September
2007
Rethinking Diabetes and Cholesterol
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Two new studies add an interesting dimension to our dietary debates!
1. Omega 3’s Fight Diabetes
Reinforcing the ongoing evidence that diabetes is an unnecessary epidemic borne of misguided dietary guidelines, a new study shows that simply eating “smart fats” can help reduce the risk of diabetes. But there’s a twist: we’re not talking about type 2. The study shows that children who eat a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to develop type 1 diabetes - even with a family history of the disease. The epidemic of type 2 already has an established link to diet. JAMA reports; scientists participating in the study say the implications are big. Might early dietary interventions prevent both types of diabetes?
2. LDL or HDL?
LDL - bad cholesterol - has long dominated the focus of heart disease research and treatment. (Hello, statins!) But a new study finds that HDL - good cholesterol - may be more important in preventing cardiovascular events. HDL protects the heart and “mops up” bad cholesterol, and it may be more effective to concentrate on raising good cholesterol than lowering bad cholesterol. The standard treatment theory has held that reducing LDL would render concerns about HDL unnecessary (meaning as long as one were taking statins, there’d be no need to worry about boosting the good cholesterol). Lo and behold, it appears the opposite may be true. Even when LDL is successfully reduced, the impact of a high or low HDL level had much greater significance. However, efforts to develop HDL-raising drugs have met with failure (talk about digging a hole to put in a ladder to wash the basement windows). The solution, say the experts? Wouldn’t you know: staying trim and exercising!
Bottom line: dietary interventions with healthful fats from wild salmon, olive oil, nuts, flax, seeds, soybeans, and grass-fed meats are a smart defense against disease for children and adults alike.
Further reading:
Want to get diabetes? Follow the diabetes dietary guidelines!
Technorati Tags: HDL, LDL, cholesterol, pharmacology, Big Pharma, diabetes
If we only ate smart fats, the risk of all diseases would probably decrease.
I had a blood test this summer…or 21. My HDLs and LDLs and triglygerides are perfect. This is odd, it should be high to scary (still hypo.).
More fat the merrier, I say.
I hear you, Crystal. I eat a lot of fat and have great numbers…can’t say I don’t enjoy razzing my doctor a bit
However, efforts to develop HDL-raising drugs have met with failure (talk about digging a hole to put in a ladder to wash the basement windows).
We already have a 100% proven drug to raise HDL cholesterol.
It’s called saturated fat.
[...] Hanselman wrote an interesting post today on Rethinking Diabetes and CholesterolHere’s a quick [...]
Actually, I Was On The Phone This Morning With My Dad About Cholesterol. He WILL Be 73 This Month Of October And Eating Good Fats Has Kept Him In Good Health, His Dr. Even Agrees!