American Diabetes Association peddling nutritional nonsense while accepting mone

[Guest guest]

American Diabetes Association peddling nutritional nonsense while

accepting money from manufacturer of candy and sodas

Wednesday, June 01, 2005 by: Jessica Fraser

Printable version Key concepts: sugar, diabetes and insulin.

 

 

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The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently announced a three-

year, multi-million dollar alliance with Cadbury Schweppes Americas

Beverages (CSAB) to help combat obesity and diabetes in America by

stressing the importance of making smart nutritional choices.

According to an ADA press release sent to national media outlets,

CSAB will support local and national ADA programs, such

as " America's Walk for Diabetes " and " Weight Loss Matters. " The

release does not state, however, that the CSAB will be permitted to

use the ADA logo on its diet soft drink products in exchange for

this multi-million dollar contribution.

 

While the ADA and CSAB have published releases putting a positive

spin on their alliance, many public interest groups have some

problems with the partnership. Although CSAB is only allowed to

print ADA's logo on its diet sodas, it is still the third-largest

soft drink manufacturer in the world and a major producer of sugary

candy. Both categories of products contribute to the United States'

problem with obesity and diabetes.

 

Gary Ruskin, executive director of Oregon-based Commercial Alert, a

website that monitors commercial culture, called the ADA's

partnership with CSAB " corrupt " and demanded that the contribution

be returned to CSAB immediately. " If Cadbury Schweppes really wanted

to reduce the incidence of obesity and diabetes, it would stop

advertising its high-sugar products, and remove them from our

nation's schools, " said Ruskin. " This is just another attempt by a

major junk food corporation to obfuscate its responsibility in the

epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States. "

 

Another public interest group, the Corporate Crime Reporter (CCR),

recently published an interview with Richard Kahn, the ADA's chief

medical and scientific officer. CCR asked Kahn, " Why exactly is the

ADA taking money from big corporate donors, including junk food

pushers? " Kahn revealed that the association's so-called " multi-

million dollar " alliance was actually only slightly more than one

million dollars. In exchange for that sum of money, Cadbury-

Schweppes can put the ADA's label on all of its diet soda products.

According to Kahn, however, CSAB cannot use the association's logo

on any product not nutritionally approved by the ADA, nor on any

product specifically marketed toward diabetics.

 

Despite the terms of the alliance, in a press release posted on

www.beverageworld.com, CSAB Senior Vice President of Marketing Jim

Trebilcock implied that products with the ADA logo will be marketed

toward diabetics. " I acknowledge that it is a little bit of a tricky

dance here, given that we also sell sugared beverages, " says

Trebilcock, " but it's about communicating the choice. And it's also

really about doing the right thing. And the right thing is we do

offer products that are great for diabetic patients or people who

are overweight and we want to get that message out, but done in a

way that contributes to an overall solution. "

 

When CCR asked Khan why ADA takes money from food companies at all,

he replied, " If we want to prevent diabetes, reduce the prevalence

of obesity, help find the cure for diabetes, we have to get funds

from someplace. " Khan further added that the ADA was not promoting

any of CSAB's products, including those carrying ADA's logo. It

seems possible, however, that the public might be misled to believe

that ADA does in fact promote products carrying its logo, such as

common Schweppes' diet beverages Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Snapple and

Diet Rite.

 

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this alliance is the evident

change in the ADA's stance on obvious diabetes-promoting substances

such as sugar. The strong connection between sugar and diabetes has

been commonly accepted among the medical public. However, when CCR

stated that sugar is connected to diabetes, Khan quickly denied the

link, saying, " What is the evidence that sugar itself has anything

to do with diabetes? There is no evidence. There is not a shred of

evidence that sugar, per se, has anything to do with getting

diabetes. "

 

The ADA's website even features supposedly safe ways for diabetics

to consume sugar on its " Sweeteners and Desserts " page. " If you have

diabetes, that doesn't mean you can't eat sweets. People with

diabetes can eat desserts, use sweeteners, and still keep their

blood glucose (sugar) levels in their target range, " the site

reads. " In the past, people with diabetes were warned to avoid

sugar. Experts believed eating sugar would rapidly increase blood

glucose, resulting in levels that were too high. Some people even

thought eating sugar caused diabetes, an idea that we know now isn't

true. Research has shown that sugar has the same effect on blood

glucose levels as other carbohydrates. "

 

Khan's statements denying that sugar can cause diabetes came in the

same week that the Journal of Pediatrics published a study blaming

much of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes on over-consumption of

sugary sodas. The study found that sugared sodas contribute about 20

teaspoons of sugar per day to the diets of American teenagers.

 

Although he did not state that sugar is connected to diabetes, Khan

did admit that weight is connected to diabetes. Khan said that

calories (not sugar) are connected to the disease, and that weight

is simply a measure of calories in and calories out. According to

Khan, whether those calories come from sugar, fat or protein is

unimportant. If more calories go in than come out, obesity will

occur, which can lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

 

Throughout the interview, whenever CCR made a connection between

sugar, or sugary soda, and diabetes, Khan quickly mentioned a

different, equally bad or even worse food for diabetics than sugar

or soda, referring to foods such as bacon cheeseburgers or

doughnuts. Khan also repeatedly pressed the idea that the ADA only

approved of diet and sugar-free foods and drinks, such as CSAB's

diet sodas, which contain aspartame, a substance highly debated for

its safety. When CCR asked for the ADA's official position on the

safety of aspartame, Khan replied, " I don't think that there is any

artificial sweetener on the market that has been shown to be

unsafe. "

 

Russell L. Blaylock, MD, author of " Health and Nutrition Secrets "

disagrees. Dr. Blaylock writes, " Diabetics who drink large amounts

of aspartame-sweetened drinks are more likely to go blind. Aspartame

is composed of the excitotoxin aspartic acid, methanol (also a known

eye toxin) and the amino acid phenylalanine. Given this evidence,

then, why do the American Diabetes Association and thousands of

doctors encourage their diabetic patients to use aspartame? At least

where the American Diabetes Association is concerned, it may have

something to do with the fact that the organization has received

large monetary contributions from Monsanto, the manufacturer of

NutraSweet®! "

 

This forms an interesting cycle. The ADA gets money from Monsanto

and, suddenly, no research can be found on the negative effects of

aspartame. Although the ADA website assures readers that sugar is

actually safe for diabetics to consume and that there is no research

to the contrary, it specifically urges diabetics to replace sugar

with artificial sweeteners. " The low-calorie sweeteners in the

United States all underwent extensive testing before they were

approved, " the ADA site reads. " Results showed that low-calorie

sweeteners are safe for everyone, including children and pregnant

women. " Similarly, the ADA has now accepted money from CSAB, and no

research can afterwards be found on the negative effects of sugar.

While this change in attitude appears suspicious, Khan did admit

that type 2 diabetes has become an " epidemic " and that childhood

type 2 diabetes is a " serious problem. "

 

According to " Life without Bread " authors Christian B. Allan and

Wolfgang Lutz, " Diabetes is currently the only noninfectious disease

designated by the World Health Organization as an epidemic. The

International Diabetes Federation and the American Diabetes

Association estimate that more than 15 million people in the United

States and at least 100 million people worldwide have type 2

diabetes. "

 

Diabetes is an epidemic of frightening proportions. What can be

done? According to Khan, little to nothing. The ADA publicly

supports Senator Ted Kennedy's (D -- Mass.) proposed legislation

restricting children's access to junk food during school via vending

machines, but Khan said that the ADA would not outright support an

additional tax on sodas as Tennessee, Arkansas and West Virginia

have already done. According to Khan, the problem of obesity cannot

be solved by singling out soda for taxation over other junk foods,

such as cheeseburgers and doughnuts.

 

Although the ADA does not actually support taxing soda, the

association does support " considering " taxation. After all, who's to

say which foods deserve to be taxed? Khan explained, " Before anyone

starts taxing anything, we ought to look at the entire food supply

and ask: Can we distinguish good foods from bad foods? " Many

scientists seem to believe we can, and they seemed to have

unanimously condemned soda to the " bad foods " category.

 

Perhaps other questions need asking, such as: Why accept money from

companies that raise the question of ethics within the ADA? Why

should the public trust an organization to designate good

nutritional choices when that very same organization makes an

alliance with and accepts money from a junk food company? Regarding

the financial aspect of this issue, Khan said that only seven

percent of the ADA's total budget comes from large corporations. Is

seven percent of a $215 million budget worth calling many years of

research and public trust into question? Better yet, is the slightly

more than a million dollar contribution from CSAB worth it?

 

The ADA claims that its objective in the partnership with CSAB is to

put Cadbury Schweppes' money to use in programs educating the public

about diabetes and proper foods; yet, 30 to 40 percent of the ADA's

budget already goes to prevention and education programs, according

to Khan. Is it worth risking the denigration of ADA's ethical

standing for less than two million dollars from CSAB? According to

Larry Ellingson, the ADA's Chair of the Board, it is. He says, " CSAB

is taking an important step by demonstrating that a company can lend

its infrastructure, marketing tools and consumer connections to

assist an organization like ADA in extending the reach of its

messages. We hope this will serve as a model for other industries. "

 

A model? Ruskin sure hopes that's not the case. In fact, he's

disgusted with the ADA's actions enough to elicit a comparison to

the phony defenders of the tobacco industry. " Saying that sugar has

nothing to do with diabetes is like saying that tobacco has nothing

to do with emphysema, " said Ruskin. " The American Diabetes

Association has been so corrupted that they have sunk to the

mentality of `tobacco scientists' who denied the link between

tobacco and lung cancer. "

 

 

The experts speak on sugar and diabetes

In the early 1800s the per capita consumption of sugar (sucrose) was

about 12 pounds a year. Today in the United States, the per capita

consumption of sugar is more than 150 pounds a year. For every

person who consumes only 5 pounds of sugar, there is another who

eats 295 pounds annually (Challem et al. 2000).

Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page

662

 

In countries where people eat a diet low in fat and sugar and high

in whole foods such as unrefined grains and fresh fruits and

vegetables, diabetes is almost nonexistent. When they move to the

U.S., their diabetes risk skyrockets. Tragically, as

Western " nutrition free " processed and fast foods such as

McDonalds®, and soft drinks such as Coca-Cola® and Pepsi® are

introduced to Third World countries, their rates of diabetes are

rapidly rising. It is estimated that by the year 2010, some 40

percent of Americans 65 or older will have adult-onset diabetes.

Prescription Alternatives by Earl Mindell RPh PhD and Virginia

Hopkins MA, page 405

 

Refined sugar, and simple sugars (corn syrup, honey, maple syrup,

white grape juice concentrate, etc.) in general, place stress on our

blood sugar control and other body control mechanisms. When high-

sugar foods are eaten alone, blood sugar levels rise quickly,

producing a heightened release of insulin. Eating foods high in

simple sugars is usually harmful to blood sugar control—especially

in hypoglycemics and diabetics. Sugar also has a detrimental effect

on mood, premenstrual syndrome, and many other health conditions,

especially when combined with caffeine.

Encyclopedia Of Natural Medicine by Michael T Murray MD Joseph L

Pizzorno ND, page 54

 

The glut of sugar can also cause kidney disease, eye problems, and

severe nerve damage to the lower limbs and other parts of the body.

(People with diabetes account for more than 50 percent of the lower

limb amputations performed in the United States each year.)

Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 212

 

White refined sugar, or sucrose, drains your liver, imbalances your

adrenal glands, overtaxes your nerves, and depletes your B vitamins.

It contributes to allergies, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, and

abnormal hormonal fluctuations in both women and men. It is the root

cause of functional hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It accelerates

the onset of adult diabetes (high blood sugar). Perhaps most

commonly, by setting up the body's energy level to hit a false peak

and then crash back down, it causes chronic fatigue and an unstable

metabolism.

Food Swings by Barnet Meltzer MD, page 42

 

The people who make those awful bottled " natural " fruit drinks and

teas aren't going to like this, but it's possible that the steep

rise in our consumption of high-fructose corn syrup has contributed

to the rise in diabetes by depleting chromium. (As our consumption

of high-fructose corn syrup has risen 250 percent in the past 15

years, our rate of diabetes has increased approximately 45 percent

in about the same time period.) According to studies done at the

Agriculture Department's Human Nutrition Resource Center, fructose

consumption causes a drop in chromium, raises LDL " bad " cholesterol

and triglycerides, and impairs immune system function.

Prescription Alternatives by Earl Mindell RPh PhD and Virginia

Hopkins MA, page 418

 

When the pancreas becomes exhausted by the constant demand of

producing insulin to convert all that sugar into heat and energy, it

finally malfunctions and the excess sugar then pollutes the

bloodstream. And without sufficient insulin to process glucose, the

body is deprived of an essential food and the diabetic remains

hungry no matter how much he or she eats. Sugar accumulates in the

bloodstream faster than the body can excrete it through the urine,

and the victim is literally poisoned. He becomes tired, weak,

nauseated, and depressed. Sugar also plays havoc with our teeth. It

feeds the bacteria normally present in the mouth, causing them to

multiply. This leads to plaque formation, cavities, and gum disease.

Power Aging by Gary Null, page 39

 

Does sugar contribute to diabetes and coronary heart disease? Dr.

John Yudkin, considered one of the world's leading authorities on

sugar in the diet, concludes that the trouble sugar causes goes

considerably beyond tooth decay and extra pounds. For example, sugar

causes irregularities in the insulin response; sugar causes

diabeteslike damage to the kidneys; it contributes to degeneration

of the retina; it raises blood fat levels; and it increases the

stickiness of the blood platelets, a common precursor of heart

trouble.

Complete Guide Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 110

 

Dr. James Anderson at the University of Kentucky Medical School

popularized the high complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet for the

treatment of diabetes. With this diet, about 70% of diabetic

patients were able to stop insulin and oral diabetic therapy. This

program of bread, pasta, fruit, and vegetables works because fat

interferes with the action of insulin while high carbohydrate foods

intensify the action of insulin. Beans seem to be particularly

effective in this diet. The carbohydrates used must be natural.

Whole-wheat flour is good; white flour is bad.

A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work By James

Howenstine MD, page 113

 

You might think that replacing white sugar with honey, molasses, and

other " healthy " sweeteners is the way to go. Unfortunately, just

like refined white sugar, almost all natural sweeteners have a high

glycemic index and provoke a sharp glucose release. The

one " natural " sweetener that is low on the glycemic index is

fructose. However, fructose poses problems of its own, especially

for diabetics. It is a primary culprit in glycosylation, the

chemical binding of sugars to proteins, which, as I explained in the

first chapter, is one of the mechanisms behind the cascade of

complications in diabetes.

Reversing diabetes by Julian Whitaker MD, page 125

 

High sugar intake increases adrenal activity 10-12 times (causing

high blood sugar itself). Excess Calorie, fat, and sugar consumption

leads to Insulin resistance. An estimated 2/3 of diabetes is from

overweight, obesity and high blood sugar leading to fewer Insulin

receptor sites. Remedial low Calories means less Insulin and more

Insulin receptor sites. High blood sugar causes Zinc deficiency,

lowered healing. Under stress/Mineral deprivation, the body can

catabolize up to 50% of its own Protein tissues for breakdown to

sugars. High blood sugar with acidosis from deficiency of intrinsic

Insulin causes deposits in blood vessels precursing Brain stroke

and/or heart attack; and is usually accompanied by hepatic/liver

disease that prevents Protein assimilation in the liver, assimilable

forms of Amino acids, and Insulin-building Amino acids in the

pancreas.

Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 243

 

As your blood sugar rises, all sorts of things can go wrong with

your body. But many of these complications take years to develop.

High blood sugar makes your blood sticky, and this stickiness can

trigger many biochemical changes. Most notably, it increases the

number of free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that damage your

blood vessels and clog them with cholesterol-rich deposits. This

process, called atherosclerosis, sets the stage for heart disease,

kidney failure, eye problems, and a nervous-system condition called

diabetic neuropathy.

Blended Medicine by Michael Castleman, page 11

 

Chromium is so important in helping glucose travel from the

bloodstream to the cells that adequate amounts may really help your

condition if you suffer from hypoglycemia or diabetes. In fact,

there is evidence that one contributing factor in the development of

a blood sugar disorder is an imbalance or malfunction of your

chromium-insulin mechanism. If you suffer from hypoglycemia, your

problem is that you produce too much insulin, with a corresponding

quick drop in blood sugar. Perhaps your body is responding to a diet

of refined carbohydrates (sugar and white flour), which do not

supply enough chromium for proper metabolism. If you have eaten such

nonfoods for a long time, your pancreas may simply be worn out from

overproducing insulin to cope with them, and at the same time your

stores of chromium may be depleted. The end result may be that your

pancreas has exhausted itself trying to keep up with your diet, and

can no longer produce insulin at all. You may then find yourself at

the next stage of blood sugar disorder: diabetes.

Complete Guide to Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 397

 

An article in Science magazine reported that the greatest cause of

cataracts is the body's inability to cope with food sugars. The

worst offender is lactose, followed by refined white sugar. Simple

sugars include: table sugar and corn syrup (sucrose), honey

(glucose), milk sugar (lactose), fruit sugar (fructose), and xylose,

the sugar-like substance often used to sweeten " sugar-free " diabetic

candies, chewing gum, and cookies. Recommendation: Sharply reduce or

even eliminate your intake of sucrose and xylose products. Let the

dietary sugars you do eat come mainly from fresh fruit and dairy

sources, keeping the total amount of even these sugars at 30% to 50%

of your daily carbohydrate intake.

Doctors Complete Guide Vitamins Minerals by Mary D Eades MD, page

244

 

Any substance that can do the bodily harm that sugar can do is

obviously capable of contributing to the progress of major

degenerative diseases, too. For example, sugar alters both the blood

sugar levels and the body's normal response to insulin. These two

changes are commonly observed in victims of maturity onset diabetes.

Complete Guide to Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 108

 

White refined sugar is also a culprit in everything from common

colds and flu, bronchitis, sinus infections, and digestive

difficulties to breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and Candida. By

weakening the immune system, it increases the risk of degenerative

illnesses and infections. In addition to imbalancing the pancreas

and liver, it also attacks the central nervous system. It kills

brain cells. Avoid this vicious anti-nutrient in all its guises:

candies, chocolates, cake, ice cream, donuts, pastries, jams and

jellies, and artificial sweeteners such as mannitol, saccharin,

Equal™, and Nutrasweet™. And watch out for the refined white sugar

present in brown sugar, turbinado sugar, and high-fructose corn

syrup.

Food Swings by Barnet Meltzer MD, page 46

 

Therefore any overconsumption of sugar—above all other things—is

very likely to precipitate not only diabetes in the first place, but

the still more dreadful coronary thrombosis in the second.

Complete Guide to Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 107

 

As your blood sugar levels increase, all sorts of things go wrong in

your body. Basically, all that extra sugar gums up your blood

vessels, setting the stage for the major complications of type 2

diabetes: heart disease, stroke, eye problems (including blindness),

kidney failure, nervous system impairment, and wound infections or

ulcers (often requiring foot or leg amputation).

Anti-Aging Prescriptions by James Duke PhD, page 342

 

Sugar-sweetened soft drinks and confections are not permissible for

prediabetic or diabetic patients, but the alternative, artificially

sweetened beverages and foodstuffs, may not be either. Allegations

have implicated aspartame as a potential risk factor for several

disorders, although this remains a controversial issue. Many

artificial sweeteners (marketed as a sugar substitute) may actually

contain sugar, masquerading as dextrose and maltodextrin.

Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page

663

 

Caffeine raises blood sugar levels and disrupts the blood sugar-

regulating effect of insulin. In fact, high-dose caffeine

administration (the equivalent of six cups of coffee) has been shown

to produce transient insulin resistance that is very similar to Type

II diabetes.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 199

 

High levels of glucose or other sugars in the blood frequently

damage the eyes, leading to cataracts or damage to the retinas.

Damage to the kidneys or nerves is common in those with diabetes,

and the risk of heart disease is much higher.

The Omega Solution by Jonathan Goodman ND, page 164

 

The obese diabetic may first notice strange things happening to his

or her feet; they may tingle, or they may be numb. When they are

bruised or scratched, they may take a long time to heal. This is

because excess sugar in the blood has damaged vital nerve endings

and, in the worst case, caused atherosclerosis, leading to reduced

blood flow to the limbs. The consequent numbness can mask a severe

injury, which can become infected, eventually leading to gangrene

and amputation.

Fat Land by Greg Critser, page 141

 

The average American consumes about 150 pounds of sugar each year.

This accounts for 550 to 650 calories a day, or almost three pounds

per week. In 2001, Americans spent $21 billion on candy alone—more

than the gross national products of Lithuania, Costa Rica, and

Mozambique combined, according to the Tufts University Health and

Nutrition Letter. The empty calories in sugar contribute directly to

overweight, diabetes, tooth decay, and overall poor health. One in

twenty of the world's adult population now has some form of

diabetes, a disease associated with obesity, poor eating habits, and

a sedentary lifestyle. More than half of American adults are

overweight. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) relates that the incidence of type 2 diabetes (formerly known

as adult-onset diabetes) has risen by 33 percent in the past decade

and three out of every fifty American adults currently have this

diet-related condition. Complications related to diabetes are the

sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Prescription For Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A Balch, page 205

 

People who are hypoglycemic or diabetic shouldn't risk the blood

sugar swings that caffeine causes. Decaf can still affect a

sensitive person's blood sugar levels. Diabetics can run a simple

experiment on themselves by testing their blood sugar before and

after a cup of decaf coffee and watching the blood sugar rise then

fall within several hours. Hypoglycemics need only to observe their

energy levels dip one to two hours after drinking decaf to realize

that no coffee is the best choice for them.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 305

 

After eating sugary low-fiber foods like doughnuts in the morning,

there is a reactive low blood sugar phenomenon later in the day,

often experienced as the afternoon " slump. " Fiber foods, on the

other hand, help stabilize blood sugar by slowing down the release

of sugars and insulin. This reduces the highs and lows of sugars and

insulin. In this way, fiber foods protect against risk factors for

diabetes, and help maintain optimal energy throughout the day.

Healthy Digestion the Natural Way by Dr Lindsey Berkson, page 25

 

Diabetes was a very rare illness in the United States in 1880, with

only 2.8 persons out of every 100,000 having diabetes. Now at least

10% of the populace has diabetes and when you look for early signs

of diabetes (hyperinsulinemia) that number is certain to be much

higher.

A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work By James

Howenstine MD, page 96

 

People with diabetes who take chromium should be under medical

supervision, since their insulin dosage may need to be reduced as

blood sugar drops.

Healing With Vitamins by Alice Feinstein, page 30

 

Refined sugar, because so many nutrients are removed from it, is

believed to be more likely to produce diabetes than unrefined

sugarcane, which is rich in the glucose tolerance factor, chromium.

Investigators tell us that even though the South African diet is

rich in raw sugarcane, diabetes is rare among the workers who cut

and eat it daily. This may also be due to the fact that the sugar is

eaten in its high-fiber natural state, or that these workers are

exercising strenuously each day.

Complete Guide Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 123

 

Bleached white flour: Not only have the bran and germ been stripped

away, but bleached flour also contains a substance from the flour

bleach (alloxan) which causes diabetes in animals. Unbleached white

flour should also be avoided since it is stripped of essential

nutrients.

The Enzyme Cure by Lita Lee with Lisa Turner & Burton Goldberg, page

123

 

Fructose is a highly reactive molecule that readily attaches to

proteins, changing their structure and interfering with their normal

activity. Studies show that fructose accelerates glycosylation,

damaging proteins to a significantly greater degree than sucrose or

glucose. " Yet we consume this harmful sweetener like it is going out

of style. In a highly processed form (high-fructose corn syrup), it

is the primary ingredient in soft drinks, sales of which have gone

through the roof in recent years. More than 25 percent of the

beverages Americans consume are sodas. In 1997 Americans purchased

14 billion gallons of " liquid candy " —more than 576 12-ounce servings

per person per year!

Reversing diabetes by Julian Whitaker MD, page 125

 

There is no doubt that the refined oils, hydrogenated fats, and a

severe lack of the Omega 3 fatty acids are contributing to our

diabetes epidemic. The control of blood sugar depends on adequate

amounts of the minerals zinc, chromium, vanadium, and magnesium,

which are lacking in the foods grown in soil treated with

Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Potassium fertilizer used by most farmers.

We are being poisoned by pesticides, lack of essential fatty acids,

toxic trans fat isomers and toxic additives. Diabetics have the

additional problem that they are losing large quantities of minerals

and vitamins in their urine whenever their blood sugars are

elevated.

A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work By James

Howenstine MD, page 100

 

Studies have shown that people who exercise cut their risk of

developing Type 2 diabetes by 24 percent. That's because exercise is

insulin's best friend: It lends a helping hand, moving sugar out of

the bloodstream and into the cells.

Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 212

 

Alcohol, caffeine and fruit juices have the same affect on the

glucose. We caution all diabetics to avoid not only sugar, but

caffeine as well. One cup of coffee can elevate the glucose level

enough to need three units of insulin to counteract it.

It's All In Your Head By Hal A Huggins DDS, page 84

 

Fat, especially saturated fat, may be as dangerous for diabetics as

sugar. Frequent small meals and the use of olive oil instead of

butter or cheese may help control blood-sugar and cholesterol

levels. Type I diabetics must coordinate the timing of meals with

insulin administration.

Graedons Best Medicine by Joe Graedon & Dr Terasa Graedon, page 318

 

Diabetes is all about sugar—the sugar in our bodies known as blood

sugar or blood glucose. Every cell in our bodies must have a

constant source of glucose in order to fuel metabolism. Our cells

use glucose to power processes such as growth and repair. When we

eat a meal the digestive system converts much of our food into

glucose which is released into the bloodstream. The hormone insulin,

which is secreted by the pancreas gland, moves glucose from the

blood and funnels it into the cells so it can be used as fuel. If

the cells are unable to get adequate amounts of glucose, they can

literally starve to death. As they do, tissues and organs begin to

degenerate. This is what happens in diabetes.

Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil by Bruce Fife ND, page 109

 

Fructose is a natural monosaccharide that occurs in fruits and

honey. In whole fruit, it is an excellent energy source. Pure

fructose may be derived from fruit, but this is not financially

expedient. Commercial fructose is available in either liquid or

crystal form. Liquid fructose is made by splitting the two

components of corn syrup. High-fructose corn syrup may contain as

much as 55 percent-sucrose and (diabetics, please note) it requires

insulin for its metabolism. Crystalline fructose is made from

intensely refined cane and beet sugar.

New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood, page 136

 

Sugar is another dietary disaster.. In addition to causing dental

caries [cavities], depressing the immune system, and providing a lot

of empty calories that contribute to weight gain, sugar has other

detrimental effects, especially for diabetics.

Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 226

 

When you eat starch, sugar, or protein, your body breaks down and

absorbs the nutrients in the food, and your blood sugar rises. This

rise in blood sugar signals your pancreas to produce and release

insulin, the hormone that acts to return your blood sugar to normal

by driving it into the tissues to be used or stored. In some people,

the rise in blood sugar stimulates the release of too much insulin,

which drives too much blood sugar into the tissues, leaving the

level in the blood too low. In medicine, we call this condition

hypoglycemia. When the blood sugar swings wildly, first hurtling

upward then plummeting too low, you may suffer symptoms of nausea,

clammy sweats, dizziness, muscle cramping, and even fainting. We

refer to these unpleasant symptoms accompanying the falling blood

sugar level as " reactive " hypoglycemia. Symptoms come not from the

low level itself but from the rapid change. A stable low blood sugar—

one that's low but is always about the same degree of low—rarely

causes symptoms. People with overactive insulin and reactive

hypoglycemia often develop adult-onset diabetes mellitus

Doctors Complete Guide Vitamins Minerals by Mary D Eades MD, page

382

 

People with diabetes should eat at least three meals a day at

regular intervals to keep their blood sugar levels within normal

range. Meals and snacks that combine carbohydrates with proteins or

fats will have the longest-lasting effects on blood sugar levels

because protein and fat take longer to raise blood sugar than

carbohydrates do.

Foods That Fight Disease by Laurie Deutsch Mozian MS RD, page 47

 

In fact, U.S. government statistics for this time period clearly

demonstrate that along with the dramatic decrease in dietary fat

intake (from forty percent to thirty-three percent of our caloric

intake) there was also a dramatic increase in the intake of refined

carbohydrates, not only sugar but white flour. There is no doubt in

my mind that this increase in refined carbohydrates has been spurred

by the media attention given to the Food Guide Pyramid, created by

the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which made six to eleven daily

servings of these wheat derivatives the basis of the pyramid. I

believe that the Food Guide Pyramid's recommendations have directly

contributed to the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes we now

face in this country.

Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution by Robert C Atkins MD, page 13

 

For diabetics, excess sugar becomes a toxin in the system clogging

up the respiration of cells and preventing the kidney from doing its

job.

Building Wellness with DMG by Roger V Kendall PhD, page 136

 

Excess sugar consumption can suppress the immune system; upset the

body's mineral balance; produce an acidic stomach; and cause

hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and heart

disease (by raising insulin levels), as well as fatigue, weight

gain, depression, and arthritis. According to Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.,

author of Lick the Sugar Habit (Avery/Penguin Putnam, 1996), there

are seventy-eight metabolic consequences to eating sugar. Dietary

sugars feed harmful intestinal yeasts, toxic organisms, fungi, and

all forms of cellular cancer. Bill Misner Ph.D., sports nutritionist

and author, has said, " Because sugar is devoid of vitamins,

minerals, fiber, and has such a deteriorating effect on the

endocrine system, major researchers and major health organizations

(American Dietetic Association and American diabetic Association)

agree that sugar consumption in America is one of the three major

causes of degenerative disease. " The rise in type 2 diabetes cases

in young people is so great that experts are calling it an " emerging

epidemic. "

Prescription For Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A Balch, page 205

 

In the early stage of this illness, high levels of insulin are a

warning that eventually high blood sugars will appear. Elevated

cholesterol and triglyceride values, obesity, hypertension, and the

clinical appearance of vascular damage are all clues that point

toward a pre-diabetic state.

A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work By James

Howenstine MD, page 105

 

The risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer can be

reduced through the simple act of substituting whole grains for

refined grains. Refined foods such as white flour and white rice are

stripped of the fiber and nutrients that whole grains still possess.

The first word on the label must be whole—don't be fooled by

artificial brown or caramel coloring.

Prescription For Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A Balch, page 108

 

Man-refined sugar is eight times as concentrated as flour, and eight

times as unnatural—perhaps eight times as dangerous. It is the

unnaturalness that deceives the tongue and appetite, leading to

overconsumption. Who would eat 5 pounds of sugar beets a day? Yet

the equivalent in refined sugar is a mere 5 ounces.

Sugar Blues by William Dufiy, page 217

 

Studies have shown that biotin supplementation can be helpful for

improving blood-sugar control in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 58

 

The human body was not designed to handle the amount of refined

sugar, salt, saturated fats, and other harmful food compounds that

many people in the United States and other Western countries feed

it. The result is that a metabolic syndrome emerges: elevated

insulin levels, obesity, elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride

levels, and high blood pressure.

Encyclopedia Of Natural Medicine by Michael T Murray MD Joseph L

Pizzorno ND, page 554

 

Convincing evidence shows how large amounts of refined and

concentrated sugars overwork the pancreas, causing wide swings in

blood sugar levels.

Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram, page 241

 

Yudkin tells us that the kidney is damaged identically by either a

high sugar intake or by inducing a diabetic state. We know this

because laboratory experiments using rodents have accomplished that

astonishing result. These alterations were actually seen by routine

biopsy as well as by microscopic and electron-microscopic methods.

Complete Guide Health Nutrition by Gary Null, page 108

 

Coronary disease has heretofore been regarded as a " complication " of

diabetes. Both coronary disease and diabetes have a common cause:

White sugar and white flour.

Sugar Blues by William Dufiy, page 218

 

Type II diabetes usually occurs after the age of forty-five,

frequently in overweight people, and ranges in severity from mere

insulin resistance to insulin dependence. Occasionally, children are

diagnosed with type II diabetes. It frequently can be controlled

with diet and exercise. It is diagnosed when two consecutive blood

tests taken while fasting reveal that the level of blood sugar is

126 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) or higher.

Foods That Fight Disease by Laurie Deutsch Mozian MS RD, page 143

 

Many of us have heard that if sugar were to attempt now to pass the

FDA approval process it would not be approved. The March 1993 issue

of the TOWNSEND LETTER FOR DOCTORS gives us an idea as to why this

is so. They give a list of ways in which sugar is known to be

harmful. The reactions they list are: immune system suppression;

mineral imbalance; hyperactivity; rise in triglycerides; reduces

defenses against infection; reduces high density lipoproteins;

chromium an copper deficiency; cancer of the breast, ovaries,

intestines, prostate and rectum; increases fasting levels of glucose

and insulin; interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium;

weakens eyesight; raises serotonin; causes hypoglycemia; produces

stomach over-acidity; increases adrenalin levels; produces anxiety,

irritability and difficulty concentrating; aging; alcoholism; tooth

decay; obesity; contributes to duodenal and gastric ulcers;

arthritis; asthma; Candida albicans (yeast infections); gallstones;

heart disease; appendicitis; multiple sclerosis; hemorrhoids;

varicose veins; elevates glucose and insulin responses in

conjunction with the use of contraceptives; periodontal disease;

osteoporosis; decrease in insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance;

decrease in growth hormone; increases cholesterol and systolic blood

pressure; drowsiness and decreased activity; migraine headaches;

food allergies; contributes to diabetes; toxemia during pregnancy;

eczema, and it interferes with protein absorption.

PROZAC Panacea or Pandora by Ann Blake Tracy PhD, page 327

 

There is some evidence that a high consumption of sugar-sweetened

foods may lead not only to impotence and premature ejaculation, but

to unrealistic sexual attitudes and expectations, strong urges,

strange fantasies, and even crimes of sexual violence.

Food And Healing by Anne Marie Colbin, page 300

 

90 percent of Type II diabetics [are] obese. Even in nondiabetic

individuals, large body-fat gains often result in carbohydrate

intolerance, higher blood insulin, and insulin insensitivity in body

tissues. Progressive insulin insensitivity is now thought to be the

main factor in the development of this most common type of diabetes.

Many obese diabetics are able to restore normal blood sugar levels

simply by achieving ideal body-fat level.

Herbal Defense by Ralph T Golan ND, page 25

 

The whole problem of sugar was compounded by the low-fat messages we

were wrongly bombarded with during the 1980s and 1990s. To make a

low-fat product taste good, manufacturers add lots of sugar. Now, in

the United States, the aisles in the supermarket are crammed with

low-fat or diet cookies and crackers, ice cream, frozen cakes and

pies, soft drinks and white bread filled with sugar. The United

States has " low-fatted " and " dieted " itself to a raging epidemic of

obesity and diabetes.

Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution by Robert C Atkins MD, page 23

 

Type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with a lack of exercise and a

poor diet—one that's low in fiber and high in sugar, fat, and animal

products. It develops slowly, usually over several years, and rarely

produces dramatic symptoms. For this reason, many people with type 2

diabetes have no idea that they are sick. In fact, the American

diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that only half of Americans

with type 2 diabetes have been diagnosed.

Blended Medicine by Michael Castleman, page 232

 

Although no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) has been established

for chromium, at least 200 mg each day appears necessary for optimal

sugar regulation. Chromium levels can be depleted by consuming

refined sugars or white flour products, and by lack of exercise.

Encyclopedia Of Natural Medicine by Michael T Murray MD Joseph L

Pizzorno ND, page 418

 

Nearly 15 million Americans have to contend with this condition.

Excess sugar in the blood damages the arteries and veins and can

lead to fatal heart disease and stroke. (The death rate for middle-

aged people with Type 2 diabetes is twice that of middle-aged people

who do not have it.)

Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 212

 

Excessive consumption of sugar has recently been identified by some

researchers as the single most important dietary risk factor for

heart disease in women.

Reversing diabetes by Julian Whitaker MD, page 124

 

....the pesticides and chemicals sprayed on cane and beet sugar and

the chemical bleaching process used to make " white " sugar are

potentially hazardous; we are not advised about this on sugar

packages or food labels.

Staying Healthy With Nutrition by Elson M Haas MD, page 463

 

Avoid fats, cholesterol, and sugar and keep your weight down to help

prevent diabetes, which affects the heart.

Heart Disease by Burton Goldberg, page 242

 

The high blood sugar levels that characterize diabetes need to be

controlled and kept within normal limits to reduce the long-term

complications of chronic high blood sugar—premature cardiovascular

disease, kidney disease, and vision problems.

Foods That Fight Disease by Laurie Deutsch Mozian MS RD, page 144

 

The ability to maintain normal blood sugar levels is jeopardized by

the lack of chromium in our soil and water supply and by a diet high

in refined white sugar, flour, and junk foods.

Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and

James F Balch MD, page 27

 

Adult-onset diabetes is a severe imbalance of this system. It is the

common form of the disease, correlated with overweight and

inactivity, the result not of decreased production of insulin but of

increased resistance to its effects.

8 Weeks To Optimum Health By Andrew Weil MD, page 237

 

One of the most valuable aspects of buckwheat is its ability to help

control blood sugar levels in people with adult-onset diabetes, the

most common form of the disease.

New Foods For Healing by Selene Yeager, page 96

 

In our experience, almost everyone benefits from carbohydrate

restriction, even if they have had Type 2 diabetes for years and are

taking drugs to lower their glucose levels.

Life Without Bread by Christian B Allan PhD and Wolfgang Lutz MD,

page 47

 

Diets high in simple sugars such as glucose and fructose rob the

body of chromium, while those high in complex carbohydrates such as

pasta preserve it.

Food Additives by Ruth Winter MS, page 124