I’ve never put much credence into what the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has to say about how to prevent or treat Type II diabetes. That’s because they continue to support the mainstream’s failed and flawed theories about dietary cholesterol, saturated fats, and salt as the be-all, end-all of all “cardiometabolic diseases”—including both Type II diabetes and heart disease.
Plus, many ADA groupies still try to claim that you should follow a low-fat, high-carb diet to prevent weight gain and disease. And they even convinced the crony chorus at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to label many ultra-processed carb products as somehow “heart healthy.”
Yet, to my amazement and delight, at the ADA’s 80th annual scientific session, a group of doctors made an enlightened, science-backed presentation about the real cause of Type II diabetes…
Eating sugar and processed carbohydrates.
But before we get into the new science, let’s back up to talk about who’s helping to lead the way for this important paradigm shift…
Practitioner of natural healing charges ahead
Of course, when it comes to Type II diabetes and heart disease, I’ve always said the real, main culprits are added sugars and processed carbs.
And, thankfully, Sarah Hallberg, D.O., a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, agrees. In fact, she was the one who made a groundbreaking presentation about the dangers of sugars and processed carbs at the ADA’s annual meeting.
We should all have a lot of respect for osteopathic physicians and their field. I routinely include their research and practice findings in my basic medical textbook—Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, currently in its 6th edition.
Remember, this field of medicine dates back to the 1890s, when medical schools of natural healing in the American Midwest started to award D.O. degrees. And, today, D.O.s—like M.D.s—complete hospital-based, post-graduate training in all specialties and fields of medicine. They’re fully licensed in all 50 states to practice medicine and surgery!
Plus, at last count, about one-quarter of osteopathic schools still included training in natural approaches—like diet and nutrition. (Unlike M.D.s—who get nearly no training at all in basic human diet and nutrition, as I discuss in the February 2020 issue of my monthly newsletter, Insiders’ Cures [“The missing link in medical school”].)
So, I’m not at all surprised it would take an osteopath to try to change the ADA’s thinking about sugar…
Sugar is the biggest culprit, by far
Dr. Hallberg started her presentation by reviewing some basic science showing that eating more fats and less sugars and carbs does not cause a spike in triglycerides (blood fats). In fact, it decreases them!
Which is great news—because high triglycerides at age 50 are associated with an increase in C-reactive protein, a key marker of chronic inflammation, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
Plus, restricting dietary sugars and carbs:
- Reduces insulin resistance
- Improves metabolic syndrome—even in the absence of weight loss
And get this…
As Dr. Halberg pointed out, a new study found that your body starts to benefit from following a high fat, low-carb diet in just two weeks—with lower triglycerides, better insulin response, and reduced hunger!
On the other hand, eating more sugars and carbohydrates and fewer fats does lead to increased triglycerides. Plus, there seems to be a dose-response effect. In other words, the more sugars and carbs consumed, the higher your triglycerides and risk of metabolic syndrome.
Not to mention, a diet high in sugar and carbs and low in fats:
- Promotes metabolic syndrome
- Encourages fat storage
- Increases insulin resistance
Here’s what you can do—starting today
As the science clearly shows, following a low-carb, high-fat diet benefits cardio-metabolic health and protects you against developing both Type II diabetes and heart disease.
So, in the end, I suggest sticking with your wholesome Mediterranean-type diet, which includes plenty of:
- Full-fat dairy (including organic whole milk, cheeses, yogurts, and butter)
- Fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and Seeds
- Organic, grass-fed and grass-finished meats
- Wild-caught fish and seafood
- Olive oil
- Alcohol, in moderation
When grocery shopping, stick to the store’s perimeter, where all of the fresh foods are displayed, and stay out of the center aisles—where you find processed foods made with added sugar and carbs.
For more uncommonly effective, commonsense strategies to prevent—and even reverse—Type II diabetes, check out my online learning protocol, my Integrative Protocol for Defeating Diabetes. To learn more about this comprehensive learning tool, or to enroll today, simply click here.
P.S. Tune back in tomorrow for more about the case against sugars and carbs.
Source:
“Metabolic Disease: Is It the Fat, Sugar, or Processed Food?” Medscape, 6/18/20. (medscape.com/viewarticle/932365)