A follow-up on the diabetes blog from the other day. Diabetes and obesity are epidemic in this country; the latest statistics show that over 35% of American adults and 16% of children were obese as of 2010. Another 33% of Americans are overweight, but may be headed for obesity. Diabetes and obesity often occur together. They also share a common cause-chronic inflammation in fat, muscle, and liver tissue. Stopping the over-activation of inflammation helps the body prevent insulin resistance, so excess blood sugar is less likely to be stored as fat. However, there is help from a natural source, as reported in the journal Biofactors; curcumin (turmeric). Evidence shows that cur cumin can help regulate blood sugar levels and burn fat more efficiently for energy, reducing inflammation. Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that cur cumin stopped the growth of fat tissue and prevented fat deposits in the liver. It also showed lower concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. There are also studies confirming these results in the journals Endocrinology and the American Journal of Physiology. I’ve been on the curcumin bandwagon for several years, and I believe it’s helped with my inflammation due to ankylosing spondylosis. I can’t give you the name of a good name supplement maker-I take a heaping tablespoon of organic turmeric (cur cumin) powder with a dash of black pepper (for better assimilation). I buy a 5 pound bag from Frontier products-it’s much less expensive and I believe it’s absorbed better.
Stay well, John R Blilie, M.S.