🩸 Better Blood Sugar Control

This popular drink may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and aid in better blood sugar control.

Health Squeeze
October 06, 2023

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In This Newsletter

🥬 Your ability to stick to a plant-based diet may be in your genes.

😖 A surprising way to treat chronic back pain.

🫖 The beverage you should be drinking for better blood sugar control.

Health Q and A

Why is it better to brush your teeth BEFORE eating or drinking?

Answer at the bottom

🥬 Why Some May Struggle to Stick to Vegetarianism

Choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is on the rise, seen as both trendy and healthy. Yet, many who express interest in it struggle to fully commit. New research suggests genetics may be a factor.

Dr. Nabeel Yaseen, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, led a study uncovering three genes strongly linked to vegetarianism. Around 48% to 64% of self-identified vegetarians still eat meat, the study found.

The research analyzed genetic data from over 5,300 strict vegetarians and more than 329,000 non-vegetarians. It identified 31 genes potentially related to dietary choices. Two of the most significant genes are tied to fat metabolism and brain function.

Dr. Yaseen speculates that some people might need specific components found in meat due to genetics. Roughly 3% to 4% of Americans are vegetarians, often for moral or religious reasons, but genetics could also be a factor in adherence.

Taste isn't the only influence on food choices; the study suggests there might be a genetic basis for cravings. Dr. Yaseen hopes further research will lead to personalized dietary recommendations and better meat substitutes.

All participants in this study were of the same ethnicity to avoid misinterpretation of results. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE on October 4, highlighting the interplay of genetics and dietary preferences.

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🧠 Rewiring Your Brain for Back Pain

A recent study underscores the importance of helping patients comprehend the role of the brain in chronic pain, even when it lacks a physical cause such as a tumor, fracture, or infection.

While pain is unquestionably real, it originates from neural circuits in the brain.

Encouraging individuals to shift their perspective toward understanding this connection can empower them.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, delves into the link between beliefs about pain's origins, termed "pain attributions," and chronic pain.

It explores data from a clinical trial involving pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), a talk therapy approach that combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Over 150 adults with moderate chronic back pain participated, with some receiving PRT, others receiving a placebo injection, and the rest receiving standard care.

A previous study from the same trial showed that PRT led to pain relief for two-thirds of individuals with chronic back pain, compared to fewer than one-fifth of those who received the placebo or usual care.

This new paper delves into how patients' beliefs about the source of their pain evolved during PRT. Initially, only 10% of participants in all three groups attributed their pain to the mind or brain.

However, after undergoing PRT, 51% of those in the PRT group shifted their beliefs in this direction, while only 8% in the placebo and usual care groups did the same.

Moreover, those who changed their perspective to view their brain or mind as the source of their pain reported a more significant reduction in back pain intensity.

🫖 Do This for Better Blood Sugar Control

New research presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggests that daily consumption of dark tea may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and aid in better blood sugar control.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Southeast University in China conducted a study involving 1,923 adults. They found that daily dark tea drinkers had a 53% lower risk of prediabetes and a 47% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who never drank tea.

These findings held true even after considering established diabetes risk factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI).

The study explored the relationship between the frequency and type of tea consumed and indicators like glucose excretion in urine, insulin resistance, and glycemic status.

These benefits were most pronounced in daily dark tea drinkers.

The study proposes that dark tea may reduce diabetes risk in two ways: by enhancing insulin resistance for better blood sugar control and by increasing glucose excretion in urine, reducing the overall blood sugar levels to be managed.

The effects may also be attributed to the polyphenol content of dark tea.

Polyphenolic compounds may inhibit carbohydrate digestion, glucose absorption, and insulin secretion stimulation, all contributing to improved blood sugar control.

📝 Health Snippets

Women Pay More. A new report reveals that women face higher medical costs than men, even when excluding maternity expenses. In 2021, women spent 20% more on out-of-pocket costs on average, and even without maternity expenses, it was 18% more, translating to an average of $266 extra per year. Factors contributing to this gender healthcare cost disparity include higher healthcare utilization, specific checkups like gynecological exams, menopause-related visits, and breast cancer imaging, as well as receiving less value from health insurance benefits.

Regulating Lab Tests. The FDA will begin regulating clinical lab tests for the first time due to growing concerns about their accuracy. These tests, including high-tech diagnostics for conditions like cancer and heart disease, have previously lacked FDA oversight. The agency is particularly concerned about "laboratory-developed tests" (LDTs) and their potential for inaccurate results, which can lead to harmful treatment decisions.

Antibiotics After Sex. The CDC is considering recommending doxycycline, an antibiotic, as a preventive measure against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a new approach called "Doxy-PEP." This strategy involves taking doxycycline within 72 hours after potential STI exposure rather than waiting for a diagnosis.

No Probiotics for Preemies. There is a warning against giving probiotics to preterm infants after an infant died following probiotic administration. The FDA expressed concerns about harmful bacteria and fungi in probiotics, which can be fatal for premature babies. No probiotic product for infants is FDA-approved, and some are marketed without approval for preventing a condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. Infinant Health, the maker of the probiotic in question, is cooperating with the FDA's investigation and has halted shipments of the product.

Answer

Brushing teeth too soon after eating or drinking can soften the tooth enamel, especially if you’ve just been eating or drinking acidic foods.

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