Currently in the US about 30 million people have diabetes, with the majority of those cases (90 – 95 percent) being type 2.

In addition, it is estimated that another 80 million have “pre-diabetes”--elevated blood glucose. 

And as the number of diabetes cases continues to rise, scientists are spending more time investigating its relationship to other conditions.

For example, past studies have shown that people with diabetes are more likely to report muscle or joint pain than nondiabetics.

But the latest study out of Denmark is more specific…and worrisome.

Diabetes linked with arthritis and osteoporosis

Recently, a team at Nordsjaellands University Hospital in Hillerød, Denmark examined data from the 2013 Danish National Health Survey, and zeroed in on the records of 109,218 people aged 40 or older.

Out of those people, 8.5 percent were diagnosed with diabetes. Once the researchers adjusted for risk factors, such as age, gender, and BMI, a scary pattern emerged…

They found that the people with diabetes were 33 percent more likely to have osteoarthritis as compared to nondiabetics.  They also had a 70 percent increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and 29 percent greater risk of osteoporosis!

It ain’t no surprise

The researchers believe that, although there may be other factors at play, the relationship between diabetes and the other conditions “could be” due to the presence of chronic inflammation.

Ya think?

Diabetes and chronic inflammation are BFFs!

Diabetes is characterized by excess glucose in the bloodstream, and glucose is a very abrasive, inflammatory substance.  Having lots of it coursing through your blood vessels triggers inflammation throughout your circulatory system.

Well, your blood vessels go EVERYWHERE in you, so once something’s affecting them, it is going to affect other body parts and systems—there’s no stopping it.  

Fight back at the #1 underlying cause—an inflammatory diet!

Hands down, the single biggest contributing factor behind type 2 diabetes AND chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis is an inflammatory diet!

So it only follows that your diet should be where you start if you want to live a diabetes- and disease-free existence!

Here are the 10 worst inflammatory foods that you should avoid at all cost, followed by ways you can help reduce inflammation in your body!

The 10 worst inflammatory foods

1- Sugar and high fructose corn syrup

In addition to stirring up inflammation in your arteries, sugar is nourishment for cancer cells. 

Especially dangerous is high fructose corn syrup.  HFCS has been linked to fatty liver disease, as well as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer and chronic kidney disease, plus it’s typically made with GMO corn to boot. 

2- Refined carbohydrates

Unlike good carbs like fresh vegetables, refined carbohydrates like breads, pasta, sweets, crackers and snack chips have little nutritive value and turn to sugar upon digestion.  This makes them no different than #1 above.

Also, refined carbs have been shown to trigger inflammation in the gut, increasing your risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

3- Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are unstable and are very prone to damage by oxidation.  When heated they form dangerous compounds similar to deadly trans-fats. 

Plus vegetable oils promote inflammation due to their high Omega-6 fatty acid content. 

4- MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancer most commonly found in prepared Asian food and soy sauce, but it can also be added to fast foods, soups and soup mixes, salad dressings and deli meats.

5- Factory farmed meats

Instead of being allowed to freely graze in pastures rich in anti-inflammatory Omega-3 essential fatty acids, factory farmed animals are instead fed a grain diet which is high in inflammation-stirring Omega-6
EFAs. 

And whatever is in these animals becomes a part of YOU when you eat their meat, eggs or milk.

6- Gluten

Due to hybridization, we have created a gluten molecule that is more inflammatory than previous varieties. 

In addition, the amount of gluten in our wheat is nearly double what it was just 50 years ago, plus it is used as a thickener in countless processed foods.

7- Margarine

Margarine is made with polyunsaturated oils.  During the manufacturing process, the oils are heated, creating dangerous disease-causing compounds like I mentioned in #3 above. 

8- Soda

Soda is the most harmful, inflammatory, acidic substance you can drink.  If this is your beverage of choice, have your affairs in order and count on being sickly before you keel over.     

9- Processed foods

Processed foods provide few or no nutrients, they create loads of acid wastes in your body and they typically contain refined grains, sugar and unhealthy fats.   

10- Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners have been linked to cancer, brain damage and premature delivery in pregnant women, insulin sensitivity, retinal damage and blindness, nerve pain, muscle weakness and memory lapses, to name a few.

And they are toxic to your gut microbiome, increasing your risk of inflammatory immune responses.

Now the flip side—how to curb inflammation!

Here’s how to naturally help curb inflammation:

Get enough Omega-3 essential fatty acids

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are Nature’s anti-inflammatory, but unfortunately most of us are grossly deficient in these crucial fats due to our consumption of meat, milk and eggs from factory farmed animals.

In addition, although fatty fish like salmon are a good source of Omega-3 fats, much of the fish in the supermarkets is farmed and downright toxic!

To make sure your body maintains a health-supporting level of Omega-3 EFAs, supplementation with a pure pharmaceutical-grade fish oil formula like VitalMega-3 is the best way to go.

VitalMega-3 provides a soothing 1,200 mg of anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fats in every 2-capsule dose, including the Superstars EPA and DHA—that are critical for your brain and cardiovascular health.

Curb inflammation-triggering acid wastes

Acid wastes are a significant cause of inflammation. 

Acid wastes are a by-product of poor digestion, chemicals and preservatives in processed foods, normal cell metabolism and medication residue.  When these waste products become more than what your body can effectively eliminate, they build up and light fires of inflammation. 

So reducing acid wastes is crucial to controlling inflammation!

Start by having a more alkalinizing diet.  Stay away from the inflammatory foods I mentioned above, strive to make at least half of your plate vegetables, and eat a tossed salad every day. 

It’s also important to structure your meals so your body can efficiently digest what you’ve eaten.  Poor digestion is the primary cause of acid wastes in the body, and considering how many people are on acid reducers in this country, it’s safe to say we stink at digestion.

But I can help you change all of that with my Great Taste No Pain health system.

Great Taste No Pain shows you how to create meals that are not only mouth-watering delicious, but are also a snap for your body to digest!

Imagine being able to enjoy delicious meals and not be in agony afterward!  When you help your digestion along, miseries like acid reflux, gas, bloating and constipation can become a thing of the past for you.

Plus you reduce the acid waste burden on your body, which in turn helps lower inflammation.

Other helpful measures

Drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day, and if you must have coffee, limit your consumption to one cup in the morning.

Also, although medications are sometimes necessary, we’ve gone WAY overboard with our reliance on them.  If you are on any medications, talk to your doctor about reducing your dose or trying natural alternatives, such as VitalMega-3 fish oil for high blood pressure or cholesterol. 

If your doctor refuses to listen to your concerns, find one who will.

Fight back at inflammation and help pave the way for great health into your golden years!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia