Blackcurrants May Lower Diabetes Risk

'Antioxidants in the fruit affect how the body breaks down carbohydrates and sugars'

• Researchers carried out study at the University of Aberdeen
• Believe that antioxidants in the fruit affect how body breaks down carbs
• 'Reduce amount of sugar that ends up in the bloodstream after eating'

Can eating blackcurrants cut the risk of diabetes in people who are overweight?

That's the thinking behind a new clinical trial that is to be carried out at the University of Aberdeen.

The researchers believe that antioxidants in the fruit affect how the body breaks down carbohydrates and sugars, reducing the amount of sugar that ends up in the bloodstream after you have eaten a meal.

If blood sugar levels peak too high, this can put pressure on the pancreas and prevent the normal release of insulin.

Sixteen people will be asked to consume 200g of blackcurrants, or a 'placebo' dose of green currants that do not contain the antioxidants, with and without a carbohydrate meal - and their blood sugar levels will then be compared.

Drastic solution for sugar cravings

As well as cutting how much food is absorbed by the body, weight-loss surgery reduces sugar cravings, say U.S. researchers.

They compared brain activity in mice while they were offered sugary food - some of the mice had had bypass surgery, a technique used in obese patients to reduce stomach size and reroute food to the intestine to prevent it being absorbed.

The normal mice ate the food even if they'd just had a meal; the surgery mice didn't touch it - scans showed that their brains didn't release the chemical dopamine when looking at food, which would normally drive rewarding behaviour and make them eat.

The researchers say this finding could help develop drugs that interfere with brain signalling in the same way to reduce sugar cravings in obese patients without surgery.

Source: dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3416438/Blackcurrants-lower-diabetes-risk-Antioxidants-fruit-affect-body-breaks-carbohydrates-sugars.html#ixzz3ySW7AJfU

What's The Secret To Weight Loss?

Exercise is great, keeps you healthy, improves your fitness, reduces stress and helps with weight loss.

However, this is just a small part of the best way to lose weight. By far the most important thing is your diet. Diet has a much greater impact on body weight and health than exercise.

Now I hate the term 'going on a diet'. To me that immediately makes me think that I will have to cut out some of my favourite foods. I prefer to opt for healthy eating.

During the week I try to eat healthier. I try to eat foods that are as natural as possible and not loaded with toxins. If you would like to read more about a previous article I wrote on 'non-toxic eating' you can view it HERE

I eat this way as best as I can during the week and relax a bit at the weekends when I go out. There's nothing I like more than a nice cappuccino and cream scone after a good walk along the coast.

I also find that when I eat as natural as possible that I don't suffer from bloating and feeling uncomfortable. To me that speaks volumes about what processed, sugary foods do to my body

One thing I also do is to make sure I am eating enough. I hear too many times of people who try to lose weight by not eating. Yes initially you may lose some weight but then it will become difficult as your body holds on to as much fat stores as it can (the body is a clever tool and will store as much weight as it can not knowing when it's next meal will be or if at all). Also you will lose essential muscle tone.

My advice would be to find an eating plan that works for YOU. Forget diets and concentrate on eating healthy and reducing the amount of processed, sugary foods you eat. Try not to eat too late at night (definitely no later than 8pm). Have a treat if you fancy it but keep it to a minimum and have it as just that, a treat. Take daily exercise and follow the 80/20 rule - 80% of your effort should be down to what you eat and 20% effort on exercise.

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Do You Talk Yourself Out of Weight Loss?

Diet and exercise and they way we talk to ourselves has always been a passion of mine and over the years I have spoke at length to people about the struggles they face of trying to lose weight.

One thing that always seems to be noticeable is the way in which people talk to themselves.

The word I hear far too often is 'can't'.

"No matter how hard I try, I can't lose weight"

"I exercise all the time but still can't shift the weight"

"I've tried every diet going and still can't get my weight down"

I'm the first to admit that I WAS your typical negative person. My mum is a born pessimist and this trait was kindly handed down to me from a young age. However, something clicked in me one day and I vowed to change the way I think. Over the years I have read every book about changing my thoughts, listened to cassette tapes (yes it was that long ago), CD's and any information I could.

It has taken time and I am not saying that I am the most optimistic person around, but I have learnt to talk to myself in a much kinder tone.

Constantly telling yourself you can't do something is a sure fire way for your brain to find a way to prove you right. You are what you think. 

If you are trying to lose weight (or anything for that matter), try talking to yourself differently. If you find yourself wanting to use the word can't or say anything negative, STOP. Change the way you talk to yourself. Talk as if whatever you want to achieve is possible. 

Whilst talking in a more positive way will help in your every day life, if you have something specific you wish to achieve then you have to feel it too.

Every morning and/or evening you need to close your eyes and visualise yourself achieving your goal. I do this in bed. See a picture of yourself as you wish to be. This could be more confident, slimmer, fitter, healthier - anything you like. Really take the time to notice everything about yourself that you would like to change. Next take this person and float them into your own body, feel the emotions you would feel as if this dream had come true. Experience the exact feelings you would get if your goal was real and you had achieved what you set out to do.

Whilst you can tell yourself everyday that "i will lose weight" or "I feel more confident". The only real way to fully achieve these things is to know how you would feel on the inside at having mastered your goal.

I myself use a piece of software every day that quietly works away in the back ground of my computer whilst I'm working, reinforcing positive affirmations to my sub conscious mind.

                                    Take a look for yourself. You won't be disappointed!