary, your mattress may be the source of your back pain, your insomnia, headaches, fatigue, chest tightness, coughing, asthma, allergies, eye and nasal irritation, rashes, and muscle pain. Although mattress warranties may be for 20 years or more, replacing your mattress sooner may solve some of these problems.