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A Portion of Your Purchase Fights Diabetes!

Archive for January, 2012

Low Glycemic Index (GI) diets can be protective against heart disease

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

February is heart health month, Low GI diets may be protective against heart disease. The old adage of ‘you are what you eat’ seems to be coming more and more accurate; diet is very important to a healthy lifestyle.

According to the American Diabetes Association and American Dietetic Association, diet is important; however it is even more important for people with diabetes.  People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing a number of different diseases, especially Heart disease; it can strike at any time.

Basically, all foods have a Glycemic Index, some foods are higher then others. Foods that high on the GI, allow the glucose in the food to absorb into your blood quickly; this can cause an elevated blood sugar level that can be dangerous.

Foods that are high in fat have the same effect, however the fat can also build up causing heart disease, heart attacks and death. People with Diabetes are twice as likely to develop Heart Disease then non – Diabetics.

American Diabetes Association states that two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, also called cardiovascular disease. Clogged blood vessels can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other problems. But there are treatments for heart disease, stroke, and blood vessel disease.

Diabetes can be dangerous on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes.

You may be consuming low GI foods and not even realize it; there are hundreds of choices. According to the American Diabetes Association, most fruits, non – starchy vegetables are low-glycemic, or have a glycemic index rating of 55 or below.  Those with exceptional nutrient content include apricots, apples, berries, citrus fruits, pears, red plums, kiwi, cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, mustard greens, artichokes, red and green bell peppers and asparagus.

Whole grains are low-glycemic carbohydrates and provide significant amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They enhance satiation between meals, which can help you manage your appetite and weight.

It is estimated that twenty six million Americans have diabetes and another seventy nine percent are at risk. Educate, yourself on diet and nutrition is the best way to lower your risk of getting Diabetes and all of the complications associated with it.  Per the American Heart Association; based on the 2008 mortality rates for Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) one third of all deaths in the United States are from CVD.  The American Heart Association estimates that upwards of one in three adults suffers from one or more types of CVD (with the exception of congenital heart disease).

It is always best to consult with your endocrinologist and a nutritionist who is a diabetes specialist – CDE- certified diabetes educator, to find the best course of treatment and diet for you. If you have heart disease, consult with your cardiologist first for the best course of treatment for you.

Check with your doctor or health care provider before starting any weight-loss diet, especially if you have any health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.

For information on Heart Health Month  www.heart.org

 

How to shop for great tasting healthy food!

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

When you decide to eat healthy, the thought of shopping for healthy foods can be intimidating; it doesn’t have to be if you follow a few simple rules!

  • *Shop the perimeter of the store – produce, meat, fish and dairy departments contain a plethora of healthy foods. Items on the shelves in the middle of the store contain the chemicals, preservatives and high sodium items that can be very bad for your health.
  • *Plan your weekly meals before you go shopping – create your shopping list from your menu and stick to it! You’ll be tempted to purchase impulse items, resist the urge, you’ll be glad you did.
  • *If you have to purchase something that is boxed, read the ingredients and the nutritional information. Choose an item that has the lowest sodium, fat, carbs and calories.
  • *Remember that nutritional information on packages is per serving; to get the amount in the full package, you need to multiply the nutritional amount by the amount of servings in the package. Sometimes, these numbers are staggering.

Shopping for healthy foods doesn’t mean that you have to ‘break the bank’ every week; you can plan your menu from the grocery flyers you receive in the mail each week. Take advantage of sales and use coupons when it’s possible, this will save you a lot of money.

Homemade foods are the healthiest for your family; you control the ingredients going into it and the nutritional value incredible. You may not think that you have time to prepare food; ‘you’re tired after working all day, you want to relax, and you have too many other things to do…’ and the list of excuses goes on.

Many people think that preparing a healthy meal means slaving over a hot stove for hours; nothing could be further from the truth; preparing a healthy meal takes less time because you are using fewer ingredients and you can do a lot of the prep work before hand.

By using kitchen gadgets such as a crockpot, you eliminate virtually all of the work. You can add chicken and veggies while your coffee is brewing and it slow cooks all day and is ready when you get home. How easy is that?

 

Creating a Healthy Diet to Fit Your Lifestyle

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

When your lifestyle is busy and chaotic, it is hard to think of eating healthy; you’re on the go, busy with work, home and everything that life can throw at you. You know you need to eat healthy, but finding the time to sit and plan a menu, do the preparation and then sit and eat just doesn’t seem feasible. You grab something fast, usually something really unhealthy, however, your hunger is satisfied for the moment and you continue with your day.

There are so many risks to eating unhealthy foods; weight gain, serious illness and disease. Over a period of time, the risk of developing any of these diseases or illnesses increases.

There are several things that you can do to eat a healthy diet one is to prepare healthy foods ahead of time.

Breakfast is very important; when you don’t have time to cook but you have to eat something grabbing a great tasting energy bar from Granola Gourmet will satisfy your hunger and give you the energy you need to make it to lunchtime.

Decide on what foods you want on your menu. Take a few hours on the weekend to prepare your meals for the week. Soup is an excellent choice because you are choosing the ingredients to add. In the mornings, all you do is heat it up and put it in a thermos; you can slip it into your bag or briefcase and you have a meal ready when you are, even if your in the car.

Snacks are really easy to carry also; carrot and celery sticks are low calorie, low carb snacks that you can put in a baggie in your pocket for a quick snack either in the office or when you work on the road. Deciding on what to snack on is important; Granola Gourmet’s low Glycemic energy bars, nuts, seeds, dried fruits or air-popped popcorn are easily transported and are an excellent source of vitamins that your body needs to stay healthy.

Packing your own lunch is recommended because you’re deciding what ingredients you want to include; if you choose sandwiches, use whole grain bread and add lots of veggies; you will get the energy you need with very little calories and carbs.

If you want a sit down lunch, research restaurants in your area to find the ones that have healthy menu options. When you’re seated, ask the waitperson how each dish is made and what ingredients are used. If the restaurant allows it, request substitution for the ingredients that are not part of your plan.