Diabetes: Treatments at the home front. Part III
Although about 12 million citizens have diabetes, about 6 million in number have no instructions about what they can do at home to maintain better health. The intent of this article is to put you on the right path-the rest of the hike is up to you and your physician.
Way back in the 70’s I served a tour of duty involving drug and alcohol counseling in the US Navy. With all the training there was one fact in remiss- that counseling was useless.
The problem was that the alcoholic and drug abuser was addicted. The same fact I have found for the Diabetic is that they are addicted to sugar and will do anything to get a sugar fix. That means completely discounting their health and their loved ones future well being. So, this article is really for the “keeper” of the Diabetic who can take charge and manage their lifestyle. Remember, sugar is just like a drug-it is a drug in fact- and will govern your loved ones future. They will rationalize, lie, find sugar fixing new friends, argue and plead for sugar. The pursuit of sugar remains a primary obsessive goal in their lives.
Of course if you can “counsel” an acceptance of this fact you have reached stage one step of acceptance. It will be a long road before the sugar-holic becomes a twelve stepper on the road to success-one day at a time.
Let us go back to the Twelfth Century to the gifted Hildegard von Bingen’s classic work: PHYSICIA dictated health. Fortunately Priscilla Troop has translated the original Latin text into modern English for readers interested in obtaining this text from Healing Arts Press-marketed through Amazon.com books.
Keep in mind that this writing was centuries ago; she comments on wheat bread…”But, if anyone sifts out bran from the flour…the bread (white flour) is weaker and more feeble…”
To eat healthy bread you eat whole wheat bread, not the cheap, white, popular tree wood filler bread commonly sold in the stores with wondrous labels. You have to eat real bread. Rye flour is also real food…”good for healthy people and makes them strong. Rye is good for fat people since it diminishes their flesh…”
Bottom line: Avoid white bleached flour. Bake bread with whole wheat. Nutritionists are still arguing for this fact. What cheap white breads are your children eating in school lunches?
Although Diabetes has been known for centuiries only in the last fifty or so years has this disease spread and multiplied like a plague. Clearly stated it is because of “Fast Food”. Daily there are numerous small health clips squeezed into a back corner of the researchers published papers decrying science facts about how the industry is deliberate in its money making scheme to sell its fat-salt-sugar products, that although resembling a real ground beef burger, is in fact a chemical composed beef substance burger heart attack waiting to rob you of your health and vitality.
Strong words-NO! Fast food is an addiction in its own right and the industry hires chemists to provide the hyped addictive qualities of the foods and beverages to addict you to be a repeat customer.
A proper food diet is the foremost weapon in your arsenal of health to ward off, reduce and in some cases eliminate the diabetic deterioration. Let us now look at foods we can do with-not without.
James A. Duke, PhD is the most respected and experienced writer concerning health issues in scholarly and popular books. His commentaries and food suggestions are included below.
CHROMIUM: Supplements abound but this vitals mineral may be found in: red zinger tea, dandelion, oats, barley, and peaches.
CINNAMON: We buy ours at Big Lot’s who sells shakers at a dollar each. Stock up. Sprinkle at ½ teaspoon on your breakfast real oatmeal-not-quick serve junk.
CHICKORY: Very bitter except for hardy souls in New Orleans. However try it with the mixed blends of chicory and coffee. This is an INULIN containing herb, which we will talk about shortly.
GREEN BEANS. This will lower your blood sugar. Plant extra in the garden this year and can the rest for winter.
FENUGREEK: Improvement will be evident in glucose tolerance and a fall in blood sugar. Sprinkle seeds in your salad.
BAY LEAVES: 1/8 teaspoon will “triple your insulin efficiency”.
MAGNESIUM: Supplements are best if you use the “chelated variety”.
BUCKWHEAT: The real thing-not white flour adulterated with chemicals.
VINEGAR: Yes it is true. Use vinegars and olive oil. Avoid fat dressings. Vinegar will make you feel more full.
TURMERIC: Have a dinner out with an Indian Curry.
ALMONDS: They work- chew the recommended 64 times of course.
PRUNES: Boron is a help found in this fruit. Plant a couple of plum trees this spring.
CLOVE: 500 mg is recommended and makes a nice clove tea I enjoy. Clove oil is also used in toothache emergencies.
Gardeners are in for a good chance to improve their health with planting “inulin” producing plants. The following produce vegetable insulin and or regulate current production of insulin in the body.
DANDELION: our old favorite and now starting to sprout up. See our previous article on dandelions.
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. Potato like tubers dug up from under the vigorous stalks often towering 4 to 5 feet. Makes a nice screen. A flatulent plant so use caraway to reduce excess gas. Very tasty though. Try Nichols Seed and Nursery for tubers.
ENDIVE: You can procure the seed from Territorial Seed Company. This stores well in the root cellar.
GARLIC of course, and lots of onions in your diet. This is the time to plant onion sets.
More on these plants and healing can be found in Doctor Duke’s book: “The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods”. Check Amazon.com book section for a good price.
Another good book that may interest you is 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, by David Grotto, RN, LDN. Again, check Amazon.com books.
If you are diagnosed Diabetic, even pre-diabetic you require these established known facts:
(1) Just enough calories to maintain the proper weight scale for your body. Buy a calorie counter. Buy a notebook and pencil- keep a log of daily foods.
(2) High fiber carbohydrates, such as whole-wheat grains and cereals to provide 55-60 percent of your diet.
(3) Enough protein comprised of meats, eggs, milk, cheese and fish to provide 12 to 22 percent of your calories for the day.
After your diet approved meal-take a walk instead of napping and turning into a butterball of heart attack plaque and clogged arteries. Walking-not running is the bases of humanity from day one. Buy a treadmill for winter and bad rainy days and avoid street muggings. My treadmill is set at a slow walk. Read a book or watch a diet show on a small TV-DVD recorders while walking.
(4) Fats to provide less than 30 percent of your calories but less than 10 percent from eggs, butter, cheese and meats. Go to bed earlier, get up earlier and have a nice breakfast. Log it in your calorie counter.
Next week we will conclude with a look at herbs and alleged cures on this serious slow acting killer. Always remember that high blood sugar leads to debilitating other problems in the body. Your proven best defense is a healthy organic diet, exercise and a good happy life.
God Bless
COPYRIGHT: 2010, Back2theLand.Com, Mark Steel
