The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Thursday 22 April 2010

A high fat/low carbohydrate diet reduces high blood sugar levels

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in Diabetes September 2004 vol. 53 no. 9 2375-2382 and a recipe for coconut curry stir-fry.

Study title and authors:
Effect of a High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Blood Glucose Control in People With Type 2 Diabetes
Mary C. Gannon123 and Frank Q. Nuttall13
1Metabolic Research Laboratory and the Section of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
3Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This study can be accessed at: http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/53/9/2375.abstract
 
For 5 weeks two diets with varying carbohydrate levels were tested for their effects on blood glucose levels.
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars
Books:

Diet 1 consisted of 55% carbohydrate, 15% protein, 30% fat (high carbohydrate diet)
Diet 2 consisted of 20% carbohydrate, 30% protein, 50% fat (high fat diet)

After 5 weeks:
The high carbohydrate diet produced blood glucose levels of 198 mg/dL (11 mmol/l)
The high fat diet produced blood glucose levels of 126 mg/dL (7mmol/l)
The HbA1-C value remained unchanged on the high carbohydrate diet.
The HbA1-C value reduced by 22% on the high fat diet.

The low carbohydrate diet dramatically reduced the circulating glucose concentration in people with untreated type 2 diabetes.

The author noted that the low carbohydrate diet could be a patient-empowering way to lower blood glucose without resorting to pharmacological drugs.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 


Recipe of the day

Coconut curry stir-fry

Ingredients:
Kosher.com - Organic Chicken Cutlets - dark / leg - (6 Pack)
Food Mall: Chicken
•Cooking fat;
•1 lb tender chicken cut in thin slices;
•2 cups broccoli;
•1 can coconut milk;
•1 1/2 tsp curry powder;
•1 tsp grated ginger;
•A good bunch of fresh spinach;

Technique:
Prepare the sauce by mixing together the coconut milk, curry powder and grated ginger. Set aside. Stir-fry the chicken in a hot wok. Remove the chicken from the wok, set aside, reheat the wok and stir-fry the onion with more cooking fat for about 2 minutes. Add the broccoli and stir-fry another 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the wok, add the coconut curry sauce and the spinach and cook until the spinach is just wilted and the whole preparation is hot. Optionally garnish with some coconut flakes.