Department A/Health Note / Jessica Penney Real Player
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Living on Earths Jessica Penney reports on research into the ginseng
berry, and how it might help fight diabetes and obesity 1:15
Department A/Health Note
CURWOOD: COMING UP, A BEDROOM TOWN IN NEW JERSEY REACHES FOR A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 9/11 TRAGEDY FIRST, THIS ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH NOTE WITH JESSICA PENNY
[THEME MUSIC UP AND UNDER]
PENNY: FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, TRADITIONAL MEDICINE HAS USED THE ROOT OF
THE GINSENG PLANT TO TREAT A VARIETY OF AILMENTS BUT PEOPLE HAVENT MADE
MUCH USE OF THE GINSENG BERRY NOW, A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT FRUIT MAY HAVE
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES, TOO
RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SAY THE GINSENG BERRY, COMPARED TO
THE ROOT, HAD DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CHEMICALS THOUGHT TO BE USEFUL SO THEY
TESTED THE BERRYS EFFECTS ON A COMMON DISEASE, TYPE II DIABETES
OBESE, DIABETIC MICE WERE GIVEN DAILY INJECTIONS OF AN EXTRACT FROM THE
BERRY AND AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE MICE REGAINED NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
THE SUBSTANCE ALSO SEEMED TO REV UP THEIR METABOLISMS THEIR BODY
TEMPERATURES INCREASED, AND THEY LOST 10 OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT EVEN THEIR
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS WENT
DOWN
THE RESEARCHERS ARE NOW TRYING TO DISCOVER WHICH CHEMICALS IN THE BERRIES
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RODENTS IMPROVEMENT THEY SAY THE BERRY MIGHT ONE
DAY SERVE AS A BASIS FOR NEW DIABETIC MEDICATIONS THAT PEOPLE COULD DRINK
OR TAKE AS A PILL THEY SAID THEY HAD TO INJECT THE MICE BECAUSE THESE
RODENTS WERE FINICKY EATERS GINSENG BERRIES ARE SAID TO BE QUITE BITTER
THATS THIS WEEKS HEALTH NOTE IM JESSICA PENNY
[MUSIC UNDER]
CURWOOD: AND YOURE LISTENING TO LIVING ON EARTH
[MUSIC: MISSION OF BURMA, TREM TWO, VS RYKO - 1985]
ginseng 1 ??; ???? 1 a : a Chinese perennial herb Panax schinseng of the
family Araliaceae, the ginseng family having 5-foliolate leaves, scarlet
berries, and an aromatic root valued especially locally as a medicine b :
any of several plants related to ginseng; especially : a No American herb
P quinquefolius 2 : the root of a ginseng
ailment n 1 : a bodily disorder or chronic disease 2 : UNREST, UNEASINESS
obese adj : excessively fat ?????, ??? obesity n
berry n 1 a : a pulpy and usually edible fruit as a strawberry,
raspberry, or checkerberry of small size irrespective of its structure b :
a simple fruit as a currant, grape, tomato, or banana with a
pulpy or
fleshy pericarp c : the dry seed of some plants as wheat
rev vi1 a : to step up the number of revolutions per minute of — often
used with up rev up the engine b : INCREASE — used with up rev up
production
finicky, finicking, finical 1 : extremely or excessively nice, exacting, or
meticulous in taste or standards ?????2 : requiring much care, precision,
or attentive effort a finicky recipe
- finickiness noun
meticulous adj marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration
or treatment of details ????; ??????
Question:
1 Have you taken any ginseng before? Was it the ginseng root? Was it the
ginseng berry? Or do you take products made from ginsengs, such as
ginseng tea?
2 Chinese have great belief in ginseng roots for longevity? Do you have
belief in ginseng roots as a life sustenance? But, some people say that
children should not take ginseng roots, do you know or can you guess why?
3 Are you a finicky eater? If not, do you ever meet one who is a finicky
eater? Tell us about your or your friends finicky behavior
4 One Chinese proverb goes as Good medicines, Bitter Taste Do you have
any comment about this Do you have any
example contrary to this
observation? Do you believe in sweetening the medicines for small
children?
Reference:
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use
insulin Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches
and other food into energy needed for daily life The cause of
diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and
environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play
roles
Approximately 17 million people in the United States, or 62 of the
population, have diabetes While an estimated 111 million have been
diagnosed, unfortunately, 59 million people or one-third are unaware
that they have the disease
There are three major types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes - Results from the bodys failure to produce insulin,
the hormone that unlocks the cells of the body, allowing glucose to
enter and fuel them It is estimated that 5-10 of Americans who are
diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes - Results from insulin resistance a condition in
which the body fails to properly use insulin, combined with relative
insulin deficiency
Approximately 90-95 16 million of Americans
who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes
Pre-diabetes - Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a
persons blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not
high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes It is estimated
that at least 16 million Americans have pre-diabetes, in
addition to the 17 million with diabetes
Gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes affects about 4 of all
pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year
gestation: the carrying of young in the uterus??: PREGNANCY???; 2 :
conception and development especially in the mind?????????
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was
previously known as juvenile diabetes In type 1 diabetes, the body does
not produce insulin Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use
sugar Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin
takes the sugar from the blood into the cells
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes In type 2 diabetes,
either the body does not produce
enough insulin or the cells ignore the
insulin Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar Sugar
is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar
from the blood into the cells When glucose builds up in the blood instead
of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
Right away, your cells may be starved for energy
Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys,
nerves or heart
Finding out you have diabetes is scary But dont panic Diabetes is
serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives You
can too by taking good care of yourself
Impromptu talks:
1 My father has diabetes,
2 My wife was fine until she was pregnant with the 2nd child She got
diabetes,
3 I told my boyfriend that I have diabetes yesterday, and he
4 I have no idea of diabetes until today,
