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Natural Choices Newsletter
Natural Choices Newsletter – June 2004
According to an article published in the May issue of Diabetes Care the number of people diagnosed with diabetes will double worldwide by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) and several European universities did the research. In the United States, in the year 2000 there were about 17 million people diagnosed with diabetes. This number is expected to rise to over 30 million by 2030. In some Middle Eastern countries, China, and India the rate of diabetes growth will more than double. (Reference: Wild, S. Diabetes Care, May 2004; vol 27: pp 1047-1053.)
What can we do to reverse this epidemic of diabetes and the many health issues that are related to it?
ABC news had a story in May about a 50 year-old women who had recently been diagnosed as a Type II diabetic. She was feeling fatigued, and when her blood sugar was tested she realized that her fatigue was caused by her blood sugar imbalance. Her doctor decided to try something new to see if it would help reduce her diabetes symptoms. She had surgery to remove 3 pounds of fat from her abdominal area.
Danger of Fat in the Abdomen
Doctors recognize that people who are overweight, especially in the abdomen area are more at risk for diabetes. When this woman had a CAT scan done, the doctors measured the amount abdominal fat located near her organs. Then they asked her to be the first patient in the United States to have part of her abdominal fat removed surgically, to see the effects on her health. After the 3-pound layer of fat was removed many of her symptoms improved and she has lost about 20 pounds.
"It is now more clear that fat is not just a simple storage depot, but it is an active endocrine organ," said Edward Mun, a surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess. "Fat cells release enormous numbers of mediators or hormones-and this is essentially the key organ now that controls our appetite and metabolism. It controls our sugar levels as well as cholesterol." (Reference – http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Abdominal_fat_surgery_040513.html
I personally think that this may be too drastic a way to prevent or reverse diabetic symptoms. But this story proves a point. That excess weight, stored by the liver that ends up as inches around our waist, can affect our health. There are better and easier ways to cleanse the liver and remove some of these excess pounds.
In her book “Fight Fat after Forty”, Dr. Pamela Peeke talks about this layer of fat that is stored by the liver. It does affect our hormone levels, our energy levels, and eventually our tendencies toward disease. Different hormone levels are affected by this fat storage layer, and insulin is the major one.
In my article on my website called “Chronic Stress Leads to Excess Weight” I talk more about the effects of hormones and stress, and how stress can actually cause you to gain weight. I also discuss the supplements I recommend that help to reduce stress.
Using the Glycemic Load chart and the Glucogenic diet or Ketogenic diet as recommended in the last newsletter to balance your daily diet will help to reduce your tendency to store fat in your abdomen.
Natural Choices Newsletter – July 2004
Diabetes Rates to Double Worldwide by 2030 According to a study done by researcher at the World Health Organization (WHO) and several European universities, and published in Diabetes Care in May of 2004, the number of people with diabetes will double worldwide by 2030. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes rates in the United States will reach 30 million, and in some developing areas like India, the Middle East and Africa the increase in diabetes will more than double the current level.
In the January 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, it was reported that only 37% of diabetics are able to keep their blood sugar levels under control. Along with blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, balancing blood sugar level is important in preventing cardiovascular disease. When combining all three factors only 7% had all of them under control according to a national survey done in 1999 and 2000.
One problem is that as of 2002, most Diabetes Educators were not using either the Glycemic Index or the Glycemic Load with their clients to help them determine what type of carbohydrates are better than others to help maintain blood sugar levels. I know some people who have diabetes who still choose to eat white rolls and iceberg lettuce because they are listed on their dietary planners. White rolls have high glycemic index and load numbers, and iceberg lettuce has very little of the high quality nutrition needed by diabetics.
Yes You Can Have Carbohydrates! If you are one of the 16 million pre-diabetics who is trying to prevent diabetes, especially pay attention to the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Chart in determining what type of carbohydrates to include in your daily diet. This chart is simple to use and still gives you leeway to choose foods that you like.
Use the new expanded Glycemic Index and Load Chart that lists 130 different carbohydrate containing foods to balance your blood sugar, along with a report on how to use the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Chart in your daily lifestyle. This report is now available on-line for only $7.95 at Yes, You Can Have Carbohydrates!"
With all the hype about low carbohydrate diets, this report helps you determine what foods you can eat and still maintain a healthy blood sugar. People with diabetes, and people trying to prevent diabetes need to eat highly nutritious foods, with antioxidants for improved healing rate, minerals for increased energy, the whole complex of B-vitamins for the nervous system, plus digestive enzymes and essential fatty acids for better nutrient absorption. If we waste our digestive energy eating low quality foods we will never replenish the energy we need to use our own innate healing ability.
Symptoms of Blood Sugar Imbalance – If you do not have diabetes or borderline fasting blood glucose levels over 100, how do you know if you potentially have blood sugar problems? Here is a general list of common symptoms of blood sugar imbalances:
Mental confusion with distressed cognitive thinking processes
Heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Headaches
Anxiety and/or depression
Nausea
Unexplained sweating
Hunger and food cravings
Mood swings and/or irritability
Increased thirst
Vision problems
Impaired coordination
Chronic fatigue
If you have a number of these symptoms, use the Glycemic Load Chart to improve your diet for at least one month and see if it makes a difference. Very often people will realize that small changes in dietary habits can make many chronic problems go away.
Natural Choices Newsletter – August 2004
Diabetes On the Rise in Obese Children
In the June 3, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a study of very obese children suggests that half may develop metabolic syndrome, which increases their risk of developing diabetes and heart disease at an early age.
Metabolic syndrome seen as high cholesterol and triglycerides, low HDL, obesity, high blood pressure, and borderline blood sugar levels is becoming common in children and teenagers according to a study at Yale University School of Medicine. The symptoms of metabolic syndrome often lead into the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In fact, within 2 years, 8 of 34 children with metabolic syndrome developed type 2 diabetes, according to this study.
An earlier study, based on a 1988-94 national health survey, found that 29% of obese adolescents had metabolic syndrome. Since then, the number of overweight children has increased from 11% to 15% of those 6-18 years old. In the 2004 Yale study, metabolic syndrome was found in 50% of the severely obese and 39% of the moderately obese. So the incidence of metabolic syndrome is becoming a major factor in the lives of young people today.
Why Are Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Rates Growing?
Diet and lifestyle are the most common reasons. Regular exercise is necessary to keep the insulin in balance and to improve triglyceride levels. Then, too many refined foods with very little nutrients affect the metabolism and increase inflammation, thereby increasing cholesterol, blood pressure, and of course obesity.
A lack of high quality nutrition is a common factor in developing diabetes. Over time refined foods with sugar and preservatives rob our body of the nutrients we do ingest. Also, insulin levels get out of balance when the cells are not able to absorb nutrients well.
How Do I Know if I am Absorbing Nutrients and Getting the Ones I Need?
A couple self tests you can do at home will be able to tell you if you are absorbing nutrients and if your are more prone to carbohydrate or fat metabolism imbalances. The Patterns of Stress Testing Kit is used by many of my clients to find out if their saliva and urine pH levels are in balance. If your saliva and urine pH are too low (acidic) then your nutrients from foods are not getting absorbed well since food passes too quickly through your digestive system.
When your pH levels are high (alkaline) then your body becomes more toxic, and your metabolism slows down. Neither an acid nor alkaline system is good for you. A Food Acid and Alkaline Chart is available on my fibromyalgia website in the diet section at Acid/Alkaline Chart This chart will show which foods are more alkaline and which foods are more acid.
You can measure your own pH levels with pH paper, which is included in the Quick ‘n Easy Patterns of Stress Testing Kit. To do regular pH tests along with additional pH tests for mineral and stress levels, and it see if you are more prone to carbohydrate or fat metabolism imbalances, you will need to order the Deluxe Patterns of Stress Testing Kit. These at home kits come with the charts, pH paper, and directions to measure many aspects of your metabolism. Isn’t it time to make sure you are absorbing the nutrients from food and supplements? And to learn what you can do to reverse any imbalances you find? You can get more information and order either kit at Patterns of Stress Kit
Your whole health can improve when you get your metabolism working correctly. Join the many people looking into measuring their pH and other simple at-home tests, such as the Free Radical Urine test also available on my website. At first you may be surprised at your results, but with just a few minor adjustments in your diet, these imbalances can be corrected.
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