Genes remember sugar hit: Australian research

[tabatha]

SYDNEY (AFP) -- Human genes remember a sugar hit for two weeks, with prolonged poor eating habits capable of permanently altering DNA, Australian research has found.

A team studying the impact of diet on human heart tissue and mice found that cells showed the effects of a one-off sugar hit for a fortnight, by switching off genetic controls designed to protect the body against diabetes and heart disease.

""We now know that chocolate bar you had this morning can have very acute effects, and those effects can continue for up to two weeks,"" said lead researcher Sam El-Osta, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.

""These changes continue beyond the meal itself and have the ability to alter natural metabolic responses to diet,"" he told Australian Associated Press Friday.

Regular poor eating would amplify the effect, said El-Osta, with genetic damage lasting months or years, and potentially passing through bloodlines.

The study's findings were reported in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=187166

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18809715?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[cliffordu]

1. Jihad against anyone who would take my chocolate from me.

[tabatha]

4. I have cocoa every day - without the sugar.

Make your own bars - much cheaper

Almond Power Bars
2 cups almonds (raw)
½ cup flax meal (flax seeds ground in a blender)
½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
½ cup unsalted almond butter (roasted tastes better)
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt // optional
½ cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar // makes it too sweet
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate 73% (optional) // I used cocoa, 2 tsp

1. Place almonds, flax meal, shredded coconut, almond butter and salt in a food processor
2. Pulse briefly, about 10 seconds
3. In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat,
4. Remove coconut oil from stove, stir agave and vanilla into oil
5. Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste
6. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish
7. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens
8. In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously
9. Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens
10. Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve

Makes 20 bars

[cliffordu]

6. Thanks!!!!!

[Quantess]

15. Sam El-Osta is unfairly biased against chocolate.

Chocolate is good for you, in many ways. Antioxidants, and, I recall hearing that chocolate has compounds that are good for your heart.

Jolly Ranchers or a 44 oz Pepsi are better examples of unhealthy sugar.

Clearly, El-Osta has a grude against chocolate. ;)

[cliffordu]

18. If we stop eating chocolate, the ter'rists win!!!

[grasswire]

2. very interesting, thanks (eom)

[Blaze Diem]

3. My mom used to tell me "You have a Sweet Tooth just like your dad.!"

Know I know why.

[Warpy]

5. Mother's milk provides that sugar hit

as do many foodstuffs that are high in carbs, from fruits and most veggies to grains.

This article is just a little misleading. Humans aren't mice.

[KittyWampus]

7. mother's milk provides a particular form of sugar along with certain proteins, vitamins

minerals and antibodies.

There are various types of sugars.

Our bodies evolved digesting certain types and not others.

Our bodies also evolved digesting certain AMOUNTS of sugars.

Eating too much of certain types of sugars and carbs leads to insulin and leptin resistance.

Oh, and since humans aren't mice, I guess we should just scrap experimenting on animals then?

[Warpy]

12. Silly light switch statement at the end is called a false choice

Animal models are useful at producing preliminary data.

Very little of it translates fully to the human model.

[tabatha]

9. There are some nutritionists who do not like grains.

Especially refined grains.

I recently spoke to some diabetic testers - who agree that diet is a factor, especially amongst the hispanic population. A statement was made that beans and rice just don't cut it as an everyday food.

[Warpy]

10. You can find nutritionists who don't like a lot of things

but they're mostly nutritionists with degrees from highly suspect institutions.

[tabatha]

13. Yeah, how about those trying to fix people with diabetes

which is becoming a serious problem.

[supernova]

14. I stay away from most grains for that very reason

If I have some, I want more, and more, and more....

It's better for me not to go down that path. I've learned that lesson the hard way. :-(

edit: I say "most". I've learned I can have some buckwheat and quinoa. But regular wheat (and semolina) and rye, forget it. It just makes me hungry.

[tabatha]

17. Yes, I have discovered buckwheat and quinoa, too.

I went through a period of several months/years where I ate instant food because I was too busy with other stuff - and have paid the price. I am slowly reversing the problems after doing hours and hours of research and reading.

[Warpy]

20. You don't "fix" diabetes

and even a slight nodding acquaintance with the ADA diet would tell you that there are carbohydrate exchanges to guide diabetics on the proper complex carbohydrates to eat to maintain level blood sugar.

That's grains, dear.

[Warpy]

11. Hiccup

[supernova]

8. This explains why you

want more and more after eating "just a little bit." :eyes:

OK, I'm never touching sugar again. :P

[DJ13]

16. I say we tax a chocolate bar to pay for a health program

[malaise]

19. I remember when mum and dad would bring home a

large Cadbury chocolate bar with nuts and each of us would get one row of squares. Now weren't by any means poor, but we were taught to eat sweets in moderation.

Both hubby and I have a sweet tooth, but we buy a can of Cadbury with mixed nuts once a month and never eat more than two each. Just like my mom, the last thing I eat before I go to bed is something sweet - fruit, icecream or chocolate.

[cliffordu]

21. Jihad and a pox on the house of anyone who interferes with my chocolate.....

Or tries to tax it for that matter....