DENVER, Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 347 million people worldwide have diabetes and this figure is expected to increase by two thirds by 2030. A new international study published in the October issue of the medical journal Nutrition, compared low-carb with low-calorie diets in obese and diabetic patients and found that a low-carb approach, such as the Atkins Diet, can assist in reversing this global trend. The study found that health markers improved more substantially in the low-carb group and diabetic patients experienced positive markers for longer term blood sugar readings.

Of 363 overweight and obese patients, which were recruited for a 24-week diet intervention trial, 102 of the patients had type-2 diabetes. The patients in the low-carb group saw positive improvement in their health markers, which were measured at two week intervals over the period. Health markers measured included: body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose level, total cholesterol and triglycerides among others.

In particular, the low-carb diet had significant positive effects on body weight, waist measurement, serum triacylglycerols and glycemic control in participants with type-2 diabetes. Most impressively, there was a high level of improvement in the marker for longer term blood sugar readings (HbA1c). This improvement in glycemic control was due in most part to diet, because the diabetics reduced by half or discontinued their medications at the beginning of the study. During the study, participants, who reported cravings or reached half their weight loss goal, were instructed to eat more vegetables such as salad greens or other low-carb vegetables, cheese, nuts or other low-carb snacks.

Atkins Supports Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Similar to the low-carb diet followed in the study, the Atkins Diet, the original and leading low-carb weight loss plan, recommends a wide array of vegetables, low glycemic fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and adequate proteins. Supported by over 80 independent, peer-reviewed studies, Atkins is a long-term, well balanced diet that teaches individuals to find their own personal carb balance, to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, by slowly adding more foods to their diets while continuing to lose weight or maintain weight loss long term.

About Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. is a leader in the $2.4 billion weight control nutrition category, and offers a powerful lifetime approach to weight loss and management. The Atkins Diet focuses on a healthy diet with reduced levels of refined carbohydrates and added sugars and encourages the consumption of protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and good fats. Backed by research and consumer success stories, this approach allows the body to burn more fat and work more efficiently while helping individuals feel less hungry, more satisfied and more energetic.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., manufactures and sells a variety of nutrition bars and shakes designed around the nutritional principles of the Atkins Diet. Atkins' four product lines: Advantage, Day Break, Endulge and Cuisine appeal to a broad audience of both men and women who want to achieve their weight management goals and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Atkins products are available online at atkins.com and in more than 30,000 locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit atkins.com.

STUDY DETAILS: Effect of low-calorie versus low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes Nutrition Vol. 28, Issue 10, Pages 1016-1021 Autors: Talib A. Hussain, Thazhumpal C. Mathew, Ali A. Dashti, Sami Asfar, Naji Al-Zaid, Hussein M. Dashti et al. World Health Organization, "Fact sheet N312", September 2012 (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/)

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New International Study Demonstrates the Power of Low-Carb Diets In the Fight Against Diabetes

The recent Consumer Reports article on the high content of inorganic arsenic in rice created quite an understandable stir. Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance), and the possibility that we may be inadvertently consuming more of it than we realize is concerning.

Arsenic is a metal that occurs naturally in soil in trace amounts, but its concentration can be increased significantly from a variety of environmental pollutants. The use of arsenic-containing fertilizer, for example, can cause soil to have higher concentrations of arsenic, and adjacent groundwater can be contaminated with runoff from these soils. Here in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency sets limits for arsenic content in public water, but no government agency monitors or regulates arsenic content in food.

While excessive arsenic levels in rice are of concern to everyone, they may be particularly problematic for people on a gluten-free diet for whom rice is arguably the staple grain. It's used in place of wheat for everything from breads and cereals to pastas and pancake mixes. Depending on which brands of rice-based products you're consuming and in what quantities, you may be getting more than you bargained for.

Scientific research on the potential health risks associated with excess arsenic consumption focuses on exposure from tainted water; it is not yet known to what extent dietary exposure to arsenic may pose a comparable risk. Until the science catches up, however, it's not unreasonable to take precautionary measures toward reducing exposure to arsenic in the diet. Indeed, this latest scare is a good reminder as to why we should never put all of our proverbial eggs into one, single basket. Just as a diversified financial portfolio helps protect you from overexposure to losses from a single economic sector or stock, so too a diversified nutritional portfolio helps protect you from overexposure to a contaminant found in a single food. Of course, dietary variety also helps ensure you get the range of necessary nutrients. If your diet is seriously bullish on rice, consider the latest headlines an impetus to start diversifying your diet.

Here's how:

The rice: Gluten-free brown rice pasta

The alternative: Ancient Harvest gluten-free quinoa/corn pasta

Why it's a great swap: Quinoa is a higher-protein, higher-iron alternative to rice, which, when combined with corn, produces a delicious and well-textured gluten-free pasta. The garden pagoda shape is my personal favorite!

The rice: Iron-fortified infant rice cereal

The alternative: Iron-fortified infant oatmeal

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Reducing the Rice in Your Diet

Toronto, Oct 1 (IANS) 'Cafeteria diet,' rich in fat, sugar and sodium, is often a short-cut to stroke or death at a younger age, said a Canadian study and warned that people in their 30s or 40s may even suffer from dementia due to this junk food diet.

Researchers found that such a diet induced most symptoms of metabolic syndrome - a combination of high levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and obesity - in rats after only two months.

The animals were as old as a 16 to 22 years old human being at the time of disease onset, says Dale Corbett, scientific director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery (Canada), who led the study.

"I think we'll soon start to see people in their 30s or 40s having strokes, having dementia, because of this junk food diet," says Dr. Corbett. "Young people will have major, major problems much earlier in life," Corbett added, according to a Heart and Stroke Foundation statement.

Researchers gave sedentary rats unlimited access to both nutritional food pellets and a daily selection of common junk food items including cookies, sausage and cupcakes.

Animals were also given access to both water and a 30 percent sucrose solution designed to imitate soft drinks. Like humans, the animals greatly preferred to consume the treats.

Corbett highlights the importance of preventing metabolic syndrome with regular exercise and a balanced diet.

"We're not sure whether metabolic syndrome can be reversed. If it can't, and we continue to live and eat like this, then we're each a ticking time bomb of health problems."

These findings were presented at the the Canadian Stroke Congress.

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'Cafeteria diet' is short-cut to stroke

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) October 01, 2012

Diet Doc hCG Diet Plan announces a new section on the hCGTreatments website to help people answer questions and learn information about the hCG diet.

Diet Doc hCG Diet has added a new comprehensive section to their website to help people get answers to the questions they have when learning or searching for the best hCG diet available.

Certain phenomena gain popularity largely based on an enormous internet presence without other reliable resources in place to clarify misconceptions which are propagated unchecked. The hCG diet and hCG weight loss protocol is an obvious example. Over the last few years, the marketing and websites promoting the use of hCG for weight loss have grown astronomically on the internet. While there are legitimate hCG weight loss clinics, the vast majority of the information on hCG and the hCG products offered online are designed to confuse and make profit from an unknowing public.

There are four of the egregious errors that, due to the quantity of websites claiming the contrary to be true, must be clarified.

First, the original hCG diet was developed several decades ago by a Dr Simeons and he used an extremely restricted 500 calorie per day diet. Eating so few calories per day is inherently risky and can lead to health problems. From what we have learned about diet and nutrition since the 1950s, there is absolutely nothing about losing weight on hCG that requires patients to consume so few calories. There are in fact, many types of much safer diets that couple well with hCG for weight loss and in most cases are just as effective as the severely restricted diet. While this fact is true, 99% of the websites, blogs, videos, and other online chatter about hCG promote the 500 calorie diet.

Next, many online sites make unqualified and unsubstantiated claims on the effectiveness of the hCG weight loss program. They claim that patients are losing 2 pounds of fat per day. They claim that hCG is a permanent cure for obesity. Neither of these claims are true and in most states in this country making fraudulent medical claims is not only unethical, but illegal.

Third, it is not true that all hCG is created equally. Homeopathic hCG drops are definitely not the same as prescription hCG. While there are some legitimate prescription strength tablets being compounded by pharmacies, hCG drops in liquid form are never prescription strength. Furthermore, the majority of hCG sold online directly to the public is either not true prescription strength or it is being obtained and sold illegally. There are also claims that there is special hCG weight loss for women and special hCG weight loss for men. Not true. Again, legitimate hCG weight loss clinics do exist. Prescription hCG is a medication and as such should always be prescribed by a qualified professional.

Lastly, most websites claim that hCG is a permanent reset for metabolism. This is also false. Any method one chooses to utilize to lose weight, whether it be diet or exercise or lap band surgery or gastric bypass surgery, once the weight is off long term strategies must be implemented to keep the weight off and stay healthy. Therefore, a tremendous failing of nearly all hCG weight loss available online is the lack of long term support and an effective maintenance program.

Diet Doc physicians are highly trained experts in the weight loss field and are the only doctors in America utilizing a modern-day hCG prescription diet . Diet Doctors have collectively seen thousands of successful cases, and will give people a personalized diet plan based on health history, age and gender along with specialty weight loss products and medications, including prescription hCG all to help people lose rapid weight safely.

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Diet Doc hCG Diet Plan Announces a New Section on Their Website to Help People Understand Everything They've Ever ...

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Youre never fully dressed without a smile or now a Diet Coke. A lucky Chicagoan will win a new fall look and a chance to meet couture designers from around the block and across the country at Chicagos Art of Fashion event on October 19 at Millennium Park courtesy of Diet Coke, The Shops at North Bridge and 101.9fm THE MIX.

Starting today through October 7 aspiring fashionistas and Diet Coke fans alike can tune into 101.9fm THE MIX and listen for a chance to text-to-win a makeover and VIP experience for two at Chicagos Art of Fashion event. Valued at $2,500, this prize package includes:

Diet Coke and Chicagos Art of Fashion Event bring together the best of whats possible when you push the limits of design and fashion, said Michael Dulin, Vice President, Commercialization, Coca-Cola Refreshments. This event recognizes both young and established designers and reinforces the positive power of ambition. Supporting our fans and their dreams is just one more way Diet Coke celebrates those who stay extraordinary.

Art of Fashion is the culmination of Fashion Focus Chicago a week-long celebration of Chicagos fashion industry. In partnership with Style Chicago and presented by the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Fashion Focus Chicago showcases some of the citys top designers, and features three headlining runway shows in Millennium Park. This is Diet Cokes inaugural year sponsoring Art of Fashion.

The iconic Diet Coke can is also getting a makeover this fall. Diet Coke has re-introduced its stylish cropped logo design for its aluminum can and launched a new, refreshed ad campaign. The campaign is the latest evolution of Diet Cokes iconic Stay Extraordinary platform and features a modern, bold look on the Diet Coke can and a series of new print and out-of-home ads. The refreshed packaging design features a section of the Diet Coke logo, cropped to feature the "D" and the k, set against the brand's signature silver backdrop, creating a sleek, modern look for the brand.

For more information on this contest please visit: http://www.wtmx.com or follow on Twitter @DietCokeUS.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

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Diet Coke to Style One Lucky Chicagoan with Couture Refreshment