Monthly Archives: November 2009

November 4, 2009 · 9:00 AM

How Much Is a Good Reputation Worth?

"No weight-loss supplements for me!"

Lower My Risk of Diabetes? I’ll Drink to That!

: How many grams of alcohol are in this wine?

Judicious alcohol consumption is linked to lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes: 40% lower risk in women, 13% lower in men.

The latest issue of Diabetes Care reports the comparison of lifetime abstainers with alcohol drinkers. The protective “dose” of alcohol is 22–24 grams a day. I’ll leave it to you to figure out how much alcohol that is. Prior studies looking at overall health benefits of alcohol indicate that judicious consumption is ≤ one drink daily, on average, for women, and ≤ 2 drinks a day for men.

Of course, many people shouldn’t drink any alcohol.

Steve Parker, M.D.

Reference: Baliunas, D., et al. Alcohol as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 32 (2009): 2,123-2,132.

3 Comments

Filed under Alcohol, Prevention of T2 Diabetes

Tagged as Alcohol, alcohol prevents diabetes

November 1, 2009 · 8:40 PM

Recommended Supplements for the Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet

I’ve finalized—at least for now—the latest supplements for dieters on the Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet, and tinkered with the original plan: Version 2.0 is published.

Daily supplements:

1 or 2 plain Centrum multivitamin/multimineral supplements (two if over 250 lb or 114 kg)

Magnesium oxide 250 mg

Calcium carbonate 500 mg elemental calcium (500 mg twice daily if over 250 lb or 114 kg)

Extra vitamin D to reach total of 1,000–1,200 IU (each Centrum has 400 IU)

Potassium gluconate 2,750 mg (450 mg elemental potassium) or Morton Salt Substitute (potassium chloride) ¼ tsp (1.2 g)

If prone to constipation: sugar-free Metamucil powder 1–2 rounded tsp (5.8–11.6 g) in water

At least three quarts or liters of water

The published version 2.0 of KMD has a misprint: “1,000–2,ooo IU of vitamin D.” Should be 1,000–1,200 IU. I’ll fix it soon and label it version 2.1.