#DiabetesManagement

A new clinical study suggests the popular 5:2 intermittent fasting approach—eat normally five days a week and limit calories on two non-consecutive days—may be the most adaptable and effective option for weight loss and blood glucose improvement in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Presented at the Endocrine Society’s ENDO 2025 conference in San Francisco, the research compared three dietary strategies and found that while all provide benefits, the intermittent approach offers unique advantages for those managing diabetes and weight.

A new clinical study suggests that the popular “5:2” intermittent fasting diet—where individuals eat normally for five days and consume very low calories on two non-consecutive days each week—could be the most flexible and effective approach for weight loss and blood glucose improvement in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The research, recently presented at the Endocrine Society’s ENDO 2025 conference in San Francisco, compared three well-known dietary strategies and found that all offer benefits, but the intermittent approach may provide unique advantages for those struggling to manage diabetes and weight.

Mace, the delicate red lace-fringed covering of the nutmeg seed, known in Thai as “dok chan,” has long enriched Thai cooking and healing practices. Today, it sits at the crossroads of traditional wisdom and scientific inquiry as Thai researchers explore how this aromatic spice may support health beyond flavor.

In Southeast Asia, mace has a storied place in herbal traditions. Thai healers have long used it in ya-hom blends—herbal formulas that support digestion, circulation, and fever reduction—often paired with clove, cinnamon, and cardamom. Modern studies from Thai laboratories help explain why these four spices remain a trusted motif in local wellness practices. Data from Thai pharmaceutical research shows that nutmeg, mace, cardamom, and clove are frequently included in official herbal formulations, underscoring their enduring popularity in Thai society.

For centuries, the fiery red lace surrounding the nutmeg seed—known to Thais as “dok chan” or “dok chan thet”—has played a quiet but profound role in the region’s kitchens and clinics. Known widely as mace (the aril of Myristica fragrans), this delicate, aromatic spice is at once a culinary gem and a time-honored remedy. Recent scientific investigations are now confirming what Thai traditional healers have long believed: the health benefits of mace extend far beyond its enticing flavor and fragrance.