Learn how to listen to blood sugars for mealtime

One theory is that the will to eat is a decision associated with conditioned responses and with unconditioned body sensations that reflect changes in metabolic biomarkers. Here, researchers investigated whether this decision can be delayed until blood glucose is allowed to fall to low levels, when presumably feeding behavior is mostly unconditioned. Following such an eating pattern might avoid some of the metabolic risk factors that are associated with high blood sugars.

The main hypothesis of this study was that adult individuals can be trained to accurately estimate their glucose levels at meal times. This knowledge was achieved by training the subjects to associate feelings of hunger with low glucose concentrations. In contrast, control (untrained) subjects were unable to recognize their glycemic levels at meal times and expressed the will to eat at a wide range of blood sugar values.

The findings suggest (1) that eating when blood sugars are high may lead to higher calorie intake than in trained subjects, and (2) that the lack of correlation between food consumption and blood sugars may, at least in part, explain why part of the population cannot maintain a healthy weight.

The conclusion to this study was that people can learn to listen to their bodies when their blood sugars are low. The hope is that if people can learn to tell the difference between the need to eat and the need to put something in their mouth, they might be able to control their weight AND better control their blood sugars.
So what can you learn from this study? The most important thing is that research is showing that we CAN learn to listen to our bodies to control our food intake. A concept that is becoming more popular is called “Mindful Eating”. Another concept to investigate is ‘Intuitive Eating’.

To read the abstract of this study, go to;
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/3/1/42

The Safety of Caffeine During Pregnancy

Many obstetricians already advise pregnant women to limit caffeine but the subject has been debated with conflicting studies. Too much caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage; a new study suggests that pregnant women want to reduce their intake or cut it out entirely. The new study, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that pregnant women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day may double their risk of miscarriage. To put this in perspective, here are some examples of caffeinated foods/beverages and how much caffeine is contained:

- An eight-ounce cup of drip-brewed coffee typically has 65-120 mg
- An eight and one-third ounce energy drink contains between 50-200mg
- An eight-ounce serving of brewed tea has 20-90mg
- Caffeinated soft drinks have 30-60mg per 12 ounce serving
- An ounce of milk chocolate has 1-15mg

According to the March of Dimes website, most experts agreed that the amount of caffeine found in 8 to 16 ounces of coffee a day was safe. It noted that some studies had linked higher amounts to miscarriage and low birth weight, but stated: “However, there is no solid proof that caffeine causes these problems. Until more is known, women should limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy.” Now, having reviewed the study, the March of Dimes plans to change its message, to advise women who are pregnant, or trying to conceive, to limit their daily caffeine intake to 200 milligrams or less, said Janis Biermann, its senior vice president of education and public health.

Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and epidemiology, at Columbia University Medical Center, had reservations about the study, noting that miscarriage is difficult to study or explain. Dr. Westhoff said that most miscarriages resulted from chromosomal abnormalities, and there was no evidence that caffeine could cause those problems. “Just interviewing women, over half of whom had already had their miscarriage, does not strike me as the best way to get at the real scientific question here,” she said. “But it is an excellent way to scare women.” She said that smoking, Chlamydia infections and increasing maternal age were stronger risk factors for miscarriage, and ones that women could do something about.

Although this particular study showed some significant results, the relationship of caffeine with miscarriage is still not clear. If you or someone you know is pregnant it is important to remain aware of precautions relating to nutrition but not become obsessive about everything you put in your body. This study further supports the fact that moderation in all things is still an excellent rule.

For further information on this study:
http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/webfiles/images/journals/ymob/mob999082637p.pdf

Predict Your Heart Disease Future

A gene variant that raises the risk of heart disease 55 percent can be identified with a new test that may help doctors determine who should take cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor, scientists say.

A mutated form of the gene, known as KIF6, is linked with a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease, according to three studies to be published Jan. 29in the Journal of American College of Cardiology. The disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Identifying a gene that predisposes a person to coronary heart disease may yield another screening option besides cholesterol and blood pressure levels, to help doctors prescribe preventative treatments. The test for identifying the disease is a DNA test that will provide your KIF6 status. Knowing the result of the test will help you know if you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs along with living a heart healthy lifestyle. The test will be done with other traditional risk-factor assessments such as cholesterol and blood pressure.

About 1.2 million America s will have a coronary heart attack this year, according to the American Heart Association’s Web site. More than 60 percent of the population may carry KIF6, based on the combined research on about 30,000 people.

The test is pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Regardless of the availability of the test and your results, it is important to practice a heart healthy lifestyle. This includes physical activity, limiting high fat foods, and increasing fruits/vegetables in the diet. These changes can be made easily. For example, you can take the stairs rather than an elevator, using a non-stick spray when cooking, and having fruits/vegetables as an afternoon snack, retrospectively. For more information on a heart healthy lifestyle visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/lifestyles/lifestyles.html
To access the three articles featured in this blog, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2tn2kv