Fats
Excessive fat consumption has been linked to the development of diabetes. A recent study at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in the USA found that consuming an additional 40 grams of fat per day triples the risk of developing diabetes. Diets high in fat, especially those rich in animal fat, appear to impair insulin effectiveness.
Research at the University of Sydney in Australia examined the levels of saturated fatty acids in muscle cells of older non-diabetic men and women undergoing surgery. The study found that higher concentrations of saturated fatty acids in cells corresponded with greater insulin resistance. Conversely, higher tissue levels of polyunsaturated fats—particularly those found in fish oil—were associated with better insulin activity and lower resistance. Fish oil differs from animal fats because it contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, which are especially beneficial for heart health by lowering cholesterol and protecting against atherosclerosis. The researchers also reported that omega-3 intake helped overcome insulin resistance in their subjects.
In another study, Jennifer Lovejoy, assistant professor at Louisiana State University, USA, examined eating habits and insulin activity among 45 non-diabetic men and women—about half obese and half of normal weight. In both groups, higher fat consumption increased insulin resistance. According to Dr. Lovejoy, this indicates that even otherwise healthy individuals who consume excess fat risk reduced insulin efficiency and increased susceptibility to diabetes.
Meat and Meat Products
One of the key nutritional recommendations is to “eat less saturated fat.” A straightforward way to achieve this is by reducing or eliminating meat products, which are high in both saturated fat and cholesterol. People with diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease earlier in life, and the extra calories from saturated fats contribute to overweight and obesity, further increasing this risk.
Meat consumption is especially harmful for those with diabetes. It aggravates the toxic condition underlying the diabetic state and impairs sugar tolerance. Many human diseases stem from autointoxication—the poisoning of the body by its own metabolic wastes. Flesh foods add to the burden on the body’s elimination organs, increasing the load of animal waste products and toxins. Chemical analysis shows that uric acid and other toxins present in animal tissue are chemically similar to caffeine and nicotine—the stimulants found in coffee, tea, and tobacco.
The respected journal The Lancet advises that diabetic patients should reduce their intake of animal foods. However, in colder regions where meat and animal products make up the bulk of the diet, diabetic patients should limit their consumption to eggs and white meats such as fish and poultry. Even these should be consumed sparingly, while all red meat and red meat products should be eliminated from the diet.
