| Reader, The agency that's supposed to be in charge of your well-being has proved – once again – that it puts its cozy relationship with Big Agra ahead of your health.
In a recent directive, the FDA allowed yogurt manufacturers to claim that their products can prevent type 2 diabetes.
The FDA's decision was a direct result of a petition filed by Danone, the manufacturer of some of the country's most popular yogurt brands, including Dannon, Oikos, and Activia.
You may remember years ago when actress Jamie Lee Curtis was all over your TV pushing the probiotic benefits of Activia.
Even back then I warned my patients and readers like you not to fall for this marketing gimmick.
And that makes this official statement from the FDA not just confusing – but downright dangerous.
Let me explain…
After a decade of studies, researchers have confirmed that there is a direct connection between diabetes and the well-being of the trillions of probiotic microorganisms that live in your gut.
And when this microbe population becomes unbalanced – a condition called dysbiosis, where bad microbes thrive and beneficial ones die – a cascade of metabolic disasters almost always follows...
Including diabetes.
But a balanced gut that allows the so-called "good bacteria" to flourish helps to: - Lower blood glucose
- Improve insulin resistance
- Reduce inflammation
But while you can rebalance your gut – and reduce your risk of diabetes – with the right kind of fermented foods…
You'll never get there by eating Big Agra's yogurt.
And that's why the FDA's recent recommendation is so dangerous… Danger Behind The FDA's Recommendation As you know, not all yogurts are created equal.
And that's where the FDA gets it all wrong.
First of all, the vast majority of yogurts you find on supermarket shelves are nothing more than processed junk foods with a "probiotic label" slapped on them.
And most of them are packed with added refined sugar. In fact, six ounces of the most popular fruit yogurt packs a whopping 15 to 29 grams of sugar!
Of course, this is a lot more likely to increase your risk of diabetes, not reduce it.
The second problem is that not all probiotics deliver the results you expect.
Studies show that the live bacterial colonies in processed, pasteurized yogurt can't survive traveling through your stomach acid before they reach your gut.
As I mentioned a moment ago, the probiotics in certain kinds of fermented foods can help restore your gut balance – and prevent type 2 diabetes.
But make sure you're eating the right kind.
Instead of yogurt, I recommend kefir.
This fermented, "magic" milk gives you the biggest health benefits. It's packed with up to six times more varieties of good bacteria than your typical probiotic yogurt.
The most beneficial kefir contains healthy yeast, but store-bought brands don't. Manufacturers stop the yeast process before packaging. If they didn't, the fermentation process would continue…and the sealed containers could burst. Nourish Your Gut And Lower Diabetes Risk
With Healthy Homemade Kefir I get my homemade kefir from the same farmer who delivers my eggs. But you can make your own – it's surprisingly easy. Here's my recipe: Ingredients: - 4 cups grass-fed whole milk
- Kefir grains (you can find starter grains online or at your favorite health food store)
- Glass bowl
- One-quart glass jar with lid
- Coffee filter and rubber band
- Strainer
Directions: - Put 1 to 2 teaspoons of kefir grains into a glass jar and fill with milk. Leave one inch at the top.
- Place the coffee filter over the jar and secure it with a rubber band. Leave in a cupboard at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. (The warmer the air, the faster the fermentation process.)
- Remove filter. You'll notice that curd-like grains have risen to the top, and the milk is a thick consistency, like buttermilk. You should detect a slightly sour, fermented smell.
- Strain the mixture into a glass bowl.
- Pour from the bowl into a glass jar and cover with a lid. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Save the left-over kefir grains. You can use them again to repeat the process.
To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - U.S. Food and Frung Administration. "FDA Announces Qualified Health Claim for Yogurt and Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes." March 1, 2024. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-announces-qualified-health-claim-yogurt-and-reduced-risk-type-2-diabetes. Accessed on April 24, 2024.
- Yao K, et al. "Effect of probiotics on glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials." Med Sci Monit. 2017; 23: 3044–3053.
- Sadagopan A, et al. "Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in diabetes and therapeutics targeting leaky gut: A systematic review." Cureus. 2023 Jul; 15(7):e41559.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment