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Diabetes is a disorder caused by the pancreas’ inability to release enough insulin to handle the blood sugar in the body during digestion. There are three types of diabetes: Type I, or juvenile diabetes, Type II, also called adult onset diabetes and Gestational diabetes. Each type of diabetes has its own considerations and warnings for good health. Proper nutrition is important no matter what type of diabetes has been diagnosed.

Type I diabetes affects about 10% of all diabetics and is typically diagnosed at a fairly young age. Type II diabetes is typically discovered sometime after the age of 30, however, with so many children being obese, it is being found at younger and younger ages. The mechanisms for Type I and Type II diabetes are very different – juvenile diabetes is considered to be a defect in the pancreas itself. The body will start attacking the organ, destroying its ability to make insulin.

Type II diabetes, on the other hand, starts because the other organs in the body start resisting the insulin which is produced by the body. Type II is a progressive disease, starting with a need for dietary changes, then leading to a need for medications and eventually to needing insulin. A precursor to diabetes, pre-diabetes, can be present in the body for many years. Type II diabetes is more common in women than in men and tends to run in the family. Reduction of the risk of this type of diabetes is regular exercise and weight control. Warning signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, especially at night, constant hunger, blurred vision, unusual fatigue, sores that will not heal, unexplained weight loss, menstrual irregularity, and chronic yeast infections.

Risk Stats for Diabetes

Type II diabetes affects about 10% of all adults in the United States, with 90% of those people considered to be overweight or obese. Women who develop gestational diabetes are 20-50% more likely to develop Type II diabetes within five to ten years after the birth of the baby. Gestational diabetes is dangerous for the baby as well as the mother – the pregnancy is automatically classified as high risk (Source: Ammer, 2005).

Risk factors for diabetes include being more than 20% over your ideal weight, having persistent hypertension, having poorly controlled blood cholesterol, having a family history of it, especially in parents or siblings, being of certain ethnicities, including African American, Hispanic American, Native American or Asian American, or having gestational diabetes or having had a baby that is over nine pounds (with or without the diagnosis of gestational diabetes).

Testing needs to be done, including fasting blood sugar, A1C testing starting at 45 and completed every three years unless there is reason to test more frequently. Those who are at higher risk may need to be tested every year.

Protein Needs in Diabetes

Type II diabetes can be controlled with diet – just a small reduction in weight can typically eliminate the need for medication. Diabetes, if left unchecked, can lead to some very serious health risks, including an increased risk for kidney disease, blindness, heart disease and amputation. Protein plays a very vital role in not only helping to lose weight but in stabilizing the blood sugar levels that can be so hard to control for the diabetic.

When the body digests food, it is broken down at a rate based on what it is made of: fats and simple carbohydrates break down very quickly, while complex carbs digest at a slower rate. Proteins break down very slowly within the body and require more work by the body. This creation of energy also causes increased heat, a phenomena called thermogenesis. (Only alcohol creates more thermogenesis than protein)(Source: Westerterp). Fats are broken down to fats, carbs are broken down to be used for energy and protein is used as the last resort for energy but is used by the body for a large range of other functions.

Protein is important in the body, but can be dangerous if it makes up too much of the diet, especially in the presence of heart or kidney disease. The American Heart Association recommends that the upper limit of protein intake be no more than 35% of the daily calories, however, each diabetic’s doctor will set specific dietary guidelines. A person with stages one to four of chronic kidney disease should strive to limit protein because of their disease, but within reason and only under the direction of a doctor, a dietician or a nutritionist (Source: National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse).

For weight loss purposes, calories should come from carbohydrates (50%), proteins (30-35%) and fats (15-20%). The higher level of protein makes the diet more satisfying without deprivation. (Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) The protein need in the body is so great that if we do not get the right amounts, the body will eat more food to make up for it (Source: Massey University, 2009). The more food that is needed, the more calories will be ingested. It is a myth that protein does not turn to fat in the body – if there is too much consumption, the body will store it as such.

Protein comes from two sources, plants and animals. Plant protein, with the exception of soy protein, is incomplete because it lacks one or more of the amino acids that the body needs to have supplied by the diet. Because they are incomplete, vegetarians need to make sure that their diet is balanced and varied so that they do not miss out on any of the essential amino acids. The typical vegan diet gets about 10-12% of its calories from protein, while the average diet is 14-18% protein (Source: Mangels).

Animal protein is complete and comes from sources such as meat, dairy, and eggs. Leaner protein sources should always be selected so that the diet is lower in saturated fats as well as calories. Good animal proteins include tuna and salmon as well as other fatty fish. Turkey is another good protein source, specifically roasted, skinless breast meat. Low-fat dairy products and eggs are also excellent sources of animal protein that can work well in the quest to lose weight and be healthier.

Protein supplements are also important to add to the diet but should be of specific types. Some may be loaded with additional sugar, which can cause too much blood glucose. Profect, from Protica, is a small liquid supplement that supplies 25 grams of protein in only 100 calories with zero fat and zero carbohydrates. In addition, Profect supplies both vitamin C and vitamin B complex.

Be wary of protein bars, especially those with candy like flavors, as they may have enough calories or a high enough sugar content that they are equivalent to candy bars. Diabetics should discuss their supplement options with their doctor for optimal health. There are certain brands, especially of protein shakes, that are specifically designed for diabetics. Protein supplements have the advantage of stabilizing the blood sugar and preventing hunger between meals.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey liquid protein for cancer patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Concentrated protein supplementation is highly recommended for bariatric patients for two specific reasons. The primary reason is to aid short-term recovery after bariatric or weight reducing surgery. The secondary is for maintaining long-term good health.

Bariatric surgery can be minor or major. In addition, it can be very traumatic to particularly overweight bariatric patients. Wound healing demands amino acids to generate new protein tissue, concentrated protein supplementation is ideal for that. Over the longer term, you would not be able to consume as much, and depending upon the extent of the surgery, food intake could be dramatically reduced.

If this is the case, then the food that you should eat must be as nutritious as possible. If you filled your diet full of sugary foods and plant or vegetable foods, you would only be able to extract a small amount of nutrition. You would likely not take sufficient proteins, vitamins, and minerals to maintain a healthy body, and yes, you would certainly lose weight. However, you would not get the full benefit of the procedure you have undergone because you would not be able to maintain a good level of health.

During the first few days after surgery, you will be given highly nutritious liquid foods to ingest. Additionally a high protein concentrate would be ideal to promote satisfactory and rapid healing of your wounds. In order to heal, your body must generate protein; a protein supplement would provide you with all the raw materials you need for that. Going into the future, the same protein supplement will provide you with all the amino acids you need to allow your body to biosynthesize all the proteins required to function properly.

Proteins are everywhere in your body, and are absolutely essential for life. They form all the enzymes that enable your body’s chemistry to progress smoothly. Proteins help digest food, enable your metabolism to maintain life, and are also the basis of your DNA, the molecules of life itself. Without proteins there would be no life as we know it, animal or vegetable.

Your body does not use raw protein from your diet to generate other proteins. Rather, it breaks dietary proteins down into their constituent amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, a bit like differently shaped Lego bricks that can be joined together in almost an unlimited number of ways to form larger complex units known as proteins.

Depending which source you read, there are 20 to 22 standard amino acids that are used to produce the thousands of proteins in your body. There are 8 to 10 the body cannot manufacture itself, and so must be available from the proteins in your diet. Without these you could not survive.

Keeping in mind, bariatric patients can eat only a small amount of food; it is unlikely that they would be able to maintain a healthy diet containing all the proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed by the human body. Similarly deficiencies in the carbohydrates needed for energy required to keep your heart beating, your lungs breathing, and your digestion working exist as well.

Concentrated protein supplementation enables you to meet all your protein requirements. This then allows your body to extract the amino acids it needs and still provides room for you to take in the vitamins and minerals needed. Additionally you are able to enjoy the ‘reward foods’ that will give you your carbohydrate requirement. In this way, bariatric patients can enjoy their meals just as anybody else.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for renal care patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Nutritional status is one of the important parameters that decide the course of post surgical recovery. The concept of nutritional status in surgery involves various aspects of perioperative nutrition that includes both preoperative and postoperative nutritional status. Many studies show that preoperative acceptable nutritional conditions help to prevent early and late postoperative complications.

Klein et al. published a study in 1996 that compared 2 groups of patients: a previously malnourished group and another in agreeable nutritional condition. Both groups had undergone elective lumbar spinal surgery. It was reported that out of 26 postoperative complications, 24 were in the malnourished group. Based on the study findings, the study authors recommend that close attention should be paid to the preoperative nutritional status of patients undergoing surgical procedure. The researchers propose that individuals with sub optimal nutritional parameters should be supplemented and replenished before elective surgery. Similar studies done indicate that the conclusions can be generalized for any kind of operations. Hence, special considerations should be given to malnourished and undernourished cases.

Successful recovery from a surgical intervention depends on many factors, and post surgical nutritional support is one of these. Post surgical nutrition should be initiated as soon as possible. The improved nutritional status helps in:

- Wound closure

- Improving immune responses

- Preventing infections or sepsis, and

- Preventing immediate and late complications.

Proteins are a source of amino acids, the basic building structure of the body. Owing to this property, adequate protein intake is essential for proper wound healing. Protein depletion appears to delay wound healing by: prolonging the inflammatory phase; by inhibiting fibroplasia, collagen and proteoglycan synthesis; and by inhibiting neoangiogenesis (proliferation phase) and wound remodeling.

Surgery poses great metabolic stress on the patient, with the severity of the stress depending on the severity of the wounded site. An injured patient requires more protein than a non-injured patient because of the increased metabolic activity of wound healing, acute-phase protein production in response to stress, and amino acid mobilization from muscle used for hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Experimental protein depletion in animals showed a decrease in the tensile strength of wounds. In a study of 108 human patients with experimental wounds, individuals with either low serum protein or serum albumin had significantly weaker wounds than those with normal protein values.

Protein calorie malnutrition increases morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient. Many studies have found hospitalized patients in a state of malnutrition at admission. Thus, it is important to increase protein intake to optimize healing and immune function, and to prevent post-surgical complications in these individuals.

Protein requirement

In a non-injured state, adults require approximately 0.8 grams of dietary protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Elderly patients have a higher protein requirement (1-1.2 grams of dietary protein per kilogram of body weight per day) due to a decreased ability to synthesize proteins. The surgical/trauma patient can require significantly more protein. Minor surgery may not significantly increase the protein requirement; however, if the patient is already protein malnourished, wound healing will be adversely affected unless dietary protein intake is increased. Major surgery can increase protein requirements 10 percent, while a patient with multiple traumas may need 75 percent more protein. Special cases like burn wounds cause tremendous metabolic stress and have the greatest impact on protein requirements, increasing protein needs 75-100 percent.

Therapeutic modes of nutrition

Patients in whom the protein requirement of the body outweighs the intake, supplements are required to meet the increased demand. Therapeutic modes may be helpful in this case.

- Oral nutrition is safest, cheapest, and best.

- Enteral tube nutrition may be used in patients with a functioning gastro intestinal tract to supplement oral feeding or to replace it entirely. The latter is indicated for patients who require intensive protein support.

- Partial parenteral nutrition supplies only part of the patient’s daily nutritional requirements, supplementing oral intake.

- TPN (total parenteral nutrition) supplies all of the patient’s daily nutritional requirements. A peripheral vein may be used for short periods, but longer periods of use with concentrated solutions can readily lead to thrombosis.

Monitoring of weight, plasma proteins, glucose, etc should be done regularly.

Role of milk proteins in recovery process

Whey proteins are an excellent protein source for everyone — no matter what their age. From a nutritional perspective, whey proteins reign supreme. Whey is a by-product of the cheese and casein manufacturing process. It contains approximately 20% of the original milk proteins. Exciting new research is being conducted that indicates certain whey protein components help provide the growth of new body tissue. Biological activities include immune modulation and anti-inflammatory and healing effects.

Casein is basically a milk protein and is considered the major protein component of milk. Caseins are a family of phosphoproteins synthesized in the mammary gland. They possess immune modulator activity and can influence gut motility. Caseins are extremely high in the amino acid glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid found in skeletal muscles and may play a role in supporting the immune system.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for immunodeficiency patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Current research has revealed a promising relation between a high protein diet and low blood cholesterol levels. Many people with high cholesterol levels take medications to control their cholesterol levels. In this article we will examine the role of cholesterol and how its levels are linked to proteins in the diet.

Cholesterol is vital to maintain the integrity of brain cells, keep the membranes intact and the cells working. The protein receptors, imperative for inter-cellular communication, also anchor in cholesterol molecules present in these membranes. However, brain-cell membranes do more, as they contain receptors for key chemical messengers in the brain. These receptors permit cell-to-cell communication, and cholesterol helps to keep these attachment points functioning properly and the cells communicating normally.

Serotonin, a key messenger, has an anti-depressant effect, and proper functioning of serotonin receptors is linked to better mental health. With suboptimal cholesterol intake in the diet, poorly structured brain-cell membranes function inadequately with fewer receptors available to interact with nerve messengers. This could lead to depression.

Cholesterol is important for brain development in infants and plays a role in neuron function in adults. High blood cholesterol level is still considered a risk factor for stroke and heart disease, however, and physicians may decide that those risks outweigh any modest benefits for cognitive function. Scientists have not yet determined whether lowering cholesterol with medication will influence mental functioning.

In humans, normal metabolic oxidation reactions lead to harmful by-products. Accumulation of these harmful by-products causes damage to the neurons of the brain. Our bodies have antioxidants that protect it from these cellular damages.

Research has shown that regular consumption of cultured dairy products lowers cholesterol and protects against bone loss.

Role of casein and whey:

Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein can be of benefit in lowering cholesterol. Casein and whey are natural based milk proteins.

Casein is the other protein derived from milk and is a complete protein. It is:

- Extremely high in the amino acid, glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid found in skeletal muscles and may play a role in supporting the immune system.

- A larger protein (than whey) that is absorbed more slowly by the body. Often used when absorption over an extended time period is desirable.

- Not as absorbable (as whey) by the body because it has a lower biological value (BV) therefore more has to be consumed.

Whey: Whey proteins are not something new – they have been available for hundreds of years. It has only been during the last 15 – 20 years however, that the true potential of whey proteins has become known. This awareness has led to an increase in research activity to identify all the benefits whey proteins provide to the human body.

Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties that mop up free radicals — free radicals induce cell death and play a role in aging. Therefore, whey proteins can have a protective effect on neurons when taken on a long-term basis.

Whey protein concentrate has been found to be a potent inhibitor of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Current research suggests that the conversion of LDL cholesterol to oxidized LDL is the trigger that leads to atherogenesis — the formation of plaque and lesions associated with atherosclerosis. This commonly occurs in arteries that nourish the heart. Therefore, any substance that prevents the oxidation of LDL is thought to be anti-atherogenic.

Whey protein is made up of several minor and major fractions, such as beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, albumin, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin. It was discovered that the minor constituent responsible for whey’s ability to prevent the oxidation of LDL appears to be the lactoferrin fraction of the protein. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been shown to reduce uptake of LDL cholesterol.

Whey protein has the following properties:

- It has the highest branched chain amino acid (BCAA) content found in nature. BCAAs are necessary for the maintenance of muscle tissue and they tend to be depleted following exercise.

- Is thought to be digested faster than casein and more completely than soy proteins.

- It enhances the production of the amino acid, glutathione, which is an important component for supporting the immune system.

- It is very miscible, which means it dissolves easily in water and other liquids making it more user friendly in some cases.

The link between protein and lower cholesterol continues to be studied, and the early indications are promising. With the broad benefits afforded by whey and casein, they are a smart addition to most dietary regimens.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for dialysis patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Cardiovascular disease kills over sixteen million people worldwide every year and is the direct cause of over 30% of all deaths in that same time period. In the United States, both heart disease and strokes account for over 40% of all adult deaths (Source: Natural News 2006). In 2006, there were over 450,000 coronary bypass surgeries performed in the United States and there were over 2,000 heart transplant surgeries the following year (Source: The Texas Heart Institute Heart Information Center). The risk for developing heart disease of any kind can depend on a number of factors, including:

- Family history

- Weight

- Diet and exercise habits

- Smoking

- Gender

- Other health risk factors

Family history of any type of heart disease may increase your risk of developing certain conditions and may also increase your risk for heart attack or stroke, even without other risk factors being present.

Weight is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, especially with disease that is caused by clogged arteries and plaque buildup. Weight can be most dangerous when it includes having a BMI of 27 or more and a waist to hip ratio of .9 or more. A woman’s waist measurement should be 33 inches or less. A quick look at your shape is also very telling as well: if you resemble an apple, with most of the weight above the hipline, you are at greater risk of heart disease than those who are pear shaped, or carrying their weight below the hips. It is thought that the deep abdominal fat affects the internal organs in a negative way and raises blood pressure, as well as causing other problems.

Diet and exercise habits are also an important risk factor to consider. It is recommended that you should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day (Source: Ammer 2005). The choice that you make for exercise is entirely up to you, but your doctor may have some suggestions as well. Good choices for exercise include walking, yoga, swimming or other water sports. A healthy diet is also important, including all of the important nutrients. The diet suggested by the American Heart Association is an important one. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is also a valid suggestion as well.

While smoking is known as a risk factor for a number of other diseases, its role in heart disease, including heart attack and stroke, is very important to keep in mind as well, especially for those who have the other risk factors. Smoking raises the risk of heart disease in women five times or more over non-smoking women of the same age.

It was long thought that most types of heart disease were ones that struck men more often than women; however, the dangers of heart disease and women have become more thoroughly researched in the recent years. Women do tend to get heart disease later in life, however, and it tends to be more severe for them. It is now the leading cause of death in women who are over 66 years old and claims six times the number of breast cancer deaths. Women also tend to misinterpret their symptoms and delay getting initial assistance when they are potentially having a heart attack (Source: Ammer 2005).

Diabetes, a serious disease on its own, can also raise the risks of heart disease by damaging the arteries, raising the blood pressure and possibly worsening the cholesterol levels. Having a poor overall lipid profile is also a dangerous risk to keep in mind. Women who have reached the age of menopause that are not taking estrogen may face the same risk of heart disease as a man who is ten years younger. Increasing the amount of soy protein can afford some protection for the heart, because soy contains phytoestrogens that are similar to estrogen but are milder and safer than artificial or replacement estrogen.

Diet Suggestions for Heart Disease (Before Heart Disease Starts)

Research by the Nurses’ Health Study showed that women (mostly nurses) who started eating a diet plan similar to that of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) had lowered their risk of heart disease and stroke. DASH is based on healthy proteins (i.e. plant-based rather than animal based protein choices), fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. The study stated that at the end of period, those eating from this plan were almost 25 percent less likely to have heart disease and almost twenty percent less likely to have a stroke (Source: Heart Insight 2008).

It is important to find the right type and right kind of protein for your diet; it should be as lean as possible. Vegetarian protein is much healthier than animal protein; however, it is not necessary to abstain from all meat or other animal foods – just make your choices lean and low fat. Red meats have too much saturated fat and too many calories, but almost anything that you would have made with them can be recreated using substitutes. Ground turkey breast can be used to make chili or burgers, for instance. Tofu can fill in the role of meat in many different recipes and will take the flavor of the spices that it is cooked with. Tofu can also be used as both a savory and a sweet – it depends only on what you add to it.

Darius and Elizabeth: Better Diets and Better Heart Health, a Case Study

Darius, a former professional athlete, has gained 25 pounds since his retirement. Both his father and mother died from heart related conditions at fairly young ages and, despite his best efforts, he has been unable to stop smoking. Elizabeth is ten years older than her husband and has always been thirty pounds overweight; she gains and loses, and gains and loses the same ten pounds every year. She has never smoked but her family history is filled with diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

They both have borderline problems, Darius with high blood pressure and Elizabeth with high cholesterol. They agree to change their diets, including eating far less red meat. Elizabeth is planning to follow a mostly vegetarian diet; however, Darius refuses to part with meat. They try some tofu recipes and find a few that they might like and have also learned to grill portabella mushrooms on their grill instead of burgers.

Both of them have also added Profect, a protein supplement from Protica, which allows them to have a between-meal snack that gives them high quality protein and additional vitamins. They have also found that they are not hungry between meals and are both well on the way to reaching their optimal weight. Each single serving of Profect is only 100 calories, but they have found that buying the 200 gram size is far easier and less expensive. There are a number of flavors that they both enjoy.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for renal care patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright