Natural Approaches to Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

February 1, 2015

Natural Approaches to Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition that continues to affect a number of people in the world. It claims millions of lives around the globe and costs countries billions in treatments. Studies show that one in every four Americans today aged above 65 suffers from diabetes. It affects the quality of your life as well as that of people around you.

So what exactly is diabetes? The condition also referred to as diabetes mellitus is a health conditions that arises when the body’s blood sugar levels are too high. The food we eat contributes to the glucose we need. Insulin is a hormone that is used in the body to assist the glucose into getting into our cells. Cells require this energy to perform different body functions.

Diabetes arises when something goes wrong with either the production or utilization of insulin in the body. For one, the body may be producing inadequate levels of insulin, which means that glucose absorption is inefficient. This leaves too much glucose in the blood resulting in diabetes.

On the other hand, the cells in the body may not be responding as they should to the insulin produced. This condition is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance results in the body not making use of the insulin produced. No matter how much is produced by the pancreas, it is not able to perform its functions because the body is sort of rejecting it. This results in accumulation of glucose as we continue eating resulting in high glucose levels or simply diabetes.

metabolic_syndrome

This leaves us with different forms of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin which means that glucose is not absorbed into the cells. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes affecting a majority of people today. In this case the pancreas is able to produce insulin but the body does not make use of it. This results in more insulin production and less utilization leading to increases glucose levels. Prediabetes is a health condition where your blood glucose level seems higher than usual but it is not high enough to be termed as diabetes. Normally, prediabetes is a risk factor of type 2 diabetes. The most common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst and hunger as well as frequent urination.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome can be said to be a combination of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. It is a common condition that continues to affect many people today. It comes by due to insulin resistance by the body. Naturally diabetes is caused by either insulin resistance or the body not being able to utilize the insulin produced. On the other side, studies show that insulin resistance is a risk factor for obesity while blood pressure may arise for high levels of glucose.

Metabolic syndrome puts you at risk of diseases like heart attack, diabetes, several types of cancers and excess fat in the liver. The disease has been connected to low grade inflammation a kind of inflammation that results in loss of bones.

Metabolic syndrome can be caused by either inheritance of a gene responsible for insulin resistance or excess weight gain and failure to exercise. Some of the symptoms that are exhibited by people suffering from metabolic syndrome include hypertension, abnormal obesity, hyperglycemia, reduced lipoprotein, shortness of breath, and chest pains among others.

Obesity

Most people believe that obesity means being overweight. On the contrary obesity is a condition that arises from having excessive fat in the body. Over weight on the other hand is simply weighing too much. Obesity is a real menace that knows no age limit. It affects both the young to the old.

The condition may build up over time depending on your calories intake. There should be a balance between the calories you consume and those you lose. When the amount of calories you consume is higher than what you lose, then obesity is likely to arise.

Insulin resistance is major concern for a number of people and one stands a chance of being obese. Naturally the pancreas is supposed to produce insulin which is then used by the body to enhance absorption of sugars in the body. Insulin resistance occurs when the body does not utilize the insulin produced. When this happens it means than glucose is not absorbed into the cell to be used for various functions like energy production.

This leaves an excess of glucose in the blood. Because the glucose is not being used as it should, it is converted into fat which is stored in the tissue. More insulin resistance means more fat deposits which translate into obesity. The same scenario happens when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.

Natural Approaches to Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

Usually most dieses are caused by the kind of lifestyle we chose to lead. Maintaining a healthy diet is one way of preventing such diseases. Most of the foods we eat contain chemical compounds that may inhibit the production or utilization of insulin leading to obesity and diabetes. Also a reduction of polished grains prevents the three diseases by regulating the blood sugars.

metabolic_syndrome

Exercise is an essential part and parcel of healthy living. Without exercise we are prone to disease like obesity. Taking regular exercise is one of the ways of ensuring your boy remains healthy and strong. Also avoiding smoking can prove to be real helpful. Smoking messes up with your body system making it prone to such things as insulin resistance or blood glucose increase.

Grape seed extract has also been shown to reduce blood pressure in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome. Kudzu is also a herb that is used by patients with metabolic syndrome or obesity to help in weight loss. The herb facilitates shedding off of weight which leads to a healthy you.

To find out more about diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity visit AwareMed. The expert advice of Dr. Dalal Akoury has helped many patients. She will treat insulin resistance and utilization in order to correct obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Join this network of healing at www.awaremednetwork.com today.

Natural Approaches to Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

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Type 2 Diabetes Cure: Natural Treatments that will Prevent and Reverse Diabetes (Natural Health Books) (Volume 2)
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Dihydroepiandrosterone Replacement, DHEA -The Mother of All Hormones

January 27, 2015

Dihydroepiandrosterone Replacement, DHEA -The Mother of All Hormones)

Dihydroepiandrosterone or as commonly referred to as DHEA is the most abundant hormone that occurs naturally in the human body. It is referred to as the mother of all hormones because it is responsible for all metabolisms in the body. The hormone is manufactured in the brain and adrenal glands.

The levels of DHEA are highest in the fetus stage and continue to increase until a person is at the age of 30. Afterward, the level begins to drop rapidly as the person continues to age. This decline is the one that enhances the aging process. Studies show that by the time we are 70 the level of DHEA production reduces to around 10% less of what we used to produce when we were younger. The work of this hormone is to support as well as to regulate the functioning of other hormones in the immune system.

Dihydroepiandrosterone Replacement, DHEA

Given that DHEA is very critical for the normal functioning of other cells, if anything goes wrong with the hormone all other hormones are affected. If the level of DHEA declines, it means that its functions cease to balance. In this case, this imbalance brings about an imbalance of all other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and testosterone. Hormonal imbalances lead to medical conditions like depression, low sex drive, and anxiety among others.

Facts about DHEA

DHEA is used by the body to produces sex hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, estrogen and cortisol. In addition to this, the hormone is also responsible in regulating the levels of insulin and cholesterol in the body. If the levels of insulin and cholesterol increase beyond normal, then there is bound to be inevitable damage in the body leading to health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. It also decreases the risk of cancer and diabetes in addition to enhancing the immune system. It also prevents the breast cancer in women in premenopausal stage and in men prostate cancer.

DHEA is probably the most important hormone in the body. It plays a crucial role in metabolism and is the foundation of sex hormones in both women and men. It is basically responsible for the normal functioning of our bodies. It is a precursor hormone which means that it is responsible for the production and normal functioning of other hormones in the body. It is surely the mother of all hormones because without it, the other hormones would be useless or they would not even exist.

DHEA is responsible for maintaining a balance in the metabolism process. It does this by enhancing loss of excess fats, increasing tissue mass, and enhancing formation of new bones as well as inhibiting their degeneration.

DHEA DHEA replacement therapy is performed on patients with low levels of the hormone. When this level declines as we have seen the balance of other hormones is offset. Mostly patients will come in with symptoms of hormonal imbalances. The test is performed by an expert who runs a couple of tests to find out the level of DHEA. When done correctly, the replacement therapy helps restore the hormonal imbalance and reverses symptoms associated with this condition. When combined with the right diet and regular exercises, DHEA is crucial in restoring hormonal balance.

It is also effective in reversing conditions caused by hormonal imbalances such as impaired memory and concentration ability, loss of lean muscles, depression and reduced focus which most people take as conditions associated with old age and therefore inevitable.

Factors that may cause DHEA levels to decline

Diet: First of all our diet plays a major role in our well-being. What you eat translates to the health of your body. Eating a balanced diet works miracles in preventing hormonal imbalances. Lack of exercise will also increase your chances or hormonal imbalance.

Toxics: toxic compounds such as pesticides and herbicides find their way into our body systems either through the food we eat or the water we drink. These compounds are known to offset hormonal imbalances like DHEA.

Stress: this is one of the major factors that may throw your hormones completely off balance. When DHEA is affected by stress that means that the production of cortisol that is supposed to help you deal with the situation is not produced efficiently.

Importance of adequate levels of DHEA

When the hormone DHEA is in adequate levels, it leads to restoration of lean muscles, improved memory, increased stamina, improves the fat ratio, increased testosterone levels, increased concentration and focus among others. All these functions make DHEA the ultimate mother of all hormones because it has direct effect on the production and functions of other hormones.

Find out more about DHEA by visiting www.awaremednetwork.com today. Get your healing through the expert advice of Dr. Akoury who has helped thousands of patients get back on their feet. She has years of experience in the field of medicine. AwareMed provides you with not only information about illnesses but we also help you solve them.

Dihydroepiandrosterone Replacement, DHEA -The Mother of All Hormones)

Hormones Linked to Sugar Addiction

January 11, 2015

Low Estrogen, Low Testosterone, Low Progesterone Cause Sugar Addiction

The hormones above are very crucial in our bodies but most of their functions are unknown to many people. Recently, researchers have been able to point out the relationships between these hormones and sugar addiction.

Low Testosterone and Sugar addiction

Low testosterone has been found to be a cause of Insulin resistance. Even a slight amount of insulin resistance keeps your body from managing blood sugar levels normally. When there is insulin resistance, it means that the glucose that you get from foods like carbohydrates that should give your cells instant energy is blocked from entering the cells. The cells therefore become starved leading to uncontrollable craving for sugar. Low testosterone in men induces insulin resistance. Testosterone is needed in sugar metabolism, insulin regulation and fat metabolism therefore when the levels of testosterone are low then the cells will starve and this will lead to a person becoming addicted to sugary substances.

Estrogens and Progesterone linked to sugar addiction

Estrogens are hormones that play important roles in matters of sexual and reproductive development in women. In most cases they are referred to as female sex hormones. Estrogen refers to all of the chemically similar hormones in the women which are estrone, estradiol and estriol. Contrary to what many people think estrogen and progesterone hormones play other crucial roles other than the sexual purpose that they are well known for. Apart from their sexual purpose they can also be useful in performing the following purposes that are equally crucial.

The estrogen hormone helps in fighting depression in women by boosting the levels of serotonin, a boost in the levels of serotonin improves the quality of sleep. Estrogen also increases GABA which are crucial as they help in calming the neurotransmitters.

Another crucial function of the estrogen hormones is that they responsible for good mood in women. They increase the levels of endorphins that help women to feel good. When the levels of estrogen go down the feelings of sadness and hopelessness will find their way in a woman and therefore it is necessary for a woman to stress free.

Estrogen hormone is also very important in bone formation and strengthening, it works with vitamin D and other mineral calcium in developing bones that are strong enough. As the level of estrogen declines women will begin to have weak bones and that explains why women in menopause are most likely to suffer osteoporosis.

Estrogen hormone also plays a role in blood clotting, maintaining the strength and thickness of the vaginal wall and the urethral lining, vaginal lubrication and a host of other bodily functions. It affects skin, hair, mucous membranes and the pelvic muscles. The hormone also affects the brain and literally estrogen rules a woman’s life.

Just like estrogen Progesterone also plays very crucial roles in our lives. This hormone is present in both men and women but it is more dominant in women than in men. This hormone helps in promoting healthy sleep, it also balances the levels of estrogen in the body. Progesterone has a natural calming effect and is a natural diuretic and antidepressant. When the levels of progesterone drop it will cause insomnia and lead to bad moods as well.

These hormones are produced in the ovaries and are available in the highest levels in women at puberty but may also be produced in lower levels in fat cells and the adrenal glands. During menopause the production of these hormones stops and that explains why women in menopause have lower levels of estrogen.

Some women will feel sugar cravings escalating in perimenopause periods in their forties, this may be caused by a fall in the levels of estrogen and progesterone and estrogen levels. On DR. Oz show Jacob Teitelbaum, MD opines that earlier in a woman’s life the cravings for sugar are likely to manifest as premenstrual syndrome. This is often associated with lower levels of progesterone and estrogen in them that may be accompanied by severe irritability that happens in during the periods. In his article he explains that when a woman hits mid-forties the levels of estrogen will drop. The drop in estrogen and progesterone causes deficiency of the hormones in the body and this causes increased craving for sugar. Other symptoms of low progesterone and estrogen fatigue, moodiness and insomnia as well as decreased vaginal lubrication.

According to Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, it is not only progesterone and estrogen deficiency that causes increased craving for sugar but testosterone deficiency associated with andropause can also cause sugar craving along with other severe problems in men. Depression, decreased libido, decreased erectile function, high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes or high cholesterol can suggest testosterone deficiency. This problem can be solved by supplementing testosterone.

He reveals that blood testing for hormonal deficiency may not reveal the problem when still mild and manageable, it can only work in severe conditions that will leave a person debilitated for long time. He advises that it is very essential to eliminate sugar addiction that is caused by estrogen, progesterone or testosterone.

Treating Sugar addiction

There are natural therapies that can be used in restoring the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body and calm the sugar craving and break the addiction. These natural therapies may include edamane and black cohosh also known as remifemin, they are very effective in treating estrogen deficiency syndrome more effectively and naturally. In case the drop in level is more severe then prescription of natural bioidentical hormones can help.

Dr. Teitelbaum advices that using non-bioidentical hormones may not to be so safe and therefore encourages the use of the natural bioidentical hormones to help patients with low estrogen and progesterone levels hence break their sugar addiction and stop the craving. He advises that post menstrual syndromes characterized by increased sugar craving can be greatly reduced by taking vitamin B6 200 mg a day, magnesium 200 mg a day, and Evening Primrose oil 3,000 mg a day for 3 months. Then the dose can often be lowered. Bioidentical progesterone can also help in severe cases that persist after three months of the nutritional treatments above.

When you use the natural bioidentical hormones, your metabolism will be improved and your cravings for sugar will stop. With improved metabolism you will reap additional benefits like loss of weight hence a more satisfying life. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is committed to availing integrative care to all addicts call on her at Myrtle beach, South Carolina for help.

Low Estrogen, Low Testosterone, Low Progesterone Cause Sugar Addiction

Weight Gain From Poor Digestion And Mal-absorption

January 7, 2015

Weight Gain: A Symptom of Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption

When you start adding extra pounds, there are several things that come to your mind. Besides thinking about what could be causing the sudden weight gain, you will also be wondering about ways to facilitate weight loss. The first thing that comes to our mind when faced with this situation is that our diet is the source of the extra ponds.

We therefore cut out foods we suspect could be causing the weight gain. Most of the time these foods include; sugars, carbohydrates and fats. To most of us these are the main causatives of weight gain.

In cutting out these foods, we deprive our body of essential nutrients that can only come from such foods.

However there are other factors that cause weight gain. Lack of exercise is one of them. When you eat without exercising, then you will certainly add weight.

Some health conditions such as allergies, bacteria over growth, yeast infections, thyroid disease and insulin resistance among others can also cause weight gain. Mal-absorption and poor digestion can as well contribute to weight gain.

fat-malabsorption

Absorption disorders

They are also referred to as mal-absorption syndromes. It occurs when food is not properly digested and nutrients from the diet are not absorbed into the blood stream as they should. These nutrients include among others, minerals, proteins, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates in form of starch and sugars.

Mal-absorption syndrome is not in particular a disease but it results from other health conditions. Digestion involves the breakdown of food so that it can be in a form that can easily be absorbed into the blood for the overall wellness of the body. It takes place in the gastrointestinal tract.

During the break down of food, the nutrients are absorbed in the small bowel. The mucosa, which is the small intestine lining, facilitates absorption of nutrients due to the villi and micro villi that provide a large surface area for this absorption. There are also specialized cells that are used to enhance this absorption of nutrients.

Mal-Absorption and Digestive Disorders and Weight Gain

It is common knowledge that if you want to lose weight, then you have to burn more calories than what you take in your diet. One of the main reasons why weight gain is common among a number of folks is the fact that people eat a lot and refuse to exercise. Your diet contributes to most of the weight you add. Following that up with exercises will ensure that the more calories you eat the more are lost. Due to this, adding weight will not be a part of you.

As seen however, conditions such as poor digestion and mal-absorption can lead to weight gain. How does this happen?

Poor digestion means that food is not being digested properly. This is followed by poor absorption of nutrients from the food into the blood.

Body wellness depends on the general condition of the body. Nutrients are essential for the health of a person. You have heard that lack of nutrients can lead to weight gain. What most people believe is that lack of nutrients will make you thin. This is not the case.

Nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins are necessary in the body. If there is poor absorption of these nutrients, they end up accumulating in the body and this causes you to gain weight.

Carbohydrates in particular are converted into fats which are deposited in the tissues. When combined with fats in the body, they end up causing immense weight gain. So as you see, mal-absorption will not necessarily make you lose weight.

weight gain

Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption Natural Treatment for Weight Loss

When food is not properly being digested, it means that it will not be broken down into essential nutrients. This means that the body will not get the necessary nutrients form the diet. This results in weight gain.

In the same way mal-absorption disorders results in malnutrition and the result is weight gain. So how do you manage this?

The best way to induce weight loss is to do lots and lots of exercise. Don’t just eat. Eat and engage in plenty of exercises.

Also reduce your intake of carbohydrates and fats. Normally carbohydrates are broken down into sugars. When there is poor digestion and absorption, carbohydrates are converted into fats and these are deposited in the body. This leads to weight gain. So therefore why don’t you reduce the amount of carbs and fats you take into the diet?

This information can be found at www.awaremednetwork.com for free. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more information about absorption and digestive disorders and how they contribute to weight gain. She has for many years provided wise counsel to patients who bear testimony to her amazing works. Just visit AwareMed for more wellness and awareness tips.

Weight Gain: A Symptom of Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption

Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

January 1, 2015

Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

Diabetes is a sugar disease. It is a disease in which the body does not produce insulin or make proper use of it. Insulin is useful in the body in utilization of blood glucose. It allows glucose to be absorbed in the cells to enhance the production of energy. In the condition of diabetes, insulin is not effective which results in the blood being saturated with glucose. This leads to high glucose levels in the blood.

Obesity is the major cause of diabetes. It induces the resistance of the body to insulin. When this happens, the body is not able to break down glucose into energy. This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood.

To make do with this insulin resistance, the pancreas ends up producing more insulin. This leads to a rise in insulin in the blood. This insulin production can go on for years but it is not indefinite. Eventually insulin production will wear out and this will result in blood sugar increase. When this happens, it is then that an individual is diagnosed with diabetes.

There are different kinds of diabetes in the world today. There is type 1 diabetes which results from the inability of the blood to produce the insulin hormone. Type 2 diabetes on the other hand comes about when the body is unable to properly utilize the hormone. Another type of diabetes is pre-diabetes. This results when the blood glucose levels in the blood are higher than normal although not high enough to become type 2 diabetes. The fact is that over 79 million Americans today are pre-diabetic.

Insulin and cancer

Diabetes and cancer

As is a link between sugar and cancer, there’s the same between diabetes and cancer. Diabetes has been linked to pancreatic cancer. It is in most cases a symptom of pancreatic cancer or a risk factor. Studies have shown pancreatic cancer can occur to patients who have heard diabetes for over five years. The research done on pancreatic patients who have had diabetes for less than five years was unclear if diabetes was in itself the cause of the cancer.

As a symptom for pancreatic cancer, studies have shown that onset diabetes in people who are over 50 years of age may be in itself a symptom. Abrupt changes in the levels of sugar in the blood in diabetics who had controlled sugar level is also a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Insulin Resistance Link to Cancer

This link may be related to the high level of insulin compensation. Obesity causes the body to resists insulin and this causes the pancreas to produce more insulin. This leads to increase in insulin levels in the blood. Insulin contributes greatly to the growth of body tissues. It increases with increase in essential nutrients and reduces when the body is derived of these nutrients.

Insulin may cause cells to rapidly increase. This occurs when insulin causes an increase in insulin-like growth factors (IGF). It could also cause cells to become more sensitive to other factors of growth. One characteristic of cancer cells is their ability to uncontrollably grow and become resistance to agents of cell death.

Growth factors play a major part in the growth of cancer cells as well as their progression. Past studies have shown that people with high levels of insulin-like growth are in more risk of developing, breast, colon or prostate cancer.

Resistance to insulin is characterized by the cells losing their sensitivity to the effects of insulin to aid in the absorption of glucose into the cells. Although this is so, it continues to promote the growth of cells in the body. Only the ability of insulin to transport glucose is affected.

The resistant state of insulin promoted by diabetes may in this case promote the development of cancerous cells. As the amount of insulin increases in the blood, so does its ability to induce cell growth. When this happens it leads to a cancer characteristic of uncontrollable growth of cells. As the pancreas continues producing insulin an individual may not get diabetes but he/she increases the rate of getting cancer.

sugar and cancer

Sugar and Cancer

When most of us hear about sugar we instantly think about the white substance we take in our beverages. Sugar has been linked to causing cancer. So what do most of us do? We cut out the sugar in our body including those that are essential. We cut out eating fruits such as oranges that have natural sugars.

You end up depriving your body of essential nutrients such as fibers found in fruits. However, sugar does not necessarily mean what you take in your tea or in fruits or soft drinks. It is widely used to describe those sugars in our body. Sugar also called glucose is very necessary for a healthy you. It is broken down into energy hence you are able to do those daily task.

High blood levels in the blood cause diabetes. This results in the insulin not being produced or appropriately used. When this happens a person is said to be diabetic. Sugar goes back to the case of diabetes and as seen it can increase a person’s risk of cancer.

Dr. Dr. Dalal Akoury has had years of experience with patients with cancer as well as diabetes. She has vast knowledge about sugar and insulin and their link to cancer. Just visit www.awaremednetwork.com for more expert opinion on this topic and more health tips.

Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

Tag Archives: Blood sugar