Description
Book SynopsisIn this practical yet scientific guide, leading researcher in cancer, heart disease, and diabetes prevention Kedar N. Prasad, Ph.D., reveals the latest revolutionary discoveries on the use of antioxidants and micronutrients to treat diabetes. He details how the proper combinations of vitamin and antioxidant supplements can greatly increase the effectiveness of standard medical treatments to halt and even reverse the progression of both type I and type II diabetes and prevent onset in those who are diagnosed as prediabetic.
Prasad shows how chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and free radical damage are the chief culprits for the progression of diabetes and its complications and that merely changing your diet and activity level and regulating blood glucose levels cannot fully counteract this unhealthy internal state. He provides an easy-to-follow daily supplement regime for both diabetics and prediabetics in multiple age groups to target free radical damage and cell injury and stop the progression of diabetes complications. Reviewing much of the scientific research on diabetes treatment, he debunks the flawed conclusions of the medical community that vitamins and antioxidants are ineffective, revealing how the studies focused on specific micronutrients rather than synergistic combinations.
Offering the missing complement to the standard care of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes promoted by mainstream medicine, this guide provides a truly holistic approach to diabetes prevention, treatment, and care.
Trade Review“Like a Cliff-note crammer, Prasad (co-author of Fighting Cancer with Vitamins and Antioxidants), a researcher in cancer, heart disease, and diabetes prevention, introduces the disease cost of diabetes, both in terms of the staggering number of individuals affected (approximately 18.8 million in the US in 2011) and in the cost to the healthcare system, before reviewing the types of diabetes and some possible causes. Most of the book focuses on an in-depth description of oxidative stress and inflammation, and the role they may play in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Prasad includes a list of antioxidants, both endogenous and exogenous, and discusses their properties and functions. Supported by a lengthy list of research findings and clinical trial data, Prasad—perhaps not coincidentally the head of the Premier Micronutrient Corporation—discusses micronutrient supplementations at length and suggests formulations for supplement regiments for children and adults. These, he posits, along with the usual recommended diet and lifestyle changes, will help protect against and prevent diabetes.” * Publisher's Weekly, March 2014 *
“Dr. Prasad, a leading investigator and advocate for the role of micronutrients in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, now succinctly presents an excellent biological rationale for the use of vitamins and antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. His biological perspectives of micronutrients and concise meta-analysis of the existing data can help readers to consider antioxidants and proper agents in the fight against chronic disorders, especially for diabetes and cancer.” * Jae Ho Kim, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michiga *
“This is a most insightful presentation with many key ideas concerning both the prevention of onset and the deterrence of progression of diabetes. In view of the explosive increase in incidence of this disease, this book is especially timely. Emphasis is placed on inexpensive and noninvasive means by which diabetes patients can take command of a significant portion of their treatment. This makes the book especially valuable and relevant to a wide readership.” * Stephen C. Bondy, Ph.D., professor, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of *
“One of the leading and respected authorities in the field of antioxidant use.” * Jeanne Drisko, M.D., CNS, FACN, Integrative Medicine program director, University of Kansas Medical *
“The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide despite campaigns encouraging weight loss, exercise, and better nutrition. This means that diabetics will be facing kidney disease, heart disease, and damage to the eyes. Prasad (chief scientific officer, Premier Micronutrient Corp.), a PhD in radiation biology, offers a plan for the prevention of diabetes and its complications. He feels that inflammation and oxidative stress owing to free radicals are the major causes of the disease. He explains the different types of diabetes and the regulation of blood glucose in the body. Prasad then discusses oxidative stress and inflammation and presents a regimen of vitamins, micronutrients, and diet to combat both conditions. Readers will need a working knowledge of biochemistry and physiology to understand the author’s thesis. He cites clinical and animal studies to support this theory, but all of them are very small—around 30 patients. Prasad also states that more investigations are needed to show that his programs are effective. In addition, he notes that most of his regimens are taken from his earlier book, Fighting Cancer with Vitamins and Antioxidants.” * Barbara Bibel, Library Journal, March 2014 *
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by James Ehrlich, M.D.
Preface Why Should You Read This Book? 1 What Is Diabetes? History, Causes, and Costs
2 Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Compounding Factors of Diabetes
3 The Antioxidant Defense System: Vitamins and Micronutrients
4 Why We Need Supplementary Micronutrients
5 The Search for Prevention Part 1: The Laboratory and Epidemiologic Studies
6 The Search for Prevention Part 2: The Intervention Studies
7 Current Clinical Studies: A Flawed Methodology
8 Diabetes Prevention and Management: Multi-micronutrients, Diet, and Lifestyle Recommendations
Appendix 1 The Incidence and Prevalence of Diabetes
Appendix 2 Values of Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)/Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)
Abbreviations and Terminologies
Bibliography
About the Author
Index
