CALORIES AND FAT INFO IN COW'S MILK

The following information is based on an 8-oz glass of milk. This is regular homogenized milk found in the dairy case of your local grocers. It has nothing to do with the various other types of milk.

Fat-Free (Skim) Milk has 1/2 gram of fat with 4% of the calories from fat.

Low-Fat Milk has 2 1/2 grams of fat with 23% of the calories from fat

Reduced Fat has 4 1/2 grams of fat with 35% of the calories from fat

Whole Milk has 8 grams of fat with 50% of the calories from fat

Source: Prevention Magazine

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ARE YOU AT RISK FOR DIABETES?

Did you know that almost one in every 20 adult Americans have diabetes? The overwhelming fact is that almost all of these Americans have type-2 diabetes. It is estimated that around 8 million have type-2 but have not yet been diagnosed. The sooner one is diagnosed and started on medication and improving your diet, the better. Do you know the symptoms? Some symptoms come on suddenly and others come on gradually. Following are some symptoms that may indicate diabetes. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor for testing. Never ignore diabetes as uncontrolled blood sugar levels can do serious damage to the body.

Symptoms that may come on suddenly:

Excessive thirst

Frequent urination, especially in large quantity

Hungar all the time

Sudden unexplained weight loss

Nausea and vomiting

Sudden vision changes, especially blurred vision

Symptoms that usually come on gradually:

Any of the above could come on gradually

Recurring hard-to -heal wounds or gums 

Recurring urinary tract infections

Drowsiness

Tingling (numbness) in hands and/or feet

Itching of the skin and/or genitals

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CARBS ARE GOOD FOR MEMORY

If you follow my blogs, you know I advocate eating a well-rounded diet.  Unless it is under strict doctor's orders, never eliminate a specific food group from your diet.  Here is another study showing one should not eliminate carbs from the diet.  A study by Tufts University showed that women who ate a low-carb Atkins-style diet performed 50% lower on memory tests than did the women who ate a low-calorie diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains (all carbs).  It is obvious the memory loss was related to cutting out the carbs because when the women returned to eating the carbs again, guess what; their scores went up.

CINNAMON BOOSTS INSULIN ACTIVITY

I have found so many studies showing that cinnamon is a blood sugar regulator.  And I have found it to be true in my own experience with diabetes.  I can enjoy cinnamon rolls right along with everyone else so long as they have lots of cinnamon.  We have a local gas/convenience store in town that serves delicious donuts, etc.  I was addicted to the cinnamon rolls and gave them up when I was diagnosed as a type-2 diabetic.  Once I got my sugar under control (it is now within the normal range), I started noticing those cinnamon rolls again.  One thing that stood out to me was how much cinnamon they had in them, much more than one usually sees in other cinnamon rolls.  I have found that I can have one of those rolls without it effecting my blood sugar so long as I keep the rest of my diet in check (no, I don't have it with a candy bar and coke!).  I am so excited!  Here is the information from another cinnamon study, this one done a few years ago by a Dr. Richard Anderson, an expert on the metabolism of sugar.

Dr. Anderson suspected certain foods might stimulate the activity of insulin and help the body process sugar more efficiently with less insulin.  But when he measured insulin activity in test tubes in the presence of many foods, he found that most foods had only a slight or no effect.  However, he did notice that 3 spices and 1 herb actually tripled insulin activity.  They were cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, and bay leaves, with cinnamon being the most powerful.  He concludes that eating as small an amount of cinnamon as just some sprinkled on your toast can boost insulin activity.  Dr. Anderson says there is pharmacological wisdom in using cinnamon and cloves in sweets like pumpkin pie, etc.

FRUIT EVERYDAY TO PREVENT PANCREATIC CANCER?

A study done a few years ago by the National Cancer Institute found that eating fruit only once a day cut the odds of developing pancreatic cancer by 40%.  Eating fruit twice a day cut the odds by 60%.  This worked with fresh fruits as well as canned fruits.  This testing was done among residents of Southern Louisiana where the rate of pancreatic cancer is unusually high. Just another reason to make fruit a part of your daily diet.

 

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KALE FOR YOUR HEART

According to Joel Fuhrman. MD, "Kale has everything you would want in a superfood."  Dr. Fuhrman, author of the bestseller 'Eat to Live', uses diet and exercise to help patients reverse their cardiovascular disease.  Notice that says reverse, not treat!  He had the following to say about kale.

• Boasts a bumper crop of heart healthy antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamin E.
• Rich in lutein which protects against early atherosclerosis.
• Contains an unusual compound - glucorophanin - that activates a special protein called Nrf2.
• Creates a Teflon-like coating in arteries to keep plaque from adhering.

 

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SAUERKRAUT IS A SUPER FOOD!

Today I am copying a post from my diabetic blog.  This is the post from that blog today.  I have never done this before, but I feel this is important to share with both audiences.  If you are interested in the recipe mentioned, the link to that blog is listed in the right-hand column of this page.

SAUERKRAUT IS A SUPER FOOD!

Yesterday I posted a recipe for a Chicken Sauerkraut Panini. Well, lo and behold when I turned on my computer what should be there but the following statement about sauerkraut as an overlooked food we should be eating. I am passing this information on to you:
Sauerkraut
Considering cabbage is low-carb, high-fiber, and contains cancer-fighting 3-indole carbinol and d-glucarate, a compound that works to clear excess estrogen, the veggie is already a superfood. Fermenting it into sauerkraut, however, puts it on nutritional steroids. The probiotics that drive fermentation also help repopulate your digestive system with healthy, hardworking good bacteria that lower inflammation, improve digestion, and maybe even aid in weight loss. Plus, fermentation increases the bioavailablity of the antioxidants found in cabbage, and the longer cabbage ferments, the higher the levels of antioxidants become, meaning your body can better absorb and use them.

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PARKISON'S DISEASE AND VITAMIN-E

Some studies have shown that patients who suffer from Parkinson's disease, when compared to their similar-aged siblings, ate a diet with less nuts and seeds.  Nuts and seeds are high in vitamin E and an actual study of Parkinson's patients at Columbia University found that those taking megadoses of vitamin E did have fewer symptoms than those who did not take the extra vitamin E.  Probably worth your while to add some walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc (see E photo below) to your diet if you aren't already doing so.  They have many health benefits and this seems to suggest another one.

PISTACHIOS AND HEART DISEASE

Research shows that pistachios help to lower ones risk of heart disease.  Researchers at Penn State University found that adults who got 20% of their calories from pistachios reduced their LDL cholesterol by 12%.   For an 1800 calories a day diet, that would mean eating about 1/2 cup of pistachios.  You may not want to eat that many pistachios a day, but including them in your diet on a routine basis would probably be a good idea.

DIABETES QUOTE FROM COUNTRY MUSICIAN BEN RUE

Country music artist Ben Rue is a type 1 diabetic. He was diagnosed at the age of 14. Even though he is often on the road, he keeps check on his blood sugar readings and takes his medication. He is also a spokesman for Accu-Chek. He happily states, "There is life after diabetes. It's not something that should set you back. You can accomplish anything you want to." Let that be an encouragement to go after your dreams.

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