pre-diabetes Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Can Herb-Infused Chocolate Solve Prediabetes Without Meds?

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:00:44 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – In 1987, I went backpacking across Japan during the famous cherry blossom season. Unfortunately, I suffered from terrible allergies and my nose was running like a faulty faucet. In desperation, I took a bullet train to the foothills of Mount Fuji to visit a Japanese healer who was studying traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The practitioner prescribed a bunch of foul-smelling herbs and roots, which I was instructed to brew into a tea every night. The herbs stunk to high heaven, and it wasn’t always easy to find an open kitchen in backpacker hostels. When I moved on to other parts of Southeast Asia, I couldn’t source the herbs and eventually I returned to that old standby, antihistamine pills. Ehud (Udi) Peretz, CEO of Netanya-based startup Solveat, had a similar problem. He was managing an herbal biotech company in China when he was diagnosed not with allergies but with prediabetes. Prof. Xia Long, a well-known local Chinese doctor, advised him to take herbal medicine. While this method did bring Peretz’s condition under control, he found the herbs strikingly bitter and too much work to prepare. What if those herbs could be integrated into a functional food that would be more convenient and less bitter tasting? The market for functional foods is worth $250 billion, Peretz tells ISRAEL21c, and it’s growing by 8% a year. The segment of the market for phytochemicals (substances produced by plants) is worth some $5 billion. Peretz returned to Israel and brought his vision to the Trendlines Group of food and med-tech accelerators in Israel’s northern Galilee. Trendlines and the Israel Innovation Authority subsequently invested $980,000 in the company. Prediabetes, High Blood Pressure, Immune Booster Solveat’s first product combines medicinal herbs into chocolate squares from boutique Israeli chocolatier Ornat. “The taste of the herbs is awful,” Peretz admits. “We use several methods to mask the bitterness and sourness. It’s not easy. Believe me, I have been dealing with this for four years!” Ornat’s CEO, Yair Darel, is a partner in Solveat. Pharmacist Zakhar (Zacki) Nudelman is head of business development. Tel Aviv-based traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Tal Naveh is active in the company, as is Long, who has built seven Chinese medicine clinics in Chengdu. Among the first volunteers who tried the herb-infused chocolates, including Peretz, blood sugar levels dropped by up to 24 percent. Given that 88 million Americans – some one-third of the adult US population – are prediabetic, this represents a potentially significant addition to the diabetes toolkit. Unlike sugar-free or low-glycemic foods that reduce carbs, Solveat claims to actively reduce blood sugar. Clinical studies are underway. Solveat is now working on integrating herbs into cookies, crackers and bread, and is doing research on other high-impact medical conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The company’s next product will be an immune booster made from functional ingredients, Peretz says. Flavor and Consistency Solveat will not make the finished products – for example, the chocolate from Ornat – but rather the herbal extract that manufacturers can add into their functional foods. It’s a business-to-business model, although Nudelman suggests that a “Solveat inside” label could happen. “It all depends on the partner,” he says. Peretz says that using chocolate is ironic for him. “This is what I was told not to eat! But if you make chocolate without using sugar and the right amount of cocoa, it’s healthy. We want to provide a diet for the consumer so that he or she can live a normal life and enjoy food. We all know that if the food is not delicious, you won’t consume it.” Solveat’s next criterion is consistency. “You can go online and buy herbs,” Nudelman tells ISRAEL21c, “but you get different herbs each time, depending on the time of year or when the herbs were harvested. You don’t have control. We make sure the product you get is reproducible, that it goes through an industrialization process, so that each time you consume the product, it’s the same with the correct chemical markers.” The herbs are sourced from China, but “the smart part of the processing is done in Israel,” says Peretz. Nudelman notes that, because Solveat makes functional foods rather than pharmaceuticals, it won’t require FDA or CE approval. “But if we don’t make it the right way, we’ll get a warning letter from the FDA. So, even though we can start without the FDA, if we don’t ensure quality, it’s not a viable business.” Solveat aims to launch its product commercially, in conjunction with Ornat Chocolates, by the end of 2022. Israel will serve as the pilot market. Solveat’s main competitor is the French company Valbiotis, which has a strategic partnership with Nestlé. Most of the big food conglomerates, including Pepsi, Unilever and Mars, are looking into how to get into the functional foods field, Peretz points out. Solveat, by contrast, is just getting started, with four people on staff full-time and offices still in the Trendlines incubator. It also is participating in the MassChallenge accelerator in Jerusalem. Peretz is, nevertheless, bullish on the company’s future. “We can’t claim we will be able to cure diabetes. This is not a drug. But we can claim to help maintain a healthy blood sugar level,” he says. For more information, click here To read the original article click here.

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Discover the Important “Across-the-Board” Health Benefits of Alpha-Lipoic Acid

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:00:48 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – When it comes to the health status of millions of Americans, there is definitely room for improvement. And, that’s putting it mildly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a stunning two out of three adults in the United States are currently either overweight or obese. In addition, the American Heart Association reports that over 34 percent of American adults live with metabolic syndrome – a cluster of undesirable conditions that includes high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and excessive abdominal fat. Unfortunately, this common syndrome greatly increases the chance of developing potentially life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart attack, and type 2 diabetes. Some researchers believe that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) can support metabolic health, thereby helping to protect against metabolic syndrome and the chronic diseases that may accompany it. In a recent scientific review published in Biomolecules, the authors credit ALA with “promising effects” and “clinically valuable properties.” Let’s see what’s causing scientists to be so enthusiastic about this natural compound – and explore how it contributes to overall health. Alpha-Lipoic Acid Is a “Team Player” That Facilitates the Actions of Other Antioxidants Alpha-lipoic acid is found in the mitochondria (the tiny “power stations” of the cells), where it is needed for a variety of enzymatic reactions – including those involved in cellular energy generation and blood sugar metabolism. ALA, which happens to be both fat- and water-soluble, is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes harmful reactive oxygen species both inside and outside the cells. (In fact, it is sometimes referred to as the “universal antioxidant.”) Not only that, but ALA boosts the power of other important antioxidants in the body, such as coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A. In addition, ALA contributes to the production of glutathione – the body’s premier detoxifier of potential carcinogens and toxins by increasing the uptake of the amino acid cysteine, a glutathione building block. ALA is also believed to chelate dangerous heavy metals and help flush them from the body. Early studies suggest that it may help protect the liver from cadmium exposure and protect the nervous system from mercury poisoning. (By the way, the first clinical use of ALA was in 1959, when it was used to treat poisoning from the “death cap” Amanita phalloides mushroom.) Alpha-Lipoic Acid Improves Glycemic Control and May Alleviate Complications of Type 2 Diabetes ALA is believed to help maintain healthy blood sugar by supporting insulin sensitivity and reducing fats in the blood. (Healthy blood sugar levels reduce the risk of diabetes, which currently affects over 37 million Americans and increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, neuropathic pain, and even stroke.) While more research is needed, some small clinical studies have suggested that ALA can support healthy blood glucose levels and improve insulin resistance. Alpha-lipoic acid may also help ease nerve damage in the extremities, which causes burning, numbness, and tingling – a common complication of chronic high blood sugar levels. In one recent 40-day trial of diabetic patients with neuropathy, published in the Journal of International Medical Research, supplementation with 600 mg of ALA a day reduced major neuropathic symptoms, improved quality of life, and lowered fats in the blood. ALA has also been shown to improve the health of the endothelium – the delicate lining of blood vessels – in metabolic syndrome patients. Neuroprotective Alpha-Lipoic Acid May Support Cognitive Health While more human studies are needed, animal studies have shown that ALA causes marked improvements in learning and memory retention – and even mitigates brain damage after a stroke. Researchers speculate that it might accomplish this feat by regenerating glutathione, which is often depleted after a cerebrovascular event such as a stroke. Furthermore, the authors of the new review note that ALA helps to protect neurons against damage from amyloid-beta plaques (harmful deposits in the brain implicated in Alzheimer’s disease). ALA also promotes the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important for learning and memory. By reducing levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals such as interleukin-6, ALA is thought to decrease the inflammation that plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Clearly, these early studies highlight the potential of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ALA to protect and enhance brain health. Increase ALA Intake Through Diet and Supplementation Good dietary sources of alpha-lipoic acid include grass-fed beef, organ meats, dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, and peas. However, supplementation might be necessary to maintain optimal levels. Natural health experts recommend using the R-dihydrolipoic acid formulation, which is thought to be the most bioavailable. (Pro tip: for maximum benefit, some natural healers recommend taking ALA with a B complex vitamin). Integrative healthcare providers may recommend 200 mg to 400 mg of ALA a day, taken on an empty stomach half an hour before a meal. Of course, consult your own qualified practitioner before supplementing. Incidentally, ALA may also protect against cataracts, support strong bones, and reduce head and neck tension intensity and frequency. No doubt, with its activity against “bad guys” such as environmental toxins, free radicals, and reactive oxygen species, alpha-lipoic acid has earned its reputation as a versatile tool for supporting overall health and well-being. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com NIH.gov OregonState.edu Heart.org CDC.gov To read the original article click here.

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