A recent study from the Open University of Catalonia reveals that consuming two tins of sardines weekly may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, highlighting additional health benefits from the fish.
Sardines Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, Study Finds
A study by the Open University of Catalonia in Spain has discovered that consuming two tins of sardines each week can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research involved 152 participants with pre-diabetic blood sugar levels, ranging from 100 to 124 milligrams per decilitre. The participants were divided into groups, with one group consuming 200 grams (seven ounces) of sardines weekly.
After a year, the study found the high-risk diabetes individuals’ percentage in the sardine-consuming group dropped significantly from 37% to 8%, compared to a decrease from 27% to 22% in the group that did not consume sardines. The research outlined additional health benefits from sardine consumption, including improved insulin resistance, higher good cholesterol levels, and better hormonal regulation for glucose breakdown and blood pressure reduction.
Professor Diana Rizzolo, the study’s lead author, emphasized the benefits of adding sardines to diets, particularly because they are easily accessible, affordable, and nutritious. The findings, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, suggest that the synergistic effect of nutrients within sardines played a critical role, unlike isolated nutrient supplements which do not show the same benefit.
Increased Carotenoids from Baby Carrots Consumption
A separate study presented at Nutrition 2024 in Chicago reveals that eating three servings of baby carrots per week significantly boosts skin carotenoid levels. Lead researcher Mary Harper Simmons and her team at Samford University, Alabama, studied 60 young adults divided into four groups: those eating baby carrots, those taking a multivitamin, a combination of both, and a control group.
The carrot-eating group saw a 10.8% increase in carotenoids, while the combination group experienced a 21.6% increase. The study underscores the “food first” philosophy, demonstrating that dietary sources of carotenoids were more effective than supplements alone.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, essential for heart, lung, and overall organ health. This study highlights the importance of incorporating vegetables into the diet for better health outcomes.
Heart Attack Diagnosis Disparities Between Genders
Research involving more than 2.3 million people globally has revealed that women are at a significant disadvantage in heart attack diagnosis and treatment compared to men. The study found that women are 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed and 34% less likely to receive an angiogram within 72 hours of symptoms onset. Consequently, 8,243 women in England and Wales died between 2002 and 2013 due to inadequate care.
Experts, including Sian Harding from Imperial College London, suggest that women should advocate for themselves strongly in medical settings and consider seeking support from male companions to ensure their symptoms are taken seriously. Dr. Alyson J. McGregor’s book, “Sex Matters,” highlights this issue and calls for further research into female-specific cardiovascular health to improve diagnostic and treatment protocols.