Does Your House Contain Asbestos?

This is a question that a lot of people find themselves trying to answer when they look around their own home. Your home is supposed to be a place of warmth, peace and safety. How could your home be dangerous? Is that even possible? How would you know? How much risk are you taking by even being in your home? These are all questions that you are going to want to closely examine in order to make sure that you are doing what is best for you and your loved ones.

One of the first things you are going to want to learn is just when it was that your country government recognized the dangers of asbestos and put regulations or laws in place because of those dangers. For the United States, the use of asbestos building materials was banned in 1977 although many contractors and manufacturers stopped using asbestos materials before that. However, if you have a home that was built between 1930 and 1950, there is a chance that asbestos still remains in there today.

For those in Australia, home build after 1990 are highly unlikely to contain any building materials that contain asbestos. If your home as built between 1980 and 1990, there is a good chance that there can be asbestos found in the materials that were used. Also, if your home was built before the middle of the 1980s, it is extremely likely and almost guaranteed that your home will have some asbestos in it.

If you are in the UK, you might wonder when asbestos was banned in your country. It was not until 1999 that asbestos was banned from being used in machinery, commercial buildings and homes. Because it was not until 1999 that asbestos was banned, it is still widely found in many homes and commercial buildings.

So what can you do if your suspect that there may be asbestos in your home? One of the most important things to do is to educate yourself about asbestos and what kind of harm it can really do to you and your loved ones. The more information you have the better. Without the right knowledge, you might unknowingly put yourself and your family in a great deal of danger.

You will need to hire a professional company that has a great reputation for being able to quickly and accurately test for asbestos. If it is determined that there is indeed asbestos in your home, it is time to examine whether it needs to be immediately removed or not. There are some cases where it is better to leave things as they are. If your home is not falling apart and there is not any asbestos dust floating around, you are probably fine. However, should you ever want to remodel or make repairs, you will again need a professional to assist you with this.

This might seem like a lot to go through, but it is not something that you are going to want to skimp out on. You could be in great danger and you want to make sure that you are getting all of the help that you can until you are safe in your home once again.

Body Detox Cleansing

The process of detoxification helps in healing and protecting the body against diseases, thereby renewing the body’s ability to maintain optimum health. Detoxification as a healing process has been in use since centuries by many cultures, including the Ayurvedic and the Chinese medicine system.

Detoxification is nothing but the process of resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from inside out. By using these natural detoxification options, you’ll help your body eliminate toxins so you can better manage your disease.

This article will explain how to detoxify your body when you have an autoimmune disease. There are toxins in our food and environment more than ever before. If you live with an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s, celiac, lupus, fibromyalgia or similar condition, your body is much more sensitive to toxic load from stress, the environment and your diet.

Chances are your body also has a harder time eliminating these toxins, leaving you tired, drained and irritable. Your body needs this extra attention and care.

It’s important to understand how to detoxify your body when you have an autoimmune disease. A regular routine of detoxification induces mental alertness and renewed energy.

Some doctors will tell you that everyone should go on a detox diet at least once per year in order to maintain a healthy body. They can be found in plastic containers, cookware, shampoos, deodorants, air fresheners, cars, the air we breathe and the food we consume. They’re everywhere. Therefore, more than ever, it is crucial you know how to detoxify your body. We don’t have to look far to notice these toxins.

American diet contains high saturated fat, trans fat, and other harmful substances such as sugar, caffeine, pesticides, additive substances, and less in fruits and vegetables. These types of harmful substances is toxic.

Our body’s detoxifying functions try to get rid of them everyday, when they fail causing disruption of hormone production, damaging our body’s detoxification organs and weakens our immune system resulting in hormone imbalance and many chronic illnesses consequently.

Author Ann Loiuse Gittleman recommends adding pure cranberry juice to your water in the morning and evening to help detox the liver and kidneys. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water from glass containers daily.

Purify the blood, by eliminating all the toxins from the blood and liver and provide the body with healthy nutrients.

Sprouts and greens are very simple and easy to grow at home, in pots or in sprouters. Examples are kale, parsley, silverbeet, rocket, lettuce and wheatgrass. Sprouts and greens may be used in smoothies or salads.

They are powerful packages of antioxidants, proteins and protective phytochemicals such as sulphoraphane which upregulates the genes which code for glutathione detoxification in the cells and in the liver.

Garlic is a super natural food. Besides having proven record in preventing heart diseases, lowering cholesterol level, lowering blood pressure.It will increase the transportation of oxygen and simulate the production of insulin if needed,

Garlic, also contains high amounts of allicin, an antibody that helps to reduce inflammation and fight off degeneration caused by virus, bacteria, Garlic will strengthen our immune system. Sprouts with high detoxification capacity include broccoli sprouts, mustard seed and cress.

Refined sugar is regarded by the body as a poison. A teaspoon of white sugar is sufficient to actually halt the function of billions of white blood cells, while causing the growth of billions of yeasts.

Now think about how much sugar you put in your coffee every day. With that figure in mind, single soda has 7 (SEVEN) teaspoons of this deadly substance and a doughnut has up to 10 (TEN) teaspoons of sugar. Instead, for adults, switch to raw honey.

Avoid plastic cups and drinking containers that can leak BPAs that are toxic, according to the February 2008 “Science Daily. If you’re starting a colon cleansing diet, liver detox program or detox diet, completely eliminate all refined sugar. The sulfur element helps to rejuvenate the body by increasing the function of liver in removing toxins.

Using Steroids – Perfect quantity and dosage matters the most

Celebrities and sportsperson know the golden results of using steroids. However, one can also use anabolic steroids as an alternative to produce equivalent results. The alternative anabolic steroids have an added advantage that they carry a legal status which is acceptable too. One does not need to worry about walking on the wrong side. These steroids can be easily acquired too.

Anabolic alternative steroids are preferred more than the normal steroids. The main reason behind this is that these do not cause any side effects mostly due to androgenic or anabolic beat stress properties. One can also make use of other alternatives like Protein supplements. These dietary supplements have the least number of side effects.

Protein supplements lead to increase in the muscle size. Zinc supplements can be taken naturally also in the form of milk products, nuts, beans, oysters and different seafood. These supple obsessive compulsive disorder ments can also be taken in the form of tablets. This would help in boosting testosterone level in the body. Androstenedione was used as the first legal steroid by athletes. This steroid is pro hormone.

The person who is present in the world of competitive sport or body building would definitely go through the pressure in order to obtain optimal performance. Sometimes players do feel that they surgical weight loss will not be able to reach the peak till the time they consume something artificially to enhance their power through intensive training. The players can boost performance by using anabolic steroids. The active ingredient in steroid is testosterone (which is a main male hormone). This male hormone affects body in 2 ways, either as an androgenic or anabolic influence.

Anabolic action assists in promoting body tissue by enhancing the lean muscle masses & body density. Recent research projects have also shown interesting information in regard to testosterone:

– Testosterone acts directly on muscles.
– It helps in stimulating release of hormone.
– It also carries anti catabolic effect.

Research shows that testosterone is really very effective in building muscles. However, it needs to be consumed in significant amounts and it is always advisable to use steroids after consulting a licensed health practitioner so that the tragic consequences can be averted.

These steroids are not only used by the athletes but also by the boys to reach puberty. Anabolic steroids intend to complete the steroid hormone deficiencies. These are also used by the people suffering from diseases.

Athletes make use of steroid in different cycles, it varies from weeks to months depending on the drug type and the results expected. These steroids can be injected or taken orally. There are different types of steroids and these can be taken in various combinations also. However, this practice can also bring negative results. By using steroids one may also get addicted to these substances even though one may not be able to receive positive results from the drugs. Girls who use steroid may also develop facial hair & get changes in menstrual cycle or also stop their monthly cycle.

Looking for Natural Solutions for High Cholesterol?

Who else wants to find natural way to lower cholesterol? Have you recently had a blood screening only to discover that your cholesterol or triglycerides are too high? This is a common experience as we grow older, and for many who have a rare family tendency for it, (called familial hypercholesterolemia) it may occur in early adulthood.

What is cholesterol risk? Are you confused about cholesterol and what to do about it? Are you reluctant to start taking prescription drugs until you are clear about the options? After hearing recent reports about the dangers of statin drugs, you may be asking how I can lower my triglycerides naturally.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance (a lipid) which is produced by your liver, with a much lesser amount coming from your diet. It is needed by your body to complete multiple functions such as building and maintaining cell membranes, balancing your hormones and manufacturing vitamin D. It is important to remember that the body requires cholesterol.

Rather than trying to rid your body of it, it is wiser to balance the two kinds and to lower your total triglyceride level. The HDL (High Density Lipoproteins or “good cholesterol”) produces hormones that are vital to the functioning of your body. For men, this HDL level should be above 190, and for women, 178. Levels lower than this mean that you may risk having a stroke. Levels that are too low also are associated with increased mortality rates in cancer patients, impotency and dementia. Another negative association is a reduction of serotonin production, which causes depression.

It is LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein or “bad cholesterol”) which causes problems in the circulatory system and can lead to heart disease. This type turns into plaque which lines the blood vessels, causing them to harden and lose flexibility. As a result, this poses a major risk of heart disease, leading to stroke, hardening of the arteries and heart attack.

We are inundated with drug advertizing that may leave you with the impression that prescription drugs are the best answer to the problem of lowering LDL. But a little exploration will show that there are some problems, such as lowering too much cholesterol as well as a depletion of CoQ10, with taking statin drugs. This is essential to remember because the body must have CoQ10 in order for muscles to function. And remember that the heart is a muscle!

So what natural options do you have to lower cholesterol without medication? Some of the biggest causes of high cholesterol and triglyceride levels are obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse and lack of exercise. You can address these with lifestyle changes that include weight loss and abstaining from tobacco and alcohol. Not easy, but certainly with consistent steps and support, they are attainable goals.

There are some dietary changes that you might also consider. We are learning that not all fat should be eliminated from the diet. Lipids are necessary for digestion and body function. Instead, learn to incorporate healthy fats which include olive oil, fish oil and avocados. Eliminate bad fats such as hydrogenated oils (unsaturated fats hardened to make them more solid) often found in margarines. Cooking oils that are hydrogenated (commonly used to cook ‘fast foods’) raise cholesterol levels considerably. The hydrogenation process changes fatty acids into trans-fatty acids and these cause a significant increase in LDLs and a noticeable loss of HDLs. Get in the habit of reading food labels, cook more whole foods, and stop eating fast foods.

Consider taking quality supplements that contain these natural ingredients:

Policosanol

A substance extracted from sugar, rice bran and beeswax that significantly reduces the production of low-density (LDL) cholesterol as well as increasing high-density (HDL) cholesterol -balancing cholesterol levels – via the alcohols it contains. Policosanol also helps to remove plaque from the arteries.

Theaflavins (bioflavanoids)

Produced when green tea ferments, they scavenge radicals to produce antioxidative effects. Theaflavins not only lower LDL cholesterol but also raise HDL cholesterol at the same time.

Lecithin

A natural emulsifying agent that dissolves cholesterol, inhibits its absorption into the gastrointestinal tract and reduces oxidation. Lecithin increases cholesterol oxidation into bile salts, thus helping it to be excreted more easily

Phytosterols

A plant sterol with a similar chemical structure to cholesterol, it reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract by competing for the same space in cellulose molecules.

Rice Bran oil, Oryzanol

The outer grain hull of the rice containing fiber that reduces cholesterol absorption and increases bile acid secretion.

D-Limonene

A non-toxic component of the oil extracted from citrus rind. It is a natural solvent that builds up in the liver, helps to dissolve cholesterol gall stones.

All of the above ingredients are important and most are available to you on the world market, yet none of them will individually address all the multiple causes of high cholesterol. But when they are combined synergistically, along with co-factors and trace elements, then you have the best possible chance of resolving and rebalancing your problem naturally, with no negative side effects. If you want to avoid cholesterol risk, making nutritional and lifestyle changes may be just what you need.

Learn How to Deal with a Snake Bite

Australia is known world wide as the land of milk and honey. We are so fortunate that we have a country of pristine beaches, immaculate rainforests, rolling country sides and, you guessed it, seven of the ten most dangerous snake species in the world. Making our country side one of the most dangerous places you can visit.

Australians are accustomed with living with these deadly creatures, many of which can be found in or around our homes, in gardens or wood piles. Even around my own home in the City of Brisbane these dangerous small creatures lurk and play. We often will walk outside to find something curled up at our front fence.

All though not every snake species is venomous, if you are bitten by a snake you should always treat it as if it was venomous by applying the pressure immobilization technique. Most people in Australia are not familiar with what is venomous and what is not and in the case of a snake bite, applying a pressure immobilisation bandage quickly could mean the difference between dying or just getting sick.

The pressure immobilization technique works by restricting the lymphatic flow beginning at the toes or fingers and work upwards for the whole limb as far as you can go. The Australian Resuscitation Guidelines state that it is preferable to bandage upwards from below the bite, although it will probably squeeze a small amount of venom centrally; it collapses vessels and is far more comfortable.

If you bind down a limb, rather than up the limb, we have a situation in which it will produce venous congestion and discomfort, so always ensure that the pressure the bandage is applied no greater then what you would apply for a sprained ankle, immobilise the limb with splints or slings and bring medical transport to the patient.

In particular ensure that you call an ambulance immediately. In Australia you would dial 000 (triple zero) for an ambulance or in the United States of America you will dial 911.

It is essential that there are some key activities that you do not do and let me be very clear on this:

– do not kill the snake for purpose of identification
– do not cut or excise the bite site
– do not suck the venom from the bite site
– do not use an arterial tourniquet when treating a snake bite
– do not wash or clean the bite site
– do not elevate the bite site
– do not walk the patient
– do not remove the bandage at any stage

Identification of venomous snakes can be made from venom present on the clothing or skin, so do not try and kill the snake for purposes of identification. Doctors use special kits that help in the identification of the venom. All Australian hospitals carry snake anti-venom. You should also be aware that anti-venom is available for all venomous Australian snakes

If you do live in a location where snakes are regularly seen then it is recommended that you have a snake bite bandage available. In our own home, we have one always available on our kitchen counter.

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Cholesterol Truths Revealed

Almost every week in my office, I see a new patient who is on a statin drug prescribed by the patient’s MD for high cholesterol. Of all the drugs that have been prescribed en masse, nothing is more futile than the statin drug. In 2010, the best-selling drug was Lipitor (a brand name statin) with sales of 7.2 billion dollars. So I’d like to start with some basic facts about statins.

What are the criteria then for so many prescriptions? The data from the companies that sell these drugs are very clear and available to the public. However, it can be confusing for the layperson to sort through it all–so I will do my best to translate some of the data for you.

In statistics there is a number used to determine the effectiveness of a medication; this number is known as Number Needed to Treat (NNT). It represents the number of patients who need to be treated in order for one to benefit from the drug. If a drug has an NNT of one, it means that every person who takes the drug receives a beneficial outcome. If it has an NNT of 10, it means you have to treat 10 people for one to have a benefit. The NNT of Lipitor is 100. Another way to say this is that Lipitor has a 99-percent failure rate.

What Lipitor will do is lower your cholesterol. If this is so, why doesn’t it prevent heart disease? The simple answer is that there is no correlation between heart disease and cholesterol. In other words, of the people who have heart attacks, about one-half will have “high” cholesterol and one-half will have normal or low cholesterol.

Cholesterol is not fat; it is a waxy substance of which about 80 percent is made in the liver. It is produced from a molecule called HMG-CoA. Statins poison the enzyme that converts this molecule to cholesterol. They also stop the production of CoQ10, which is an essential part of the production of ATP, the main energy unit of our cells. Ironically, the highest concentration of CoQ10 is in the heart.

Cholesterol is the substance from which all of our steroid hormones (estrogen, testosterone, cortisol etc.) are made. It is also present in every cell membrane. When there is damage to the wall of an artery, cholesterol is sent in to “patch” that damage. Cholesterol itself, however, needs to be transported and the proteins that transport it to and from the cells are known as low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins. (HDL). These are often erroneously referred to as “bad” and “good” cholesterol respectively. LDL is responsible for taking cholesterol from the liver to the tissues, and HDL is responsible for recirculating the HDL from the tissues back to the liver. They are strictly shuttles that take cholesterol to and from tissues. LDL particles, however, come in different sizes and new tests can determine what your LDL particles are made of. They basically fall into two types: large buoyant and small dense. It is the small, dense particles that can get under the lining of your blood vessels and oxidize and cause a plaque to form. The large buoyant particles are too large to get under the lining and do not pose a threat.

Statin drugs do nothing to modulate the size of the particles. This is done through diet alone. And the most offending food, the one that drives those small, dense particles? Sugar. Sugar is the main cause of both increased small LDL particles and increased triglycerides (fat) – not saturated fat. One of the worst things you can do for your heart is to go on a low-fat diet. A low-fat diet is, by definition, a high-carbohydrate diet, which is a recipe for heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes etc.

If your doctor is trying to put you on a statin, or if you are currently on a statin, I would highly recommend that you get the more specific particle testing done. The two labs that we use at our office are the Lipoprotein Particle Profile by Spectracell Laboratories and the VAP Cholesterol test through Quest Diagnostics.

A normal total cholesterol level is between 180 and 250. These numbers in themselves are meaningless because two people can have the exact same numbers but be at completely different risks. A total cholesterol count below 160 becomes problematic because the body doesn’t have enough of the building blocks it needs to maintain cellular health and steroid hormones.

Three Steps to Improve Your Gut Problems Now

Did you know that 75% of your immune system is in your gut? This means that an unhealthy gut leads to dysfunction somewhere elsewhere in your body. You may have already experienced digestive symptoms and discomfort resulting from this dysfunction. When this happens you may run to the pharmacy, your medical doctor, or a nutrition store and describe your symptoms. At all of these places, someone will recommend a product or medication and send you home. After this you may or may not feel better, and if you do, it is usually only for a short period of time. Soon enough, you will go back and try once again. Does this sound familiar? If so, it is time to get to the cause of your discomfort and stop placing a “bandage” on it.

An estimated 100 million people suffer from digestive issues, so if you are suffering, you certainly are not alone. The most common problems are reflux, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and allergies/intolerance/sensitivities to food. The main purpose of the digestive system is to extract nutrients from food, process nutrients small enough to be absorbed, and to eliminate waste products. It is also responsible for protecting your body from invaders such as microbes, toxins, and allergens that you might have encountered.

If your digestive system is out of balance, it may result in serious consequences throughout your entire body causing problems such as anxiety, acne, autoimmune diseases, dementia, food allergies, autism, and chronic fatigue.

If your system is bombarded with antibiotics, a low fiber-high sugar diet, anti-inflammatory drugs, stress, or undetected food allergies, eventually the lining of your gut will break down. This then leads to bacteria, toxins, undigested fat and protein, as well as metabolic waste products being leaked into your blood stream. Ultimately, these things circulating in your body can trigger an autoimmune reaction (your body’s immune system attacking the rest of your body) because it does not recognize these particles and “tags” them as invaders.

It is possible to have gut dysfunction but not have any symptoms associated with it. When our immune system is compromised (has been worn out over time), it can’t express what is going on the body. However, if you consistently feel under the weather while having normal blood lab values, or just can’t lose weight, you may very well have underlying gut dysfunction. The biggest mistake made today is that gut function is rarely evaluated properly by health care providers.

The gut is a powerhouse that aids in health and well-being. It is a necessity to have healthy gut function to experience true health.

Here are the steps that need to be taken to ensure you are on the right path.

Eliminate all potential food allergens
Reduce inflammation
Replenish you gut with healthy bacteria

Masking the discomfort will only temporarily relieve the symptoms. You need to take the steps necessary to remove all foreign particles, reduce inflammation, decrease risk of disease, increase healthy bacteria, and find hidden food allergies. This is absolutely the best way to get on the path to living your life the way you were meant to live it!

Warning Symptoms Of Diabetes In Women

One of the biggest killers in the modern world is diabetes. The major reason behind this is that people suffer from the disease without knowing that something is going wrong within their bodies. This makes the disease remain uncontrolled. Men and women have different body types so both of them suffer differently with diabetes

It is critical for every woman to know about the general symptoms of diabetes. This knowledge can save them from suffering various severe diabetic complications like losing a limb or vision loss. The trademark diabetes symptom in women is recurrent yeast infection. The prime reason behind this is that sugar gets into the urine as it is excess in the bloodstream and the result is yeast infection. Other diabetes symptoms in women include vaginal dryness which results in irritated feelings around the vaginal area.

Not to mention that these diabetes symptoms in women effect the confidence, comfort and their love life. Serious diabetes symptoms include reduced feelings in hand and feet because of poor blood circulation and blurry vision. Diabetes also causes inflammation of the blood vessels and excessive build up of sugar in the bloodstream. This results in difficulty in passing through of blood in blood vessels. This is the prime cause of poor blood circulation as there is not much room left for the blood for efficient circulation. If this poor circulation of blood continues for a period of time the limbs do not get enough blood supply. They start to become numb and finally lose blood at all; this is the time when amputation becomes essential. The symptoms of diabetes for women range from being unpleasant to life threatening; the one most bothersome is never-ending trips to the rest room.

Diabetic women also become increasingly thirsty and they keep on drinking any liquid they can get their hands on, even then their quench is never satisfied. The things become even worse if the woman decides to have regular soda or some juice drink instead of plain water or sugar-free beverage. The regular juice drinks result in further increase in blood sugar levels thus leaving them even more thirsty. The excessive drinking makes bathroom the best friend of women as their body try to flush the excessive sugar out of the body for getting rid of any excessive amount of sugar in the blood stream.

Apart from these symptoms extreme fatigue and tiredness are also the common signs and symptoms of diabetes in women. It is critically important for any woman to seek immediate medical advice if any of the above mentioned symptoms are experienced. One must never feel scared to be diagnosed with diabetes as the diagnosis will lead her to treat and manage the problem. It is advisable not to wait too long to visit the doctor as each passing day can worsen the symptom of diabetes in women.

It is equally important to remember that diabetes is not an end of life; rather it is a kick start of a healthier lifestyle.

Urinary Tract Infection: A Death Alarming Disease

A urinary tract infection is the second among respiratory infections which affects the bladder or urethra and kidneys of human body which plays the vital role to work properly. Urethra which is a tiny tube connects the outside of the body to the bladder to pass urine. In human bodies, either side of the spine that is at the lower abdomen level a pair of kidneys lies. They are in great role to play to remove the excessive and waste water from our blood and help to make out clean the infectious agents, reside into the human body as urine. In our bodies kidneys plays a significant role to control the blood pressure and blood sugar level. Actually, two ureters through which urine passes from kidney to bladder which is mainly to collect and store urine is about 10 inches of length. A sensation will occur into your pelvic region which you have to void as urine when the bladder fills up with urine. UTI is more prone to adults and children. But it does not mean they are totally gratis to catch up of this particular type of disease. About 1 to 2% of children come under the disease of Urinary Tract Infection.

Women get more affected to this disease in comparison to men as they naturally have shorter urethra than men. Infection occurs in the urinary tract system in two possible ways. Bacteria reaches to the upper urinary tract system which generally causes kidney infection, there may be a chances to kidney failure and life threatening situation. But when bacteria reach to the lower urinary tract system due to many unavoidable reasons, there will be a possibility of urethra or bladder damage. If the urinary tract system is affected by simple infection then there will be no problem at all but the infection is complicated then there will be a life threatening situation. Some important symptoms of UTI are given below:

Fever at regular intervals
Chills during day time
Nausea anytime in the day
Vomiting
Other severe symptoms which may indicate an infection
Urine Pressure
Problem in menstrual system

There are several herbal medicines which can cure it completely. It is always suggested to visit a doctor before you make out that it is indeed an infection. Urinary tract infection is considered to be deadly when left untreated. This is the most common thing people think and delay in treating the disease which eventually ends up damaging more than curing it at the first stage itself.

The Glycemic Index and The Glycemic Load

To control Type 2 diabetes, diabetics often eat foods with a low glycemic index and also keep their glycemic load under 100 per day, to keep their blood sugar levels within normal limits. According to several studies, the same technique is likely to be helpful for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes as well.

In September, 2011 the British Journal of Nutrition reported that researchers at the School of Public Health of Soochow University, China, looked at 13 studies dealing with the:

glycemic load (GL),
glycemic index (GI),
the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The results of all 13 studies were put together and analysed as if they were all parts of one large study.

– Participants eating diets with the highest glycemic indexes had a 16 per cent higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than were those with the lowest glycemic indexes.
– Volunteers with the highest glycemic loads had a 20 per cent greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than had those with the lowest glycemic loads.

It was therefore concluded that lowering the intake of foods with high glycemic indexes could help to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

The glycemic index is a measure of how much a given food raises blood sugar levels. Dr. David Jenkins and others at the University of Toronto created the index in 1980-81 while studying what foods are best for people with diabetes. The index is found by measuring blood sugar levels before and after people eat 50 mg of the food. Carbohydrates that are:

rapidly broken down and absorbed cause blood sugar levels to go up rapidly, while those that are
broken down and absorbed more slowly, make for a more even blood sugar level throughout the day.

In general, foods with low amounts of sugar and carbohydrates and high levels of fiber make for a lower GI than those with refined sugar.

The glycemic load is a measure having to do with the GI in 100 grams of a given food. Multiplying the GI by the available carbohydrate in 100 grams of food and multiplying by 100 gives us the GL. Glycemic loads can also be calculated for other amounts of food by multiplying the standard GL for 100 grams of food by the amount of the portion size in grams divided by 100.

Foods with the lowest glycemic load are the ones we’ve always known are good for us. A 120 gram apple, for instance, has a GL of only 6, while apple cake made with sugar has a GL of 13 in only 60 grams. Eighty grams of peas has a GL of only 3. Dried dates have a GL of a whopping 42 in 60 grams, so choose cantaloupe with a GL of only 3 instead.