MEDITERRANEAN DIET MAY WARD OFF TYPE 2 DIABETES
July 3rd, 2008
The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in animal products, may protect against developing type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.
The diet is often recommended as a way to protect against cardiovascular disease, but whether it protects against diabetes hasn’t been determined. The diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, olive oil, cereals, nuts, fish, and legumes, and deemphasizes meat and dairy products. Consumption of the Mediterranean diet is believed to aid in the prevention of several diseases while supporting general good health.
For the study, published online in the British Medical Journal, researchers tracked the diets of 13,380 Spanish university graduates with no history of diabetes. Study participants filled out a food questionnaire which measured their diet, their cooking methods and their use of dietary supplements.
During follow-up averaging 4.4 years, the research team discovered that individuals who adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Strict diet adherents reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 83 percent.
The researchers suggested that one key factor that might be responsible for the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet is its emphasis on olive oil. “Our study suggests that substantial protection against diabetes can be obtained with the traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes, and fish but relatively low in meat and dairy products,” the researchers concluded. Several previous studies have shown an association of the Mediterranean diet with improved general health.
Diabetes can also be effectively treated with acupuncture by decreasing blood sugar levels and reconciling health imbalances a diabetic individual presents with. For individuals with diabetes who experience side effects due to allopathic medications, acupuncture provides a safe and effective therapy. Acupuncture may be utilized as a stand-alone therapy, but can also be effectively integrated into conventional diabetes programs. When acupuncture is utilized as an adjunct therapy in an allopathic diabetes program, it often combines use of conventional diabetes medications, acupuncture for diabetes and Chinese herbal formulas.
Chinese herbal formulas are a component of TCM diabetes treatment and are tailored to each individual’s specific diagnosis. Chinese herbal formulas, when combined with acupuncture for diabetes, strengthen the effects of acupuncture by correcting individual pattern imbalances. TCM utilizes Chinese herbal formulas to address the diabetic condition between acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture for diabetes and Chinese herbal formulas do not interfere with conventional medications and produce enhanced synergistic effects.
For more information about acupuncture and nutrition for the treatment of diabetes call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500. June 30.
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