Turmeric and Type 2 Diabetes

Turmeric is currently being touted as the new super spice of the year. The popular ingredient found in curry is being studied by scientists and researchers worldwide due to the chemical compound curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant found in the common Asian cooking spice. The seasoning has long been used as a natural medicine and supplement. While many are studying curcumin for various cancers, some scientists are focusing on the curcumin for Type 2 diabetes.

The following article outlines a study held by the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center that was recently published in Endocrinology. The researchers fed obese mice high amounts of turmeric and found that the mice had a decrease in body weight, a decrease in liver and fat tissue inflammation, and improved blood sugar levels.

This article speaks with researchers about the study, and their thoughts on curcumin being used as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes due to the study outcome. The study was presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting in San Francisco.


Study Shows Turmeric May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

What is Sugar?

Sugar is a sweet crystalline carbohydrate that is obtained by crystallizing the evaporated juice of certain plants. Sugar can be made from sorghum, beet root, sugar maple, sugar cane, sugar beet, honey and fruit. Sugar is a food carbohydrate and is added to many foods and drinks for its sweet flavor. Too much sugar can cause tooth decay and is also associated with obesity. Sugar enters the blood stream quickly and can cause an unhealthy spike in blood sugar levels, causing and aggravating type 2 diabetes. They are many different types of sugars, though the most common, white table sugar created from sugar cane, is referred to as sucrose and is the most processed and unhealthy of sugars. Fructose is fruit sugar and can be found in fruits, maple syrup and honey. Lactose is the sugar found in milk. Maltose is sugar derived from malted grains such as sorghum and barley. Glucose is found in most root vegetables, as well as fruits, sweet corn and honey.

Veggies and fighting aging

The following article just backs up what we've always been told since we were kids. Eat your veggies. And for good reason. According to the USDA's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, increased veggie consumption can help "ease the effects" of aging in a number of ways, ranging from reducing the risk of various diseases, lessening the severity of certain impairments, and even preserving our cognitive abilities as we age (memory, learning, etc).

As the article states, increased veggie intake can help ward off a number of illnesses that seem to currently run rampant through our society, including hypertension and diabetes, as well as some of the impairments that they, themselves, lead to such as stroke and heart attack.

Personally, none of this is surprising in the least. Veggies add fiber to a diet which helps reduce cholesterol. Veggies are also a great low carb alternative to processed carbohydrate food (type II diabetes) and can be packed with fantastic micronutrients.

The Veggie Factor