Thursday, September 28, 2006

One For 40? A Big Bargain!

Did you know that lowering your Hemoglobin A1c reading by 1% cuts your risk of going bling or losing a kidney by up to 40 percent? I learned that from the Diabetes ClearingHouse.

Imaging the benefits of losing weight, eating right, sleeping at night, not stopping at the hospital on your way out of this world! Could I pass up Coke and Mickey Dees for that?

You bet!

Hey, do something great for your health today. The anti-diabetes diet is the way to go. You could benefit by a big margin of 40 to 1. Not bad, eh?

Thursday, September 21, 2006

How 'diabetic' am I?


The American Diabetes Association has a book called Diabetes A to Z, in which they define a diabetic. "A person with diabetes has a fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dl or above." - p.106.

If this is so, how come I am diabetic when my fasting glucose is consistently (without variation) between 70 and 85 mg/dl and I am not on any medication nor supplements? Something is wrong with this definition because my label doesn't fit.

Now I'm wondering how diabetic am I, and it's not that I mind. If you have diabetes you know how it feels to be sidelined by all those symptoms. It sure feels great to not have to worry about frequent trips to the toilet while you're on a plane. It's really nice. I wouldn't trade my anti-diabetes diet for any culinary glamor in the world.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

One meat eater or 20 vegetarians

It is estimated that the amount of land needed to feed one meat eater would feed 20 vegetarians. Not only that, but one acre of land produces 183 pounds of beef or 20,000 pounds of potatoes.

Have you ever wondered why a loaf of whole wheat bread costs more than a loaf of white bread even those extra processing is needed to make the flour that makes the white bread?

What is even more surprizing is the fact that science proves the vegetarian diet is a better alternative for health and longevity, but more people prefer the high cholesterol, high fat, steroid-laced meats.

Why isn't the vegetarian diet the more popular choice? It beats me. It's one of the mysteries of the palate.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

A cluster or a bottle of wine?


I just gave away a bottle of wine today. It was not my intention to give it away nor to have gotten it in the first place. I don't drink alcoholic beverages.

It was a gift from the receptionist at the hotel I am staying - something to sorta allay any ill feelings I might have because my room wasn't ready when it was time for me to check in. Shame. So here was this bottle of wine to say, "let's still be friends."

Well, I get my phytochemicals fresh from the grapes or from grape juice. In fact, I read somewhere in the Bible a reference to grapes as being wine. Listen to this:
Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. - Isaiah 65:8 (KJV)

The BBC News Health section ran an article titled, Mediterranean diet 'extends life.' That must be due to the abundant sources of phytochemicals from the vineyards.

From the vine

Yes, I get my phytochemicals from the vine. The wine makers want me to think it should be "from the wine." But you don't have to let your nutrients pass through the vats. Certainly the longevity is not from the alcohol. It is from the grape, so we don't need a reason to drink wine - just eat the grapes!

I believe the nutrients in grapes are in the proper quantities, naturally packed. So you don't have to worry about an overdose. You can eat your grapes and drive yourself home too. So, I choose the cluster instead of the bottle.