Avoid sugar–it can make your body acidic

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IF YOUR sugar is already high and you’re a borderline diabetic, try this:

Brisk walk 20-30 minutes a day.

Use coconut sugar which is safe for diabetics and low in the glycemic index (the rate at which blood sugar rises in the body). Coco sugar can be bought at Filipino health food stores or World of Wellness (tel. 7233878, 3323864).

Substitute white bread, rice, pasta, noodles and sugar with brown/red rice, whole-grain bread/pasta.

Drink vegetable concoction designed by my diabetic friend – ½ green apple, ¼ onion, 2 cloves garlic, ½ ampalaya (bitter gourd).

Blend and drink with the fiber or juice it. Make your own mixture. Add coconut water and 1 tsp of moringa (malunggay).

Take a cup of wheatgrass (tel. 8901111) on an empty stomach 3x a day

Take 3 capsules of ampalaya tablets daily and whenever you take dessert/alcohol or anything sweet. Cut down on your drinking habits because alcohol when digested into your system is sugar.

Sugar makes the body acidic. And illness only thrives in an acidic environment.

Weakness

When you wake up feeling tired, try the following:

Keep mobile phone closed at bed time. Or if you must leave it open, place it as far away from you as possible. Its electromagnetic frequency will interfere with your own body frequency and interrupt your sleep. This goes the same for TV sets, electrical appliances.

Unplug all electrical appliances, lamps, TV sets, computers that are within close proximity to your bed. Even if they are switched off, they are plugged into an electrical outlet. They still have emissions.

Don’t sleep in front of your TV set. It emits frequencies that can interfere with your own body clock. Cover it, if you must.

If you have jet lag, take a capsule of melatonin, a natural hormone before bed time. Try Sleepwell, available at Mercury Drug.

Starvation diets only succeed in making you big. Eat 5 small but nutritious meals a day.

Lazy heart

It takes 100 steps to have a strong heart. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, walking 30 minutes a day is the recommended regimen. But what kind of walking? Jog or stroll?

Participants wore pedometers while on treadmills and their oxygen intake and heart rates were measured. The goal was for a metabolic equivalent (MET) of 3, meaning they would be using up thrice the energy needed as when resting.

Jogging has a MET of 8, sprinting, 12-18.

Reach a MET of 3 at a step count of 92-102 steps per minute. For women, 91-115 steps per minute. So, take 100 steps per minute if you want to be healthy.

Affirmation today: “The best affirmation is the one you usually create. But here’s a universal invocation: Everyday goodness comes my way.”

Love and light!

How to Defeat Diabetes Even With a Sweet Tooth

By Julia Hanf

I wanted to share the following article that I wrote. It gives some great information on one approach to fighting diabetes. I believe that if we sometimes don't stop and ask the question why, we can do more harm than good.

[Article written by Julia Hanf author of the book How to Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win.


How To Defeat Diabetes Even If You Have a Sweet Tooth

An overweight America may be fixated on fat and obsessed with carbohydrates, but nutritionists say the real problem is much sweeter -- we're awash in sugar. Sugar is one of the main factors that contribute to diabetes. With diabetes growing at an incredible rate there are many different views on treating diabetes. In 2007 the amount of sugar being consumed grew exponentially. Did you know that the average American consumes 63 pounds of sugar a year? The
issue is not that we consume sugar, but it is the amount of sugar we consume without even realizing it. For example a can of soda contains 13 teaspoons of sugar. People have turned to artificial sweeteners as an alternative to sugar.

Aspartame (NutraSweet) is produced from two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine and is 180 times sweeter than sucrose. If you are currently using aspartame please pay close attention to the following. Studies have shown that Aspartame, an artificial sweetener commonly put into processed foods and diet soft drinks is a very dangerous chemical. Also known as NutraSweet, Equal, and
Spoonful(methanol) which coverts to formic acid (formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants), which in turn causes metabolic acidosis when heated above 86F. The methanol toxicity mimics other conditions such as multiple
sclerosis, tinnitus and systemic lupus, especially among Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi Drinkers.

If you are using ASPARTAME and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME DISEASE! Diet
Coke and Diet Pepsi, etc. ARE NOT DIET PRODUCTS! The Congressional Record states that they make you crave carbohydrates and will make you FAT. The formaldehyde found in aspartame is stored in your fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs.

The only reason that it continues to be promoted is that the companies that have patented this drug have very deep pockets. There are companies making literally millions of dollars selling aspartame. There has been clinical studies that have evidence that aspartame not only causes you to become fat but it also responsible for a plague of neurological diseases. If you are still not convinced by what I have mentioned PLEASE do some reading and find out for yourself the implications of consuming this deadly poison.

In my research I have found that there is one alternative that may be step above all the rest. This is a NATURAL herb called Stevia. Stevia is derived from a South American shrub (Stevia rebaudiana).

A good quality leaf is estimated to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar, or sucrose. Also known as honey leaf and yerba dulce, stevia is not absorbed through the digestive tract, and is therefore non-caloric. This is a huge find for a person with diabetes. Stevia is not only a natural substitute for sugar but it also carries medicinal properties. Preliminary evidence suggests that it may
lower blood pressure, prevent or reverse diabetes and possess anti-viral properties. Many people ask me "why have I not heard of this before". The
answer although much to vast to cover in this article, attributes many of these natural remedies not being told to the public due to the monetization of big companies that focus on nothing but maximizing profits.

I hope that you have found this information very valuable, this was a key component for my husband on his way to living diabetes free.

Warmest regards.

For more information about diabetes, how it affects you, what you can do about it and win in the process, purchase the book: How to Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win.

Two amazing nutrients check them out

By Julia Hanf


In the next couple of minutes, I want to talk about two of the most powerful nutritional ingredients which will transform the way you look at physical well being forever.

Weight loss and diabetes management are two conditions which have more misconceptions and fake cures than any others. The two nutrient which we're going to discover today are not only revolutionary because of how effective they make treating and controlling diabetes, but also because of the benefits they boast of. They can enhance your physical health like none other!

The first ingredient is Zinc.

Zinc, when included as a part of your daily diet will have the
following benefits

• Boost your immunity, warding of an array of diseases and physical symptoms.
• Helps you deal with the likes of hemorrhoids, ulcers,digestion problems
• Improves the insulin levels your body produces, by fighting insulin resistance
• Helps control blood sugar level , which will help us get rid of harmful medication or needles
  

The second ingredient is Chromium.

Chromium is yet another wonder-aid with its energy-increasing and weight-loss influencing capabilities, which not only decrease your overall lipid levels, but is also invaluable in improving your bodies composition!

Chromium when included in your daily diet will have the following
benefits:

• Helps Insulin health
• Increases energy
• Lowers lipid levels
• Promotes weight loss
• Improves body composition
  

Zinc and Chromium, although remarkable by themselves, are capable of extraordinary results when used in conjunction with a few other such natural nutritional aids. To know what these are, and how you can implement them to urge your body to its healthiest balance, visit Melabic.com

I have included your daily dose of Chromium and Zinc in Melabic. You can start taking control of your physical health and ridding your body of diabetes!

To your Health!


PS To learn more about the other diabetes fighting ingredients visit Melabic.com

FOR 2009:

HEALTH

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
  
• Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants
• Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
  
• Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
  
• Play more games.
• Read more books than you did in 2008.
• Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
• Sleep for 7 hours.
• Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
  

PERSONALITY

• Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  
• Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
• Don't over do. Keep your limits.
• Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  
• Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
• Dream more while you are awake.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  
• Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
  
• Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
  
• No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
• Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
• Smile and laugh more.
• You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  

SOCIETY

• Call your family often.
• Each day give something good to others.
• Forgive everyone for everything.
• Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
  
• Try to make at least three people smile each day.
• What other people think of you is none of your business.
  
• Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

LIFE

• Do the right thing!
• Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
• GOD heals everything.
• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
• No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  
• The best is yet to come.
• When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
  
• Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin but, for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively. The disease typically occurs, in part, because the cells comprising muscle and other tissues become resistant to insulin's action, especially among the obese. Insulin permits the entry of glucose into most cells, where this sugar is used for energy, stored in the liver and muscles (as glycogen), and converted to fat when present in excess. Insulin resistance leads to higher than normal levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).

Chromium deficiency impairs the body's ability to use glucose to meet its energy needs and raises insulin requirements. It has therefore been suggested that chromium supplements might help to control type 2 diabetes or the glucose and insulin responses in persons at high risk of developing the disease. A review of randomized controlled clinical trials evaluated this hypothesis This meta-analysis assessed the effects of chromium supplements on three markers of diabetes in the blood: glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (which provides a measure of long-term glucose levels; also known as hemoglobin A1C). It summarized data from 15 trials on 618 participants, of which 425 were in good health or had impaired glucose tolerance and 193 had type 2 diabetes. Chromium supplementation had no effect on glucose or insulin concentrations in the non-diabetic subjects nor did it reduce these levels in subjects with diabetes, except in one study. However, that study, conducted in China (in which 155 diabetics were given either 200 or 1,000 mcg/day of chromium or a placebo) might simply show the benefits of supplementation in a chromium-deficient population.

Lipid metabolism

The effects of chromium supplementation on blood lipid levels in humans are also inconclusive In some studies, 150 to 1,000 mcg/day has decreased total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increased concentrations of apolipoprotein A (a component of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol known as HDL or "good" cholesterol) in subjects with atherosclerosis or elevated cholesterol or among those taking a beta-blocker drug These findings are consistent with the results of earlier studies

For more information about diabetes, how it affects you, what you can do about it and win in the process, purchase the book: How to Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win.

Eat The Right Foods to Lower Your Blood Sugar

By Julia Hanf

Diabetes is a condition that millions of people manage on a daily basis. People with diabetes must be mindful of the foods and beverages they consume. Whether or not you have had natural diabetes all of your life or have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it is crucial that you engage in healthy food choices.

The majority of your food selections should be based on a whole foods approach. Whole foods are natural and organic foods. These foods are created with the highest standards and are tailored for people with conditions such as diabetes, gluten intolerance, and other conditions. Seek out whole food and organic supermarkets in your area.

What food choices should people with diabetes make to manage their diabetes glucose levels? First, think back to nature such as vegetables and fruits. Nature has provided a wealth of vegetables to keep your palate enticed. For example, have a spinach salad with broccoli and carrots at dinner.

To control your blood sugar levels you have to monitor your carbohydrate consumption. Breads and pastas can spike your blood sugar, but this can be minimized if you consume whole grain breads and pastas. These are easy to find at a whole foods organic market.

For your entrée keep the focus on fish, chicken and turkey. You can consume lean cuts of beef and pork in moderation. Make sure to remove the fatty skin and use healthy liquid oils, such as olive oil, when you cook foods. In addition, stick to non-fat dairy products. You can consume skim milk, non fat cheese, and non fat yogurt.

If you have diabetes you may feel that you have to miss out on the sweet taste of foods. This is not so. You can add cinnamon in moderation to foods to give them a sweet taste. Cinnamon may actually have a positive effect on your blood glucose levels, especially for people with Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, cinnamon is a great way to get the sweet fix you desire.

Another alternative natural sweetener is a herb called stevia. Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar and can be used as a natural sweetener to replace sugar. It is recommended to stay away from most artificial sweeteners - especially aspartame. Aspartame is a deadly toxin than does more harm to your body than good.

Lastly, don't forget about what you drink! Beverages can be a roadblock to lowering blood sugar levels. Diabetes treatment should include drinking plenty of water and an occasional diet drink that has zero calories.

There are some foods that you should avoid like the plague. Avoid processed foods such as candy, chips, sodas, fruit punch, and cookies. These contain an excessive amount of sugar and carbohydrates that will have your blood glucose level soaring. Watch out for foods labeled as "sugar free" as well. This labeling is misleading and they can often raise your blood sugar levels as much as common sugar foods.

Remember that consuming healthy foods is not a free for all. If you eat too much of any type of food you will gain weight. Gaining weight is especially disastrous for people with diabetes. Stick to healthy portions and monitor your caloric intake.

Diabetics may have to spend more time analyzing what they eat and drink, but it is a manageable process. The number of whole food organic supermarkets is on the rise which is a major benefit for people with diabetes. Take advantage of their services to help you control your blood sugar levels and enjoy food at the same time.

For more information about diabetes, how it affects you, what you can do about it and win in the process, purchase the book: How to Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win.

You Are What You Eat

By Julia Hanf

For a diabetic nothing could be truer. When it comes to maintaining good blood sugar levels, a healthy diet is vital.
People with diabetes have to take extra care to ensure their diet is properly balanced with their insulin and oral medications.
The right meal plan will help any diabetic improve blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. It will also keep their weight on track.

All diabetics must control their refined carbohydrate intake. These types of carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels. While some promote health, others when eaten often and in large quantities, may increase the risk for diabetes.

Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods including fruit, vegetables, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti and corn. The most common and abundant ones refined in are sugars, fibers and starches. It is advised diabetics avoid white bread, rice and pasta, along with foods containing unnaturally added sugars.
The body will convert all types of refined carbohydrates into glucose. Eating extra servings of rice, pasta and bread will make blood sugar rise. Just because an item does not contain added sugar, does not guarantee it is a safe food.

Diabetics should consume carbohydrate-rich foods close to their natural form. These items have greater vital nutrient density. Whenever possible, replace highly processed grains, cereals and sugars with natural whole-grain products.

Eating complex carbohydrates rich in fiber significantly lower blood sugar levels. It is suspected that soluble fiber may play an important role in glucose control. It is capable of slowing down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and increasing the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thereby preventing rises in blood sugar.

It is recommended diabetics eat 13 fiber-rich servings of fruits, veggies, beans and grains daily. Soluble-fiber rich foods include orange and grapefruit segments, prunes, cantaloupes, papayas, raisins, lima beans, zucchini, oatmeal, oat bran and granola. Other foods high in soluble fiber include barley, peas and strawberries.
The glycemic index system, or GI, is a good guideline for diabetics to follow.

Invented in the early 1980s by University of Toronto researchers, the glycemic index ranks carbohydrate foods by their effects on blood sugar levels.

The GI assigns carbohydrate-containing foods a number based on how they affect blood sugars. The number indicates how quickly the food breaks down during digestion. The longer the body has to break an item down into glucose, the slower the rise in blood-sugar levels, and the lower the GI. Products with a GI less than 55 are preferred.

Natural supplementation is a good ingredient to implement in the fight against diabetes. Adding a half a teaspoon of cinnamon to any meal can stabilize blood sugar swings.
Many diabetics also supplement with vitamins, herbs and medicinal teas. Incorporating natural ginseng into a diet can produce positive affects. This herb, which is recognized throughout China to have healing properties, has been known to help improve fasting blood glucose levels and increase insulin secretion.
The easiest method to control diabetes is through proper diet. An eating plan high in fiber and low in refined carbohydrates will ensure the best strategy to beat the disease.

For more information about diabetes, how it affects you, what you can do about it and win in the process, purchase the book: How to Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win.