We are staring at a global diabetes epidemic. And the powers that be, such as the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Australia, Diabetes UK and similar, form policies which drive treatment and all these associations assert that diabetes is a chronic progressive disease, eventually requiring increasing doses of medication to keep blood sugar levels in check.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

So let’s examine a few myths associated with the condition which even we as doctors have been ‘fed’ and determines how we dispense advice.

1. DIABETES OCCURS BECAUSE THE PANCREAS DO NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH INSULIN

Type II diabetes, which is the common variety seen in adults, is due to insulin RESISTANCE, not underproduction. I have explained this in the post: https://drlilykiswani.com/insulin-resistance/ .

This means that we are not helpless because the body is not making insulin. It means that we have CONTROL because we can reverse the Insulin Resistance.

2. DIABETES IS A CHRONIC IRREVERSIBLE DISEASE

No, diabetes is a CONDITION that has occured due to various causes such as stress, unhealthy lifestyle, drug reactions and can be REVERSED by identifying and reversing the underlying causes. This can be done by an Integrative Medicine Specialist.

3. YOU NEED CARBOHYDRATES FOR ENERGY AND FOR YOUR BRAIN

I know, this is what I believed and also advised my patients. This was because medical college curriculum almost ignores nutrition and that encourages us to ignore it, too.

The truth is, the body and the brain both function a lot more efficiently on ketones, which are fat breakdown products. Here are some studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23852511, and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201104/your-brain-ketones.

So ditch the carbs. Fat is our friend. Here’s a guide on how to eat to become healthy and to stay healthy: https://drlilykiswani.com/what-should-i-eat/.

4. IF YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS ARE ‘IN CONTROL’ ON DRUGS, YOU ARE SAFE.

Sorry, but this is not so. You are still at risk of developing complications. This is because the root cause has not been addressed and the damage to organs continues to occur. Here’s how to correlate blood sugar levels and risk of complications: https://drlilykiswani.com/prediabetes-are-we-at-risk/ .

Therefore the only real option is to reverse your illness and return to true health.

5. IF YOU ARE ‘PREDIABETIC’, YOU ARE SAFE.

Sorry, but this is not true as well. In fact the term ‘prediabetic’ confers a false sense of security precluding action. The truth is that complications begin to occur at blood sugar levels defined by the estimable organisations above, as being in the prediabetic range.

So if you are told that a fasting blood sugar level of 110 is acceptable, run to find an Integrative Medicine practitioner.

Diabetes is preventable even if you have a strong family history.

Diabetes is reversible. You are NOT doomed to ill health.

Pregnancy is a very special occasion in a woman’s life. Creating and bringing a new life into this world is very special and also involves a huge responsibility as every parent wants the best health for their child. Giving a child the best start in life, begins early, long before conception.

Human biology is amazingly wise. The body receives signals from the environment and ‘informs’ it that the environment is abundant and allows for the growth and nutrition of the coming baby. So if the to-be mother is nutritionally depleted, the message to the body is that conditions are unfavorable for new life, and the body may decide that this is not the appropriate time for pregnancy. And conversely, being nutritionally replete could be all that is required to conceive, in a case of a couple with no other identifiable complication.

It is evident that for such signals to reach the cells and to be incorporated into the DNA, they have to come from natural, plant sources and sometimes animal sources such as omega 3.The cells in plants and animals carry information which can be read by the human cells. Pharmaceutical, chemical products cannot carry this information and can actually be detrimental. Cell membranes carry receptors which act like doorways or every single nutrient which enters the cell. Fake, chemical supplements are sufficiently alike the natural molecules to be accepted by the receptors but also sufficiently unlike that they can gum up the works, damaging the cell membrane, the cell, the tissue, the organ and ultimately the body.

The mother-to-be needs to be replete with nutrients to ensure the optimal well-being of the baby. These need to be started early enough, at least three months before conception.

The very early embryo, even before implantation,  can sense and react to the environment in which it develops.

Prepregnancy nutrition requirements

Folic acid                                               

This one is well known. Folic acid supplementation is important and its role in preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida in the newborn is well documented.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Starting Omega 3 six months before you conceive, allows the body to build up its stores of essential fatty acids. This can improve fertility by reducing fertility issues related to chronic inflammation-. Omega 3 is important in the development of the baby’s brain – intelligence, visual acuity, memory.

A Multivitamin multimineral  tablet contains (hopefully!) all the vitamins, all the minerals one needs so that the mother’s nutritional status is optimal.

Once again I would reiterate that it is crucial that your multivitamin come from a natural, organic source. I would go so far as to say that it is better to not take anything than to permit a chemical to enter your body. At least you are not wilfully doing harm.

During Pregnancy

Omega 3 fatty acids are a major constituent of the fats in the brain and involved in the development of the eyes. Thus supplementation with omega 3 improves visual acuity, attention span, learning and cognitive ability of the baby. They help prevent preterm birth and low birth weight babies.

How much and what source? Vegetarian sources such as walnuts and flaxseed contain the compound ALA which needs to be converted into DHA, the compound in the brain. This conversion in the body is inefficient, about 1-10% of ingested ALA gets converted to DHA. Fish sources are likely contaminated with mercury, therefore choose fish oil from salmon fished in cold, deep waters.Ideally take a minimum of 300mg DHA daily.

Iron – The pregnant woman needs daily oral iron supplementation, with 30 mg to 60 mg of elemental iron to prevent anaemia, low birth weight, and preterm birth.

Calcium – 1200mg a day. Make sure the calcium you choose is balanced with magnesium, Vit D and Vit K.

Probiotics – help prevent allergies in the baby.

Protein – is essential for growth of the baby and the mother needs about 1.2 gm/kg body weight per day. This amount is usually difficult to obtain from the diet and certainly a vegetarian diet is inadequate. Choose a source which provides all essential amino acids and is concentrated enough to help achieve the required levels.

Vit D helps prevent respiratory infections in the baby and prevent gestational diabetes in the mother.

Continue with the multivitamin and Folic Acid.

After pregnancy, during lactation

All conditions remain the same as the growing baby’s needs continue and indeed, increase. And so all the supplements used in pregnancy must continue.

Wish you a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby!

Many people approach soy protein with trepidation. They have heard that

• It is dangerous for women with history o breast cancer or with family history of breast cancer
• Men can develop gynecomastia – ‘man boobs’
• Those with thyroid deficiency cannot take soy protein.

 

So let us examine the evidence.

We’ll take the subject of breast cancer first.

There are several studies which show that soy protein is actually protective against breast cancer.

This study found that   Intake of protein containing soy was associated with reduced breast cancer risk . The researchers also found an inverse association between total tofu intake and breast cancer risk among premenopausal women and they concluded that increased regular soy food intake at a level equivalent to traditional Korean consumption levels may be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, and this effect is more pronounced in premenopausal women.

In another study, researchers found that soy protein may protect against the development of a more aggressive breast carcinoma.

This study concluded that Isoflavones (phytoestrogens) also possess nonhormonal properties that are associated with reducing cancer cell growth. Thus, there are several possible mechanisms by which soy may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Yet another study resulted in the conclusion that the existing data should provide some degree of assurance that isoflavone exposure at levels consistent with historical Asian soyfood intake does not result in adverse stimulatory effects on breast tissue.

This study did not show that the adult consumption of soy affects the risk of developing breast cancer or that soy consumption affects the survival of breast cancer patients. Consequently, if breast cancer patients enjoy soy products, it seems reasonable for them to continue to use them.

Now let us determine why this may be so. In other words, where is the conflict?

Soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) and it is erroneously believed that this can fuel the growth of breast cancer cells. In reality, not all, about 80% of breast cancers respond to the hormone estrogen.This means, 20% don’t even respond to estrogen.

So how is soy protective against breast cancer? It is because the phytoestrogens in soy are weak estrogens compared to the native estrogen in the body. These weak estrogens occupy the estrogen receptors – docking sites – on the cells, blocking the action of the stronger estrogen produced by the body. This means it is like wearing a bulletproof vest, protecting against estrogen ‘bullets’.

 

Gynecomastia – the same argument applies.

 

Thyroid :

This review evaluated 14 studies and concluded that the findings provided little evidence that in normal individuals, soy foods, or isoflavones adversely affect thyroid function   In individuals with compromised thyroid function and/or whose iodine intake is marginal, soy foods may increase risk of developing clinical hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is important for soy food consumers to make sure their intake of iodine is adequate. However, hypothyroid adults need not avoid soy foods.

 

There are other benefits to soy protein:

• It is the only complete protein of vegetable origin.
• This study showed that consumption of soy protein is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Another study revealed that there is convincing evidence that soybean products have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• This study showed that dietary soy protein can lower plasma levels of lipid and improve kidney function in type II diabetes with nephropathy.
• A soy protein diet for 5 weeks improves endothelial (lining of blood vessels) function in renal transplant patients.
• A lower rate of prostate cancer developed in the groups of men given soy compared to the milk casein group.
• Modest amounts of soy consumed during childhood and/or adolescence reduces breast cancer risk. Evidence also suggests that soy reduces prostate cancer risk and inhibits prostate tumor metastasis. Soy protein is reduces cholesterol and lower risk of coronary heart disease. In regard to bone health, soy intake is associated with marked reductions in fracture risk. Soybean isoflavones also modestly alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women. Finally, other than allergic reactions, there is almost no credible evidence to suggest traditional soyfoods exert any harmful effects in healthy individuals when consumed in amounts consistent with Asian intake.

It is quite understandable that, when advised against the use of soy by your health professional, doubts may arise.  However the evidence clearly refutes this belief and one would advise that you take your decision based on credible, recent research. Your body is yours. Not anyone else’s, certainly not your doctor’s. .

 

Now about quality. Are all soy protein powders available in the market equal? Sadly, no. Look for a quality product using quality, certified organic ingredients with high protein content and low carbohydrate content, from a trusted source, for best results.

 

Finally, is soy or whey protein better?

As we have seen, soy is the only complete vegetarian protein. Soy is therefore added to whey to make it complete. Muscle building requires branched chain amino acids found in whey so if that is a priority, go for whey with soy. For all others, either one is good enough.