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Gut Bacteria Influence Diabetes Risk

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There was a time when bacteria were seen by the medical community as unwanted invaders and causes of serious disease. While some microbes are dangerous, there are several species that we actually need for optimal health. Our skin, our gastrointestinal tract and many areas of our bodies flourish when colonized in large numbers by certain kinds of bacteria. A new study suggests that these gut bacteria influence diabetes risk and have a variety of positive effects on our metabolism.

Type 2 Diabetes: A Growing Threat

Gut Bacteria Influence Diabetes RiskType 2 diabetes is a serious illness in which the body becomes resistant to insulin, the hormone needed to let glucose out of our bloodstream and into our cells. People gradually become overweight from this excess sugar even as some cells starve for energy. The excess sugar in the bloodstream can lead to cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, blindness and, over time, even cause death.

There is no cure for diabetes, although there are ways to manage it. Eating a low-carb, high-fiber diet has been found to reduce the effects of the disease. There are also several medications that can reduce blood sugar, although these often have unwanted side effects. As with all diseases, prevention is the only real cure.

Rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing steadily, becoming one of the greatest public health threats of our times. This is partially due to a less healthy diet and a lack of exercise in our population. According to a new study, a lack of beneficial gut bacteria may also be contributing.

How Can Gut Bacteria Influence Diabetes?

Researchers examined the lifestyles of several sets of twins, including their diet, exercise habits and other risk factors for metabolic disease. They also took stool samples over a long period of time to identify the different bacteria present in the participants’ GI tracts as they aged.

None of the people studied had type 2 diabetes when the study began. However, those who developed this disease had changes in gut bacteria before it was diagnosed. In particular, they had decreases in Akkermansia muciniphila, a probiotic bacteria that has been found to prevent inflammation. Although more research is needed, scientists believe that type 2 diabetes risk may actually be predicted in part by whether this and other beneficial bacteria are present in adequate numbers.

Another study found that the presence of a microbe called Prevotella Copri can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. This bacteria is normally not present in the gut, but may grow in colonies in the absence of other, healthier populations. Clearly it is important to our metabolic health to have flourishing bacterial populations, but only certain types of bacteria.

Your Microflora and Your Health

Gut Bacteria Influence Diabetes Risk 1Our gut bacteria contribute to health in a variety of ways. First, they help to breakdown nutrients so they can be more easily absorbed and metabolized. Some nutrients, such as vitamin K, cannot be absorbed without the right bacterial influence. Second, our gut bacteria release different amino acids and bioactive substances that can have a huge impact on health. In particular, many of these substances can either increase or reduce inflammation. This is likely the reason that colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been linked to imbalances in our microbiome.

Having large colonies of beneficial bacteria can prevent disease-causing pathogens from flourishing. There simply are not enough nutrients and space to support negative bacteria. This is the reason that people are more prone to infections from Clostridium Difficile, or C. Diff, after being given antibiotics that kill healthy GI flora.

Clearly, having healthy GI flora is crucial to our whole body health. However, the modern diet is often lacking in the fiber and beneficial bacteria needed to sustain healthy gut bacteria populations.

Building a Healthy Microbiome

There are several ways to promote healthy gut bacteria. First, consider eating foods with probiotic bacteria such as yogurt or kefir. If these foods do not appeal to you, probiotic supplements also are a great way of getting a steady intake of beneficial microbes. Second, avoid antibiotics as well as antimicrobial cleaning products unless they are needed for health reasons. These substances often kill off good bacteria, allowing disease-causing bugs to flourish.

Eating fiber also appears to be important to maintaining gut bacteria. Prior studies have found that eating fiber can reduce diabetes risk directly. We now know that this may be due to the fact that fiber helps beneficial bacteria to grow. Taking a prebiotic supplement containing soluble fiber known to support GI flora also is a good way to help sustain healthy gut bacteria.

There is no way to completely eliminate risk of disease. However, having healthy gut flora appears to reduce our risk immensely. Eating the right foods, including probiotics and the fiber needed to feed them, appears to be crucial not just to your GI tract, but to the health of your entire body.

Does Crash Dieting Hurt Your Heart?

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Many people all over the globe are endlessly trying to lose a few pounds — or more. While doctors recommend accomplishing this through sustainable lifestyle changes, the diet industry often has other ideas. Advertisements on television, the internet and in magazines often claim that people can lose weight quickly through extremely restrictive diets. However, crash dieting is ineffective, with most people gaining back the lost weight and often more quickly after losing it. In addition, research is finding that these diets can have a wide variety of negative effects on overall health, particularly heart health.

The Dangers of Crash Dieting

Crash diets include a wide variety of approaches. These diets include popular “cleanses,” intermittent fasting, detox plans and other diets. Regardless of the name, these diets all have one thing in common: extreme restriction of calories in the name of fast weight loss. While most dieters will indeed lose weight quickly by eating a minimal amount of calories, this approach has several negative health effects.

Does Crash Dieting Hurt Your Heart?The foremost argument against a crash diet is that they aren’t sustainable. People require a certain amount of protein, fat and vitamins to survive. Eventually they will return to their old eating habits. In addition, crash diets also can have the following negative effects:

  • Nutrient deficiencies: Several essential vitamins and minerals must be eaten in order to sustain good health. A very low calorie diet is unlikely to provide these.
  • A feeling of unwellness: Restricted caloric intake can leave people feeling fatigued and foggy.
  • Lower metabolism: A body starved of calories will conserve them by slowing your basal metabolic rate.
  • Loss of lean muscle: Although your body will burn fat to create energy, it also will burn muscle tissue.
  • Decreased mental health: Caloric restriction is bad for mental health, leading to a higher rate of depression, eating disorders and other mental illness.
  • Decreased immune system: The immune system relies on certain vitamins to keep our immune system running effectively.

According to new research, a crash diet also may have more serious effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system.

Can Restrictive Dieting Hurt Your Heart?

Doctors have long noted a link between restricted calorie diets and cardiac arrhythmias. This is likely due to deficiencies of certain minerals and electrolytes that are essential to coordinated cardiac muscle function. In addition, crash diets have been linked to extremely low blood pressure, which can cause a variety of negative effects including dizziness and fainting.

However, a new study shines light on other ways that extreme dieting can be bad for your health. Researchers used MRI, an advanced imaging technique, to look at the hearts of people who were using crash diets to lose weight. Although their overall body fat fell quickly, the fat surrounding their hearts actually increased by 44 percent. This sudden increase can make it much more difficult for the heart to effectively perform its main role of pumping blood. Predictably, the study participants also saw a corresponding decrease in heart function.

Both heart function and cardiac fat returned to normal after about eight weeks. However, this decrease in cardiac function could be dangerous for people with underlying cardiac conditions. Many people have conditions that they do not know about until the heart is strained, which can then become serious and even life-threatening.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Extreme Dieting

Dr. Jennifer Raynor, one of the researchers, notes that there are also benefits to some extremely restrictive diets. People in the study saw a decrease in liver fat, less insulin resistance (the driving force behind type 2 diabetes) and other health benefits likely due to the weight loss. Many people benefit from getting closer to a healthy weight, however they decide to approach it. The answer, according to her, is to involve your physician.

“If you have heart problems, you need to check with your doctor before embarking on a very low-calorie diet or fasting. People with a cardiac problem could well experience more symptoms at this early time point, so the diet should be supervised.”

Losing Weight the Healthy Way

There are healthy ways to lose weight without straining your heart. However, these require long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes. If you are ready to lose weight for good, there are several approaches that have been found to be effective.

The most sensible way to lose weight long-term is to focus on eating healthy, with only a small calorie deficit. Most doctors recommend 1-2 pounds of weight loss a week as the perfect number. Find exercises that you enjoy enough to perform on a regular basis and make them part of your daily routine. In other words, change your entire approach to diet and exercise.

In addition, simply changing the times that you eat can help you to lose weight. Like all parts of the human body, your metabolism has a circadian rhythm. Eating at the same times every day allows your body to stay out of starvation mode and keeps your metabolism on a predictable schedule. There is also evidence that eating in the evening is more likely to cause weight gain due to metabolic changes that happen as our bodies prepare to sleep.

Losing weight can be difficult for many people. Losing weight in the wrong ways may even be dangerous. However, achieving a healthy weight is one of the most important things that a person can do to reduce disease risk and ensure that they enjoy the best possible health.

Scientifically Proven Ingredients for Maintaining Healthy Weight Into the New Year

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The holidays are a time for baked goods and treats, which means that they also are a time of weight gain for many people. It can be difficult to maintain a reasonable number of calories with so much delicious food being offered in workplaces, parties and holiday meals. By the time New Year’s rolls around, most people are ready for a diet to start taking off that new and unwanted weight. However, sticking to a new diet and exercise plan can be more difficult than it seems. Research has found that there are a few supplements and herbs that can increase results and make it easier to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Natural Remedies for Achieving a Healthy Weight

Scientifically Proven Ingredients for Maintaining Healthy Weight Into the New Year 2How can natural ingredients help people to lose weight? Most work in a few key ways. First, some support healthy metabolism, which in turn increases both energy and promotes weight loss. Others work to suppress appetite, helping people to make healthy choices. Some affect the biochemistry of fat cells, glucose metabolism and other factors that contribute to weight. In most cases, supplements that help maintain a healthy weight also have other benefits to health and do not have common side effects.

While no supplement can lose the weight for you, many can provide a slight advantage that can make a huge overall difference. This advantage not only helps people to get results more quickly, but also helps them to keep their motivation high. Losing motivation is a common reason for people to stop a healthy diet or any positive health changes, so increasing motivation can be a powerful boost.

Green Tea and Other Herbs for Healthy Weight

There are several supplements for supporting healthy weight that you might already have in your cupboard. Green tea is one of these. Green tea is known to be a powerful antioxidant, helping cells to fight off damage from our daily lives. However, it also can assist in maintaining healthy weight in a variety of ways. It is a mild stimulant, so boosts metabolism. It also acts as a diuretic, preventing bloating and excessive water weight.

Orthosiphon stamineus, also known as Java or Cat’s Whiskers, is another herbal tea that can help people to effectively maintain a healthy weight. It is taken mainly for its anti-inflammatory support, but several recent studies have found that it also can assist those striving to maintain a healthy weight. The extract from this plant appears to stimulate leptin production, which is a hormone that both increases fat burning and gives people a feeling of fullness.

Bitter Orange and African Mango: More than Fruits

Scientifically Proven Ingredients for Maintaining Healthy Weight Into the New Year 1Most people who are seeking to lose weight increase their intake of fruits and vegetables. There are two fruits that have been found to contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, although they are not common in the American diet. These fruits are African mango and bitter orange.

African mango has been found in some clinical trials to support weight loss. According to researchers, it works in several ways. First, African mango reduces fat cell production, which may be why it is proven to reduce the waist circumference of humans and other animals. In addition, it reduces the effects of metabolic syndrome, a disorder that has been linked to diabetes and found to cause people to gain weight.

Bitter orange similarly appears to support weight loss by promoting healthy metabolism and energy levels. People who take the extract of this fruit report feeling more energetic, which makes it easier to stick with a rigorous exercise plan. Although its effects on the metabolism are small, they can make a meaningful impact on weight over time.

Chromium and Other Weight Loss Supplements

Chromium is one of the more popular supplements for maintaining healthy weight and whole body health. This is because it has been shown in several studies to positively affect the human metabolism. People with diabetes who take chromium have blood glucose levels that are easier to control, which can help assist in maintaining healthy weight. In addition, chromium appears to support the formation of lean muscle, which in turn promotes healthy metabolism and gives people a healthier, stronger appearance. Chromium is not found in high levels in the foods that dominate the western diet as it is mainly in kidneys, mushrooms and brewer’s yeast. As a result, many people benefit from taking a supplement.

Whether you want to lose weight for bikini season or to improve your health over a lifetime, it is important to use a holistic approach. Diet, exercise and taking the right supplements are all important parts of maintaining healthy weight. Although no supplement will cause you to lose weight on its own, they can provide the boost that many people need to get the results they desire and keep their motivation high.

Powerful Compound Found in Chocolate and Green Tea Could Protect Against Diabetes

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Diabetes currently affects about 29 million Americans and nearly 86 million adults, i.e. one in three Americans are prediabetic. Diabetes is on the rise across the world due to rising rates of obesity and sugar consumption, with an estimated 592 million cases in the world by 2035. Preventing diabetes is a top concern for medical professionals and researchers. According to a new study, the benefits of catechins, which are antioxidants found in tea and chocolate, may offer a solution. Researchers found that catechins help prevent diabetes by improving the function of beta cells that produce, store and release insulin to control sugar levels.

Health Benefits of Catechins

Catechins are a special class of flavonoids, or plant-based chemicals with strong antioxidant benefits. Catechins are responsible for giving fruits their flavor and color and they appear to guard against cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.

There is compelling scientific research that catechins help prevent heart disease. According to one study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who regularly drink green or oolong tea have a 46-65 percent lower risk of hypertension than people who do not drink tea. Research suggests that people who drink at least two cups a day of tea have a lower risk of stroke and heart disease as well as lower LDL and total cholesterol. There is also evidence that regular tea drinkers recover faster from heart attacks. The antioxidant effect of catechins helps block oxidation of LDL cholesterol, improve HDL (good) cholesterol, and improve the function of arteries.

Catechins may also help guard against Alzheimer’s disease and promote healthy cell growth. Numerous studies have found a link between green tea consumption and a lower risk of cancer, including breast, ovarian, lung, bladder, esophageal, skin and colon cancer.

Catechins and Diabetes

The hormone insulin, which is made, stored and released by beta cells in the pancreas, is at the root of this chronic condition. Insulin controls and regulates levels of blood sugar to ensure levels do not get high enough to damage organs or low enough to impact bodily functions. Type 2 diabetes reduces sensitivity to insulin, which means the body needs more insulin to achieve the same effect. Research has also shown that diabetes reduces the ability of beta cells to produce and release insulin, possibly due to higher rates of beta cell death.

A study recently published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry investigated whether active chemicals in cocoa could help prevent diabetes.

A team of researchers from Virginia Tech and Brigham Young University has been searching for ways to improve beta cell performance and prevent the onset of diabetes. The team decided to investigate flavonoids in cocoa due to prior research that showed beta cells are very sensitive to oxidative stress.

The team found that rats on a high-fat diet that included cocoa had lower rates of obesity and a greater ability to handle higher levels of glucose. The scientists also found an increase in the expression of genes that promote a response to oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells like beta cells.

The authors of the study pointed out that consuming high-sugar chocolate will not guard against diabetes and it would be necessary to consume a great deal of cocoa to see any protective benefit. Instead, it’s the active compounds in cocoa that may offer protection against diabetes when consumed in greater concentrations.

How to Increase Your Intake of Catechins

Health Benefits of Catechins Include Protecting Against DiabetesThe most well-known source of catechins is green tea. A half-cup of green tea contains 2.6 milligrams of catechins while a serving of black tea contains 1.5 milligrams. Catechins can also be found in several foods if you don’t enjoy green or black tea.

Some of the best food sources of catechins include:

  • Apples, which are rich in plant-based chemicals that include catechins. Most of the catechins in apples are in the skin.
  • Blackberries. There are about 37 milligrams of catechins in 3/4 cup of blackberries, which is nearly 14 times the amount in brewed green tea. Catechins in fruit can’t survive being processed, so it’s important to eat the fruit raw. You can also get catechins from cranberries, raspberries and blueberries, but their concentration is not as high as blackberries. In general, the darker the berry, the greater the concentration of catechins.
  • Red wine. The catechin concentration of red wine is due to the fermentation process of grapes, which are naturally high in catechins. The darker the grape, the greater the number of catechins. While white wine may have no catechins at all, red wine can have anywhere from seven to 24 milligrams per cup. It’s recommended that adults consume no more than a single five-ounce glass of wine per day to enjoy the health benefits.
  • Dark chocolate. Many of the health benefits of dark chocolate, including its ability to lower blood pressure, are attributed to its concentration of catechins. Every ounce of dark chocolate contains about 3.6 milligrams of catechins. Milk chocolate is not a sufficient replacement as it’s more processed with sugar and milk which destroys most of the catechins.
  • Pears. Pears are one of the most commonly consumed sources of catechins although they only contain about 0.3 milligrams per 3/4 cup serving.
  • Cherries. Cherries have been found to reduce the risk of diabetes, inflammatory disease and cardiovascular disease thanks to their antioxidant benefits. A 3/4 cup serving of cherries contains about 1.3 milligrams of catechins.
  • Fava beans. It’s not only fruits that are rich in flavonoids; fava beans contain more catechins than cherries, apples and pears put together. Cooked fava beans have between 8 and 12 milligrams of catechins per 3/4 cup.
  • Sweet potatoes. Purple and sweet potatoes contain about two times as many flavonoids like catechins than white potatoes and four times the amount of phenolic acids, another type of antioxidant.

If you find it difficult to eat a diet rich in catechin-containing foods, you can complement your diet with high-quality supplements that contain these powerful compounds.

Turmeric and Diabetes: An Ancient Spice Shows Promise for a Modern Disease

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Much has been researched and written about the curative properties of turmeric. New studies on turmeric and diabetes suggest that this tasty spice may offer new hope for an all-too-common disease.

Turmeric is gaining popularity, both as a spice and as a natural remedy. Not only is this exotic spice an important part of popular foreign cuisines such as East Indian food, but it also is being suggested as a natural remedy that can benefit a variety of serious conditions in several new studies. An increasing body of new research on the link between turmeric and diabetes suggests that this bold spice may also help protect against diabetes and may even soothe some symptoms of this common concern.

What Is Curcumin?

Many people have heard of turmeric but few have heard of curcumin. Curcumin is the compound in turmeric root that gives it its distinctive color and flavor. In lab tests, curcumin has been found to protect against inflammation, slow the growth of tumors and otherwise promote good health. According to new studies, curcumin in turmeric root can offer a number of benefits in relation to diabetes, including reducing complications and even helping to protect against this common metabolic condition. This makes sense in light of other recent studies finding that diabetes can be at least partially attributed to inflammation in the endocrine system.

The Link Between Turmeric and Diabetes Prevention

Turmeric and Diabetes: Can an Ancient Spice Provide Benefits for a Modern Disease? 1According to new research, consuming turmeric may act as a powerful preventative measure for diabetes. People who were at risk for diabetes were placed on a turmeric supplement and had their hemoglobin A1c as well as inflammation markers tested at regular intervals. Hemoglobin A1c is a popular measurement that tells doctors how high a person’s blood glucose has been on average for the past three months.

Taking a turmeric supplement led to a quick decrease in hemoglobin A1c and blood glucose. It also led to lower levels of inflammatory markers and less insulin resistance than a placebo. While this effect may not be enough to cure diabetes once the disease process has begun, it very well may help to prevent the disease. In addition, turmeric appears to reduce the immune response in people with type 1 diabetes, which can lessen the severity and extent of the disease immensely.

In addition, curcumin and turmeric can be used to prevent the complications of diabetes once the disease has been diagnosed. People with diabetes often suffer from end organ damage such as peripheral neuropathy, kidney disease, cataracts and even progressive cognitive decline. While these processes can be slowed down by controlling blood glucose, they often cannot be stopped entirely. However, turmeric appears to slow the development of these diseases even further. Turmeric appears to have a huge effect on the damage to blood vessels and organs that be caused by high blood sugar.

Can Diabetes Be Treated Naturally?

Although there are several popular medications to treat diabetes, it often can be managed naturally. Many people find that diet and exercise both help to keep both sugar levels low. In addition, you can try any one of the following:

  • Eat more whole foods. Processed foods tend to have hidden carbs that can drive blood glucose high.
  • Add fiber to every meal. Fiber slows the absorption of dietary sugars.
  • Test your blood glucose regularly. This is important to identify what unique factors affect your own blood glucose. Your doctor can tell you how often is ideal for you.
  • Take supplements that may benefit metabolism and promote healthy blood glucose levels after talking to your doctor. There are also many natural remedies besides turmeric/curcumin that can help you to get your blood glucose under control.

Getting More Turmeric in Your Diet

Turmeric and Diabetes: Can an Ancient Spice Provide Benefits for a Modern Disease?Turmeric has been found not to just be helpful for diabetes, but for a wide range of inflammatory disorders. These can include joint disease, heart disease and more. People around the world eat turmeric in larger quantities than in the United States, which may be part of the reason that we have such high rates of autoimmune and inflammatory illness. If you are trying to get more turmeric, consider eating more yellow curries and East Indian food. These contain plenty of turmeric, enough to have a positive effect on your life.

If you are not a fan of curry, there are other ways to get the health benefits of this spice. There are many capsules on the market that offer turmeric in a form that does not require a taste for hot foods. It is important to start with a very small dose and then to gradually work up to a higher one. This will allow you to have fewer side effects such as stomach upset. Also, it is important to talk to a doctor before beginning this or any new supplement. Even natural medications have drug interactions and contraindications to be considered.

Diabetes is becoming a health crisis in the Western world, with millions of Americans struggling to manage their blood sugar due to this devastating disease. However, there are many proven ways to prevent and treat this disease naturally. Consider taking turmeric and other natural supplements to get your blood sugar under control once and for all.

Surprising Ways to Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Naturally

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More than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. Even more have high blood sugar levels or insulin resistance, both of which are precursors to type 2 diabetes. While there are many medications that can help diabetics, these are expensive and can often have serious side effects. Many people do not know that there are a variety of natural ways to maintain healthy blood sugar levels to protect against insulin resistance, decreasing the risk of developing diabetes and other concerns.

Diabetes and Metabolic Disorder: A Modern Epidemic

When we eat food, our body converts the carbs to glucose. This glucose is fuel for our cells, but only once it enters them. Glucose can only enter cells when insulin “unlocks” the cell receptors that allow it to enter. Without insulin, glucose remains in the blood vessels where it can contribute to cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, the cells that make up our tissues and organs go without the food they need for optimal function.

There are two conditions in which glucose has impaired ability to enter the cells: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body simply stops making insulin. This disease is treated by replacing the insulin that is missing. In type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar levels over time lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which cells stop responding to insulin even though the body is making plenty of it. This leads to type 2 diabetes where blood sugar is chronically high due to this insulin resistance. This can be very difficult to treat because the body already has plenty of insulin; it simply isn’t responding to the hormone.

Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, has become so common that it is considered an epidemic. Millions of people struggle with chronically high blood glucose levels and the resulting health effects. Many more people are prediabetic, which means their body is beginning to show signs of insulin resistance but has not yet become completely diabetic.

Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Blood Sugar

Surprising Ways to Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels NaturallyWhile there appears to be a genetic predisposition to diabetes, it also is heavily affected by lifestyle. People who have a difficult time maintaining healthy blood sugar are at much higher risk of developing insulin resistance. Obesity and a lack of exercise also are major risk factors. There are several ways that people can lower their risk of developing this disease, lower their blood sugar and turn insulin resistance around:

However, even with these changes, many people struggle to keep their blood glucose levels within a healthy range. This is because lifestyle is only one piece of the puzzle. Lifestyle changes alone often cannot completely halt insulin resistance and reverse the cellular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes. For these people, there is still hope. There are many natural remedies that can give them the boost they need.

Natural Answers for Supporting Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Several natural remedies can help to protect against insulin resistance and maintain healthy blood sugar levels within normal ranges. If you are concerned about your blood sugar levels, consider taking a supplement that contains:

These natural supplements not only help to protect against the development of blood sugar imbalances but also have a variety of other positive health effects. They help to support a healthy body in many ways, allowing people to support healthy blood sugar protect against insulin resistance without negative side effects.

The high sugar, high fat Standard American Diet often leads to a variety of negative effects including diabetes. However, there are many ways to protect against insulin resistance before it progresses enough to harm your health. Lifestyle changes and natural supplements can help you to enjoy good health—including healthy blood sugar levels—over the rest of your life.