High blood sugar levels are associated with heart disease

This post includes a summary of a paper published in the Lancet 22-JUN-2002; 359(9324): 2140-4 and a recipe for Kiev beefburgers.

Books:

Study title and author:

Glucose metabolism in patients with acute myocardial infarction and no previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: a prospective study.

Norhammar A

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.mdconsult.com/das/citation/body/172519925-2/jorg=journal&source=MI&sp=12416117&sid=0/N/12416117/1.html?issn=

This study indicates that people with high blood sugar (HbA(1c)) levels are prone to suffer from heart attacks

High blood sugar is promoted by a diet high in carbohydrates. See here and here

For a comprehensive scientific review of the effects of diet on heart disease please see my book, details here.

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

Recipe of the day

Kiev Beefburgers

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Ground Beef

450g/1lb ground beef

Freshly milled black pepper

1 small courgette, coarsely grated

For the Garlic Butter:

75g/3oz salted butter, slightly softened

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped or crushed

15-30ml/1-2tbsp freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley or chives

Method:

1.To prepare the garlic butter; in a small bowl mix together all the ingredients.

2.Mould the butter into a small cylinder shape. Wrap in foil and freeze for up to 2 hours.

3.In a large bowl mix the burger ingredients together. Using slightly damp hands shape the mixture into 8x9cm/3½inch burgers.Cut the butter into 4 x 1cm/½inch thick discs. Place a disc in the centre of each burger. Position the remaining burgers on top and continue to mould into a burger shape so that the butter discs are hidden in the centre. Cover and chill for 20 minutes.

4.Cook the burgers on a prepared barbecue or preheated moderate grill for 6-8 minutes on each side until cooked and any meat juices run clear.



High blood sugar levels are a risk for heart disease

This post includes a summary of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 2005 Sep 12;165(16):1910-6 and a recipe for bacon and eggs.

Study title and authors:
Glycemic control and coronary heart disease risk in persons with and without diabetes: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

Books:

Selvin E, Coresh J, Golden SH, Brancati FL, Folsom AR, Steffes MW.

Department of Epidemiology and Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-2223, USA. lselvin@jhsph.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16157837?dopt=Abstract
 
HbA(1c) levels are in effect a measurement of how many blood cells are 'sugar coated'. So the higher your blood sugar - the higher your HbA(1c) level.
 
The paper reports that an elevated HbA(1c) level may promote heart disease. High blood sugar is promoted by eating a diet high in carbohydrates. See here and here

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

Recipe of the day

Bacon and Eggs

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Canadian Bacon

◦1 package Canadian bacon

◦Equal amount of eggs

Method:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.

In a muffin pan, place a piece of Canadian bacon into each hole. Press it down and crack an egg into each piece of bacon. Cook in oven for approximately:

◦Runny Yolk – 8 minutes

◦Semi-Soft Yolk- 10 minutes

◦Hard, Crumbly Egg -14 minutes

Pop the egg “cups” out of the pan once they’re cool enough to handle. Whatever you don’t eat goes straight into the fridge for a snack or another meal.

Bacon and Eggs



Low fat/high carbohydrate diets cause a rise in blood sugar and triglycerides

This post includes a summary of a study published in Diabetes Care January 1995 vol. 18 no. 1 10-16 and a recipe for pork loin ribs with collards.

Study title and authors:

Why do low-fat high-carbohydrate diets accentuate postprandial lipemia in patients with NIDDM?

Y D Chen, A M Coulston, M Y Zhou, C B Hollenbeck and G M Reaven
Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California.

This study can be accessed at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/18/1/10.abstract

              
This study investigated the effects of a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet on various diabetes risk markers in patients with disbetes.

The patients were placed on diets for 6 weeks containing either:

• 55% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 15% protein (high carbohydrate diet)
• 40% CHO, 45% fat, and 15% protein (higher fat diet)

The study found:

• Those on the high carbohydrate diet had 6% higher blood sugar levels compared to those on the higher fat diet.
• Those on the high carbohydrate diet had 16% higher insulin levels compared to those on the higher fat diet.
• Those on the high carbohydrate diet had 33% higher triglyceride levels compared to those on the higher fat diet.

The study demonstrated how a low fat/high carbohydrate diet leads to a rise in blood sugar, insulin and triglycerides.

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

 

 

Recipe of the day

 

Pork Loin Rib chops with Collards

 

Ingredient list:

Food Mall: Pork Loin Rib Chops

1.5-2 pounds of country style pork loin ribs

1 bunch of collards (10-15 stems)
1 sweet yellow onion
2 cups of chicken broth
Extra virgin olive oil
Chipotle chili pepper powder
Coriander powder
Garlic powder
Salt

 

Directions:
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil to pressure cooker over medium heat. Chop onion into bite-sized pieces. Add to a pressure cooker and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Wash collards, cut leaves from stems, discard stems, and cut leaves into 2-inch pieces. Add collards to pot and season with a generous dusting of salt and garlic powder. Add two cups of chicken broth. Add pork ribs to pot and season with a generous dusting of salt, garlic powder, coriander powder, and Chipotle chili pepper powder. Lock top on pressure cooker. Increase heat to high. After achieving high pressure, reduce heat to the lowest level consistent with maintaining high pressure. Cook under high pressure for 20 minutes. Turn off heat under pressure cooker, use the slow-release method to bring pressure down, and remove top. Transfer pork and collards to plates. Enjoy!

 

Pork Loin Rib chops with Collards

 

High blood sugar levels and heart disease

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Diabetes Care 2005 Aug;28(8):1965-73 and a recipe for liver and onions.

Study title and authors:
Glycemic control, atherosclerosis, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals with diabetes: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

Books:

Selvin E, Coresh J, Golden SH, Boland LL, Brancati FL, Steffes MW; Atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024 E. Monument St., Suite 2-600, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. lselvin@jhsph.edu

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16043740?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=18

The study concluded that high blood sugar levels may cause heart disease.

High blood sugar is caused by eating a diet of carbohydrates. See here and here

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

Recipe of the day

Liver and Onions

Ingredients:

1lb liver

Food Mall: Liver

2lemons

2 onions
olive oil
butter
salt
pepper
balsamic acid
beef stock

Method:
Marinate 1lb liver in lemon juice overnight.

Slow-fry 1-2 onions in olive oil and butter until caramelised (you can do this bit quickly, but they are tastier if you make them cook on low for 20 mins or so).

Remove onions from pan. Turn heat up to med-high.

Rinse liver and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Fry quickly on each side until browned.

To the pan add about 2tbsp of balsamic vinegar, plus approx 250ml of beef stock. Bring to boil and serve.

Liver should be pink in the middle.

Liver and Onions