Curry May Be a Cure
A new study shows that a spice may help keep diabetes away. The medical journal, Diabetes Care, found that when given curcumin people who were classified as pre-diabetic were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those given a placebo.
The researchers studied a group of 240 people classified as pre-diaabetic. One part of the group took the curcumin capsules, and the other took a placebo for a period of 9 months. They then did a follow up on the study group at three month intervals. Nine months after the completion of the trials, none of the test group developed diabetes. However, over 16 percent of the control group had developed the disease.
"This study demonstrated that the curcumin intervention in a prediabetes population may be beneficial," the researchers said.
Curcumin's Roots
The curcumin compound is found in turmeric, which is a tuber relative of ginger. Turmeric is a common Indian spice used in many curry blends. The plant is native to tropical South Asia, and is widely used in Indian cuisine. Oddly though, according to the World Health Organization, India has the highest population of diabetics, with 50.8 million people living with the disease. Although some of this may be due to India’s large population, the rate of diabetics still outpaces China, which has the largest population in the world.
In 2008, however, an animal study done on turmeric concurred with the study’s findings. In this study, published by the journal Endocrinology, mice were also less likely to develop type 2 diabetes when given turmeric. The new findings confirm these results, but further study is needed to further confirm the link.
Diet and Exercise Still Recommended
This preliminary study has pointed to some possible benefits, but many doctors are staying the course of traditional treatment. According to a report from Reuters, Constance Brown-Riggs, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said she, “would continue to recommend a healthy diet and exercise to patients as a way to prevent diabetes.”
Sources:
http://www.worlddiabetesfoundation.org/composite-35.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric#Preliminary_medical_research, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/curcumin-diabetes-type-2-turmer..., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...