Stop diabetes before it starts!
Imagine
hearing that your bloodsugar levels are high and being able to reverse the problem, avoiding Type 2 diabetes before you have any symptoms! You can, thanks to a few breakthrough steps recently discovered by researchers at top medical centers nationwide!
Cut your risk 11% . . . with a second cup of coffee!
Harvard researchers report that people who increase their daily coffee intake by more than one cup lower their risk for Type 2 diabetes 11%! “Coffee is a rich source of several phenolic compounds, many of which have been shown to reduce insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism,” explains lead author Shilpa Bhupathiraju, PH.D., a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She recommends consuming three to five cups of coffee daily, and adding no more than one teaspoon of sugar per cup.
Raise “good” cholesterol . . . by smiling more!
Turns out, raising your level of “good” HDL cholesterol can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes—and a study in the American Journal of Cardiology reveals that being upbeat can help! Optimistic folks tend to make healthier lifestyle choices and, as a result, tend to have a higher HDL count than their less sunny counterparts. “What we’ve been finding is that people who experience more positive emotions tend to have better cardiovascular health, including healthier levels of cholesterol and a reduced risk of diabetes,” says lead study author Julia Boehm, PH.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Chapman University in Orange, California. Optimism may also be a buf- fer against stress, which is known to raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes, she says. Want to stay on the sunny side? Boehm suggests regularly ending your day by reflecting on the good things that happened to you within the last 24 hours, writing a gratitude letter to a friend or family member or performing a kind act for someone else.
KO glucose spikes . . . with “ugly” apples!
Less-than- perfect- looking fruit scarred from fighting heat, pests and fungus have up to 40% more diabetes-fighting antioxidants than picture-perfect fruit! Flawed fruit produces more nutritious, protective compounds in response to stressors, such as harsh weather, drought and too little or too much sun. So next time you’re in the produce aisle, pop those ugly fruits and vegetables in your basket— just think of the dimples and pockmarks as nature’s medicine!
Reduce your risk 25% . . . by skipping bottled iced tea!
That seemingly healthy bottle of lemon-infused iced tea can harbor up to 12 tsp. of sugar! And skipping one bottle a day will lower your sugar intake enough to cut your risk of Type 2 diabetes 25%. Replace it with sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea, jazzed up with a handful of raspberries or lime slices!
— Leigh Farr