Many chocolate products contain toxic heavy metals: new study

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This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...

Prediabetes patients should delay diabetes onset by 4 years: study



Four more years!

Prediabetes patients should try to delay the onset of diabetes by at least four years to significantly lower their risk of early death and complications such as heart attack or stroke, a new study finds.

With prediabetes, a person’s blood sugar is above average — but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. A whopping 98 million American adults — more than one in three — are estimated to have prediabetes.

Prediabetes patients should try to delay the onset of diabetes by at least four years to significantly lower their risk of early death and complications such as heart attack or stroke, a new study finds. Exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent diabetes. Getty Images

The goal for prediabetes patients is to exercise and eat a healthy diet to avoid getting diabetes.

Diabetes has been linked to a host of conditions, including heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

With prediabetes, a person’s blood sugar levels are above average — but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. The A1C test measures the average amount of sugar in a person’s blood over the past few months. VectorMine – stock.adobe.com

For this new study, published Tuesday in the journal PLOS Medicine, researchers in China examined the health of 540 prediabetic patients over three decades.

Participants were assigned to a control group or a lifestyle intervention group — one followed a healthy diet, the second exercised more, and the third did a combination of the two.

The researchers found that the longer a prediabetic person can delay developing diabetes, the better their chances are for long-term health.

Even maintaining prediabetic status for four years is beneficial; however, the researchers did not see a protective effect under the four-year threshold.

A recent report warned that the diabetes rate is expected to rise from 16.3% to 26.8% of the population by 2050 because people aren’t exercising enough or eating healthfully. Mat Hayward – stock.adobe.com

An estimated 38.4 million Americans have diabetes.

A recent report warned that the diabetes rate is expected to rise from 16.3% to 26.8% of the population by 2050 because people aren’t exercising enough or eating healthfully.



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