New Diets Shown to Help Treat, Cure Diseases

Usually, when you hear the word ?diet,? you assume that you?re hearing about a new weight loss regimen. However, while shedding excess pounds is often the primary goal that people have in mind when they adopt a new way of eating, the lifestyle changes can also result in other significant health improvements, as well.

Food is the body?s fuel, so it makes sense that better sources of fuel would result in improved health. Think of an automobile ? higher-quality fuel can bring about better performance. The same concept holds true for the body, as well.

The link between diet and overall health has been the focus of a great deal of research in recent years. As the relationship between dietary intake and well-being has emerged as a major research concern, the health impacts of different diets have begun to make news. This week, we?ll take a look at some diets that can help you shed excess pounds -- and improve your health, as well.

Type 2 Diabetes Responds Well to Controlled Diet and Exercise

Doctors have long emphasized the importance of carefully planned diets for patients with Type 2 diabetes. However, one recent study demonstrated the significant gains in overall health for patients who actually put these suggested guidelines into practice.

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California found that patients with Type 2 diabetes who stuck closely to recommended guidelines for diet and exercise were able to lose significant amounts of weight and control their symptoms with little or no medication. Indeed, in a few cases, patients were able to reverse all of the signs of their diabetes with diligent adherence to an exercise and diet program.

Patients Can Halt Macular Degeneration by Limiting Refined Carbohydrates

Although the health and safety of low- and controlled-carb diets have been at the center of an intense controversy over the last several years, a new study has shown that they might be effective in the fight against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University compared the health status of patients who ate a traditional grain-based diet, and those who limited refined carbohydrates such as white bread, simple sugars, and starchy snack products.

The study found that the participants who ate fewer refined carbohydrates were more likely to maintain a healthy weight. In addition, these participants also experienced fewer problems with age-related macular degeneration. AMD is a complex cluster of symptoms, the most significant outward sign of which is a loss of vision. The researchers cautiously suggested dietary guidelines that encourage the consumption of fewer refined carbohydrate for improved weight control and less pronounced symptoms of aging.

Daily Orange Juice Consumption Can Boost Health, Eliminate Kidney Stones

Nutritionists have long hailed the health benefits and weight control advantages of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. However, in recent years, some fruit juices have been vilified as unhealthy substitutes for the real thing.

The results of one recent study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology seem to indicate that orange juice may have been unfairly grouped in with less healthful fruit juices. According to the findings of the investigation, participants who drank one or more glasses of orange juice per day experienced a wide range of health benefits, including improved weight control and drastically reduced risks for kidney stones and other kidney-related disorders.

The researchers were unsure of the exact properties in orange juice that increased its health impact over other similar beverages, such as lemonade or grapefruit juice. They hypothesized that it may be the high levels of citrate in orange juice that produced the remarkable results seen in the study. Other juices contain additional ingredients that may limit the effectiveness of the citrate in the juice, whereas the citrate in orange juice can be fully absorbed. Although specific treatment guidelines have not yet been released, it appears that orange juice may be an important factor in weight control and kidney health.

Consult with your physician, nutritionist, or another health professional to develop a diet that can improve your health as you shed excess pounds. Check back each week for the breaking diet news that can help put you on the path to weight loss success.