Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham recently made a groundbreaking discovery. The study results could have a profound effect on preventing diabetes in the future.
Inside your body there are over 100,000 different proteins. Apparently, one of them has been a very bad boy when it comes to helping cause and worsen diabetes.
The study centers on the protein called TXNIP. This protein is somewhat of a bad ass when it comes to protecting the body. The problem is that it’s protective instincts may be misplaced.
The scientists believe that when we begin to experience elevated blood sugar, this triggers TXNIP into action. The protein then can do two things. It can cause the insulin producing beta cells to kill themselves. Second, the protein can also send a message to the cells to produce less insulin.
Either way, you are in trouble because your body is starved of insulin and cannot process your blood glucose. Over time, the effects of higher glucose and increased TXNIP just get worse.
So, what now? The good news is that now scientists can begin to formulate a drug to block the protein and hopefully slow if not eliminate this problem.
However, if you do not want to wait for this long and drawn out process to unfold, the scientists did have a natural recommendation. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, dark leafy vegetables and legumes. This sounds a lot like the whole food plant based diet that I advocate on this site!
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