The Mediterranean diet is one of the few diets that has actually shown positive effects in decreasing likelihood of developing diabetes and other health-related issues. New information from the World Health Organization is now revealing that the Mediterranean region has some of the highest rates for childhood obesity in the world.

The WHO reported that Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Spain, San Marino, and Greece were among the highest out of the 34 countries in the Mediterranean region to see a vast increase in childhood obesity. Boys had higher rates than girls, with nearly one in five boys being obese.These rates are even higher than that of the United States where obesity affects 17% of children.

This increase in obesity is most likely due to the loss of the Mediterranean diet and decreased physical activity.The Mediterranean diet is known to include fish, red meat, and poultry, olive oils, and a high amount of plant-based foods. A study by the American Diabetes Association in 2011 showed that four years of following this diet decreased likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes by 52%.

In recent years, the diet of the people in this region has shifted towards more processed, sugary, and energy dense foods. This shift in dietary habits is most likely due to urbanization of the Mediterranean area. Increased rates of poverty in some of these countries may also be linked to increased intake of processed foods as well with many of the poorest European countries having the highest rates of childhood obesity.

To learn more about this topic, enjoy the: Italy Newsletter and Tots to Teens Webinar, Nutrition and Exercise Webinar

 

There is plenty of research linking dark chocolate to overall heart health and immunity. However, a recent study from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonia, Texas is now finding that dark chocolate may have an effect on vision quality as well.

The researchers assessed 30 healthy adults in their 20’s. The participants were to either consume 1.5 oz of dark chocolate or rice milk chocolate. Labels were removed from the bars as to not skew any of the collected information. An hour after consumption, the subjects participated in a letter-based eye chart to test for visual acuity. The researchers concluded that those who consumed dark chocolate did experience slightly better vision, however, the effects, “were small and the real life functional relevance is unclear.” 

The reason for this slight visual improvement in the dark chocolate subjects, “may be a result of increased blood flow to the retina, visual pathways, or the brain’s cerebral cortex.” This increased blood flow would increase bioavailability of oxygen and nutrients to the cerebral cortex, allowing it to function properly and efficiently. It was  concluded that, “a single dose of dark chocolate improves visibility of small, low-contrast targets within 2 hours compared with milk chocolate, but the duration of this difference and clinical relevance remains uncertain.” While it is too early for dark chocolate to be recommended by your optometrist, introducing small amounts into your diet may show some positive benefits.

To learn more about dark chocolate and its effects on visual health, visit A bit of dark chocolate might sweeten your vision.

Try out this recipe, Dark Chocolate Covered Grapes, for an easy and delicious summer treat!

After a 14 year battle, the time has finally come to say goodbye to artificial trans fat!

“The elimination of artificial trans fat from the food supply represents a historic and long-fought victory for public health,” said CSPI senior scientist and former executive director Michael F. Jacobson, who led CSPI’s efforts to get artificial trans fat out of foods. “Ridding the food supply of partially hydrogenated oils will save tens of thousands of lives each year.”

This new law is all a part of a plan revealed in May by the World Health Organization to completely eliminate artificial trans fats by 2023. The production of processed foods and the rise of fast food restaurants have brought our world many steps back in terms of health. Now, it is our chance to take a large leap forward.

Partially hydrogenated oils were introduced to the processed food industry in the early 1900’s. The idea to hydrogenate vegetable oils, or make liquid vegetable oils solid at room temperature, even won a Nobel Prize in 1912. Further research determined that trans fat increases LDL (“bad cholesterol”) while lowering HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels, increasing risk of heart disease.

The first major study on trans fats and coronary heart disease was released in 1993. Artificial trans fats were shown to contribute to nearly 50,000 deaths a year. As of June 18th, the food industry will no longer be able to include trans fats in their products. Many fast food restaurants have already begun implementing this practice and have shown great success. For example, the Big Catch meal at Long John Silver’s once contained 33 grams of trans fat and now contains none. A lot of consumers have expressed that with this new law, the flavor is not sacrificed. Trans fats will go on to become unmissed and unneeded. 

To read more on this topic, visit A Final Farewell to Artificial Trans Fat.

You can always learn more with our Nutrition and Exercise Webinar – $29

We make many decisions through out the day, making sleep a priority can not only improve your next morning but can have lasting effects on your long-term health. 

We also know that the quality of sleep can greatly influence the quality of life. A new study finds that lack of sleep may cause many complications now including obesity and diabetes. 

Snacking at night time can lead to a variety of issues, such as skin damage due to the altered production of a protective enzyme, stress and poor mental clarity. However, studies now find there are more serious risks including diabetes and heart disease. 

“Grandner and his colleagues collected their data through phone-based surveys, and, in total, they analyzed sleep- and diet-related information from 3,105 adults from 23 metropolitan areas across the United States.” 

The findings included approximately 60 percent of those surveyed, admitted to snacking late at night regularly. When you are tired at night, you often reach for the “easiest” food option, being an unhealthy, processed, pre-packaged food instead of a nutritious snack. 

“The researchers found that sleep deprivation was a reliable predictor of cravings for unhealthful snacks, while these cravings were tied to a higher likelihood of an obesity or diabetes diagnosis.”

The connection between quality of sleep and metabolic health is apparent. Helping people with diabetes focus on sleep as a key indicator of health is an excellent way of promoting a healthy lifestyle. 

To learn more, enjoy this article by Medical News Today: “Poor sleep may fuel harmful eating habits and diabetes”

This increase may be associated with targeted marketing geared toward normalizing alcohol consumption for women and other social pressures. Unfortunately, women are more likely to suffer negative health consequences from alcohol since they make less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which means alcohol levels can quickly reach toxic levels.

Alcohol is especially tricky for women with diabetes who take insulin or sulfonylureas, since the combination increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Yet, many people think alcohol will elevate blood sugars since it “tastes sweet”.  In addition, alcohol contributes to unwanted weight gain.

Key Message – Let’s ask women about their alcohol consumption and discuss limiting alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink a day (which is the recommended amount for all women, regardless if they have diabetes or not).

To learn more check out our May Diabetes Ed Newsletter!

Lower Vitamin D levels are more common in people who are overweight.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can be obtained through food and exposure to sunlight. Lack of outdoor activity can be partially blamed for the increase in Vitamin D deficiency which affects 40% of people in the United States. However, a recent study conducted by VU University Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center recently found a link between Vitamin D deficiency and obesity.

The study assessed men and women from the ages of 45-65 and focused on fat in the liver, fat around the organs, and abdominal fat.

In women, the study concluded that excess abdominal fat had the greatest association with lower Vitamin D levels.

In men, there was a link between lower Vitamin D levels and excess abdominal and liver fat.

It is still unknown whether obesity lowers Vitamin D levels or if Vitamin D deficiency causes excess weight gain. More research is needed to understand the nature of this relationship.

One of the investigators, Rachida Rafiq comments, “Although we did not measure vitamin D deficiency in our study, the strong relationship between increasing amounts of abdominal fat and lower levels of vitamin D suggests that individuals with larger waistlines are at a greater risk of developing deficiency, and should consider having their vitamin D levels checked.”

Take home message for health care professionals?

• Consider evaluating Vitamin D levels in patients who are overweight.
• Encourage people with diabetes to make sure they are getting enough Vitamin D in their diet by having fun in the sun (while keeping hydrated and not getting over exposed) and consuming foods such as: fatty fish like  tuna, mackerel, and salmon, mushrooms, egg yolks, and Vitamin D fortified products!

To learn more about Vitamin D deficiency and its relationship to obesity, enjoy this article published in EurekAlert

Larger waistlines are linked to higher risk of vitamin D deficiency

 

Eating breakfast may help your waistline, a preliminary study suggests. Based on preliminary findings, breakfast eaters over their lifespan, gained 1/3 the amount of weight as breakfast skippers! 

Of course, the quality of the breakfast foods are important too. Based on research, breakfast fans tend to eat more fresh fruit, whole grains, veggies, beans and nuts through out their day. 

For all of us, and especially those living with diabetes, this is a great reminder to kick off your day with the most important meal of all!  

To learn more: Breakfast Fans Gain less Weight Over Time – Health Day

According to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy and Research, approximately one out of every three kids living in California drinks one sugar-laden drink daily.  

Despite the obvious health risks such as obesity, tooth decay, type 2 and liver disease, 30.9% of children consume at least one sugary drink a day.

Diabetes educators play an important role in helping families, particularly with young kids, to identify hidden sugars, especially in the form of sodas and juices.

While soda consumption seems to be lowering in percentage, sports drinks have become more popular as an alternative. “The issue is that they’re often seen as a healthy alternative, but many of them contain large amounts of sugar,” Babey said. “They’re designed to be consumed by people who have been really exerting themselves for a long amount of time, but that’s often not who’s consuming them.”  A better alternative is water and a piece of fruit.

To learn more: Report: Sugar-laden drink consumption on the rise among California kids – San Diego Union-Tribune

You can also join our “The Joy of Six – Take the Pledge” to help spread sugar awareness in your community.