Diabetes Trigger HIDDEN in Popular Foods

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

It’s no surprise that what you eat affects your health.

And you don’t need ME to explain that a steady diet of junk foods, like candy bars or potato chips, can raise your risks for various illnesses.

But researchers recently uncovered something downright disturbing about foods that countless folks eat daily.

It turns out a lot of processed or prepared foods contain a food additive that scientists say could GIVE you diabetes.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Propionate is a naturally-occurring, short-chain fatty acid. It serves some important roles in the body, such as regulating appetite, lowering serum cholesterol, and reducing cancer risks.

But it turns out this natural compound can take a dramatic turn towards the dark side.

You see, propionate is approved by the FDA to be used in food manufacturing as a mold inhibitor. So it’s produced in a super-concentrated form and dumped into our food.

And recent research reveals how that practice poses a BIG problem.

In the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, Harvard researchers reported what happened when mice were fed this fatty acid.

The propionate…

  • sent blood sugar soaring
  • led to insulin resistance
  • resulted in weight gain

The trouble is, like MOST food additives, the health effects of propionate have never been adequately studied. Well, until now, that is. Because the researchers ALSO explored the impact the compound has on HUMANS.

A group of 14 healthy volunteers was split into two.

Half of the participants ate meals containing 1 gram of propionate, and the other half didn’t. Blood samples were taken from all the volunteers both before and after eating.

In the end, the researchers found that just like the mice in the earlier experiment, the folks who ate the propionate-laced meals had MAJOR blood sugar spikes.

The fatty acid causes the jump in glucose because it increases your levels of three blood-sugar-producing hormones:

  • glucagon
  • norepinephrine
  • FABP4

Combined with the high carb content you find in most processed foods, that spells DOUBLE TROUBLE for your blood sugar levels (and your risk for developing diabetes).

Your best bet is to dump as many prepared foods from your diet as possible. The fewer you eat, the less you’ll be exposed to propionate.

Instead, make homemade meals from scratch with fresh ingredients, including organic produce, wild-caught seafood, and grass-fed meats.

P.S. Need even MORE help dodging diabetes? These tips could slash your risk by up to 70 percent!

SOURCE:

“The short-chain fatty acid propionate increases glucagon and FABP4 production, impairing insulin action in mice and humans.” Science Translational Medicine, 2019 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aav5938

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scisignal.aav5938

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More Free Articles

Is Your Diet ACTUALLY Healthy? Here’s How to Tell

I’ve probably uttered the phrase “healthy diet” when talking to patients, family, and friends more times than I’ve had cups of coffee—and that’s saying something! But I’ll admit it’s not always entirely clear what a healthy diet looks like. What does healthy eating really mean? Let’s take a look… Good news—healthy eating doesn’t mean you...

Read This

7 Natural Ways to Tackle Pain Without Pills

On Tuesday, we explored a promising new frontier in pain relief: terpenes, natural compounds found in cannabis (and other plants) that may ease pain without the risks of opioids. That research is still developing. But what if you’re looking for help right now? Good news: You don’t have to wait for a pharmaceutical breakthrough to...

Read This

Mailbag: Pinched to Pain Free with Natural Sciatica Solutions

“I have been suffering from sciatic pain in my hip and groin. I try to do exercises to stretch it. But ever since I slipped on the ice and fell on my left hip it seems to be getting worse. Is there any help for this?” -Painfully Pinched Dear Pinched, I understand how frustrating sciatic...

Read This

New Cannabis Discovery Could Ease Pain—Without the High

A few years ago, everywhere you turned, someone was talking about CBD. The cannabis extract had exploded in popularity for everything from anxiety to inflammation to joint pain. And while the CBD conversation continues, another cannabis compound is quietly making headlines. One that could—believe it or not—provide relief from all kinds of pain. Without the...

Read This

"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...

Read This

Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED

By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...

Read This

Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory

You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...

Read This

Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check

I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...

Read This

Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer

We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....

Read This

Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer

“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....

Read This