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Diabetes... November is Diabetes month...and it’s also Natural Health Month. What could be more appropriate than to take a natural approach to a diet-related condition? There are two kinds of diabetes: insulin dependent diabetes, which starts in childhood, and non-insulin (Type II) often referred to age-onset diabetes. The primary aim in both types of diabetes is to maintain control over blood glucose. This means never allowing it to be too high or too low. Diet is a major factor – and it’s important to concentrate on high fiber, and whole natural foods that have not been refined or processed. Attention to eating a low glycemic diet is essential. Consuming sugar doesn’t provide you with energy – sugar is stored as fat. Many foods that are labeled “low fat” actually contain more sugar to make up for the taste that the fat provides. Sugar is also a factor if you have been plagued by hard-to-diagnose health issues:
It’s not in your head – it’s in your blood sugar. Scientists know that blood sugar imbalances are the hidden cause of a host of hard-to-diagnose symptoms, even in non diabetics. The Sugar Solution (Sair Harrar) You have probably heard that laughter is the best medicine. Laugh if you wish, but a recent study in Japan found that a laugh a day just might keep high blood sugar at bay. Why? Laughter makes us move, and muscle cells may absorb more blood sugar, according to researcher Keiko Hayashi, PhD. It's also possible that mirth affects hormones that help regulate blood sugar. This is not to say that spending your day laughing is all you need to do. Following the glycemic index when making food choices will not only keep your blood sugar within the proper ratios, it will also help keep your cholesterol ratios appropriate, too. Go a little Nuts! Harvard researchers tracked more than 83,000 women with no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer over a 16 year period and found that those who ate nuts at least five times per week reduced their risk of Type 2 diabetes by nearly 30% compared to those who rarely or never ate nuts. Nuts not only help with blood sugar but raw nuts also provide you with essential fatty acids – something North Americans are lacking. It’s a bonus to find that a food substance has a positive impact on more than one health issue. Now the trick about eating nuts, which are high in fat, is to control the serving size. One ounce of nuts is all you need. That’s about one tablespoon. Of course it’s best to substitute nuts for cholesterol-raising foods such as breads or other baked snack foods. A good way to consume nuts is to sprinkle ground raw nuts on your salad or breakfast cereal, or take a small handful to work for that mid afternoon pick-me-up. Keeping your weight at your ideal helps to keep diabetes at bay. Get your blood sugar tested annually. Trim your fat consumption by making sure that no more than 30% of your daily intake of calories comes from fat, and less than 10% from saturated fat – you know, the kind that comes from meats and dairy products. Eat smarter carbs…..and that’s not the same as eliminating carbs. We need carbs – the right kind of carbs. Symptoms to beware of:
If you have any
of these
symptoms, get
tested
immediately. Even
if you feel
perfectly fine,
getting tested
when you have
your annual
physical is a way
of protecting
yourself.
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