Diabetes and Diet

Last month I had heart surgery, and ever since I’ve noticed changes in my appetite and what I want to eat, and drink. I used to basically live on pop(Dr Pepper mostly) ate burgers & fries often. I was majorly lacking in fruits, vegetables, even water. The healthiest thing I would eat was the occasional salad. Since the surgery its been Salads, fruits, veggies, chicken, juice, tea, and water. I do sometime still have a pop and some candy here and there. Its not all extremely healthy but its what I am now craving. I have insulin resistance and have had for at least 10 years. I am on glucophage for treatment of it. The last week or so I have noticed that I’ll get up and eat if I stick to the healthy stuff and take my gluc as prescribed I’m fine. But as soon as I eat any candy or have a pop I get light headed, nausea, and eventually get a headache. Now I am drinking a lot more than I used to but that started right after the surgery and is not continuing to increase. Any ideas?
I agree the bad stuff makes you drag a bit…but I’m having a major affect like enough to make me go lay down because I’m sick from just 1 pop(which I can’t even get halfway thru a can of because I feel ill from) or about 10 M&M’s.

You’ve grown up. You have some very serious health problems, and you are finally living the way you need to live to get healthier and stay healthier.

Eating crap makes you feel like crap. Once you get off the junk food, you really notice how bad it makes you feel. With insulin resistence anything with sugar or a lot of white flour will make your blood sugar climb.

When you were eating it all the time you didn’t notice how sluggish, tired, and crappy it made you feel.

Now you do.

Stick with the healthy stuff, your body needs and craves it.

I suggest you get tested for diabetes, because of the problems you are having processing sugar. Ask your doctor to do an HbA1c test. It should be below 5.5%.

Good luck!

No reasonable person wants to deny health care to anyone in need. However, it appears to me that the government is assuming that every single man, woman & child is in dire need of these services.

Since medical care is imperative for those in need, why won’t the government trash all unnecessary pork from the budget and use these funds as their 1st priority.

The majority of the U.S. population are healthy. I raised four children who always received their shots, were treated for a broken bone from falling from a tree or maybe a sore throat, etc. None of my children, myself or my husband ever had to be hospitalized. The same is true for all of the families I have known all these years. Therefore, I believe, this should be considered.

This way there will not be rationing, long waits for appointments, lower insurance costs for the healthy and those with serious and continuing medical needs can be taken care of through good government programs.

Health care for children is necessary but why don’t they take into consideration the fact that children need fruits, vegetables and balanced meals, good hygiene, more physical activity by at least mandating it in schools again. However, the price of fruits, vegetables, milk, bread, cereal and other proteins are beyond the reach of the average family. These costs will only escalate when the carbon tax is imposed and transportation costs will be passed on to the consumer. We keep hearing about the growing obese children and population but their main diet is composed of high carb and junk food.

People with AIDS, MS, Hepatitis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Diabetes must have help and all deserve the best treatment available. Their prescription costs should be based on ability to pay. At present many life threatening diseases are not covered by local health departments and yet, we are spending billions on abortions for the whole world, billions for AIDS & other STD’s to many other countries. We need to take care of our own problems first. Compassion is great but ‘charity should begin at home’.

I’m by no means an economist but I just feel there must be a better way. In my view the government just doesn’t look at reality and eventually they make circumstances worse & screw it up entirely. Just like they did with S.S., Medicare & Medicaid. Now they have to redo these programs and it will end up costing us more and getting less. They spent these funds on their other pet projects for all these years and now it’s on the brink of disaster.

Just your opinion please.
For all those who answered that everyone should take care of their own: please be advised that I always did this regarding insurance and in every other respect.

However, the government is going to take this over no matter how adament you are so I’m just looking for a better way to spend this money they are going to take from us anyway!

Sarcasm is not an opinion, THX

Define "health care plan"
There are 2 separate and in some cases competing issues here.
1) The price of health care. Government regulation, the cost of education, the cost of LIVING have raised the price of CARE (that is, what a doctor charges) – but here is the bigger problem…

Most markets in the country are consumer driven. That is, providers (of whatever) will charge what the market will bear (in other words, what consumers will pay) – Health care is no different… but here is the catch. YOU are not the consumer of health care… The INSURANCE industry is (teamed with the federal government)! THEY decide the price of care.

If you are simply talking about coverage, well… consider that only 15% of the populations does NOT have health insurance. And of those, the government tells us that 1/3 CAN AFFORD IT, but chose not to carry it.

The COST of health CARE (not coverage) needs to be addressed. But, just like every other consumer industry, the government is NOT the answer…

"Primitive" humans ate only raw fruits and vegetables… fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts can be eaten freely without any adverse effects (for healthy people w/o allergies) whereas more modern food such as meat, dairy, eggs are cholesterol and saturated fat-laden and are unfit for human consumption, causing an array of illnesses that other animals are not prone to.

People who believe in Evolution should take a look at this. Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

You see, the first humans did thrive on such a diet and that’s why you sometimes hear miracle stories of people healing their diabetes by going on a raw vegan/fruitarian diet… it’s because it was the original diet appointed by God, and it was the diet intended for man before the fall…
Ishtar – Try saying that you can’t thrive on a vegetarian diet to the Buddhists in China who are pure vegetarians… or to the 400 million vegetarians in India many of which avoid dairy?

Look no further than America, there is an estimated 1~2 million vegans living here, and 20 million vegetarians…

Einstein was a vegetarian.

B12 is found in soil, unwashed vegetables can provide it but are not very reliable as they were before modern agriculture & chemicals that killed it…
HC – I see those pointy teeth but they’re pathetic compared to the ones found on other omnivorous animals. I mean, if you’re really going to use that argument, why don’t you try biting on a pig’s neck and then try digesting its flesh raw as an omnivore would? Good argument… SIKE

WTF is a "fruitarian"?…the rest of the question…big steamy pile of crap…oh oh, I see a deletion coming…

Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,

I am a student at Standley Middle School concerned with health, diseases caused by various meats, and animal cruelty. Animals are being slaughtered at 7 billion per year, and a 1.6 billion percentage is used for human consumption. The animals we eat today are abused and kept in factory farms or slaughterhouses, and bred in small places where they must live a horrifying life without their parents. By eating meat, we participate and encourage these horrible acts. It is finally time to take a stand and protect the environment and our animals by saying no.

Although it is said that meat is especially healthy and valuable, as you can see it is not entirely necessary for your body. Meat carries many nutrients, as well as diseases and problems such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, and general cancer. Fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are all you really need to maintain a healthy organism. Vegetables and fruits are the main sources of nutrients and contain many vitamins and minerals which protect against the harmful diseases that meat provides and does not encourage animal cruelty. It may seem easy to be omnivorous and consume meat, while still protecting against it’s diseases. However, lack of complete vegetable intake is now believed to cause tumor diseases, cardiovascular disease, and degenerative diseases. By not eating meat, you’ll be eating fewer chemicals that are stuffed into the many meats we know today. Fortunately, vegetables contain vitamin A and C, which decreases your chances of cancer or any of the above listed diseases by 46%.

Our body needs a lot of calcium, protein, fibers, carbohydrates and fats. Generally, fats are obtained from eating meats. However, meat only contains saturated fats, which come from animal sources, while plants and minerals contain healthy unsaturated fats which can easily substitute for fatty foods in order to maintain a healthy organism. Although a fiber-based diet lowers bad cholesterol, it also helps with digestion and comes from fresh fruits and whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread and brown rice.

If someone were to treat dogs and cats as other animals are treated in factory farms, they would be convicted for crime and put in jail, but what makes those other animals any less important? Today, the majority of these animals are kept in such cramped places that they can barely move, they are denied any veterinary care, abused and tortured while still conscious, and finally slaughtered. Today, farm animals do not have any legal rights the way household pets do. They are fed drugs to fatten or “spoil” them, which genetically alters them to grow at a much faster pace. Many of these animals are not slaughtered at all, but die within their own weight instead- gained from these various harmful, aging drugs. Centers for disease control state that “70-90% of chickens are infected before they are shipped to markets for sell.” Vegetarianism a healthier lifestyle that does not encourage the cruelty of these defenseless creatures.

Although each animal suffers a great deal of pain, they each do this differently. Cows, for example, are drugged to give a larger amount of milk than naturally given, often never see their babies again, and are hung and left to die when they are too old to produce rich milk. I believe that many vegetarians believe the fair treatment of all living creatures should be legalized to prevent this cruelty. Take a stand against this treatment and say no. Thank you for your help in this matter. Remember, every life counts.

Sincerely,
_________________________
Thanks! I guess I’m kind of arguing that because of how the animals are treated, they’re not healthy for us.

Good subject. This is a fine essay for your age!

A couple of points. Your first sentences might start too strong and alienate some in your audience immediately. Maybe words like "slaughter" and "disease" could be softened in the opening paragraph.

Although it would require quite a bit or rewrite, you might consider also offering grass fed beef and shopping locally as an alternate to going totally vegetarian. If you arguing the treatment of animals is cruel, would it still be cruel to eat animals if they had enjoyable lives while they lived? Realistically, the audience might need a path to becoming vegetarian. The path might include LESS meat, and more ethical treatment of animals.

Perhaps instead of of making people feel like criminals who treat animals cruelty, or support that by buying meat, you could take a different tact by reminding them that animals feel pain and fear just like our pets and ourselves.

I might recommend dropping the last two sentences. You want the reader to reach this conclusion by your essay contents… I like the end at "say no".

Good work and good luck!

P.S. Sorry, I just noticed you addressed this specifically to a senator. This might change a few of my comments slightly… sorry. For example, I thought you were trying to address change to a wide audience, not affecting a politician to make change.

Eating fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to maintain good health. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain vitamins, phytochemicals, and minerals that can protect your body from diseases like diabetes, cancers, and heart diseases. Ideally, you should consume five kinds of vegetables and two kinds of fruits each day.

If you want to enjoy the maximum nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables, it is best to select those cultivated in your local region. Imported fruits and vegetables may not have the inherent taste and flavor as they have been picked and packed some time before.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables have a natural taste and flavor of their own and may be easier on your wallet.

Apples: Choose firm and unbruised apples. Handle them gently. If you choose red or yellow colored varieties, they should be mostly of that color. Red or yellow apples with green patches may not be ready to eat.

Asparagus: Choose asparagus with straight and bright-green stalks and stiff tips.

Bananas: Bananas should be firm and not soft. They should not have any bruises, especially along the underside. Normally, bananas with little shades of green ripen in room temperature. Some people claim that bananas that are partly green are better for helping your digestion of other foods.

Beets: Beets should be firm and should remain attached to red stems and fresh green tops. Do not choose loose beets without tops.

Blueberries: Choose firm and fresh blueberries. Frozen wild blueberries are normally available all year through. 

Broccoli: Choose broccoli with tight bud heads and dark green in color. Brocolli stems are eaten by many people and also a great treat for small parrots when split so that the birds can get at the soft pulp inside.

Carrots: Choose carrots with smooth skin. Do not choose thick carrots, as their centers could be hard too. If you buy fresh, bunched carrots with green tops, remove the tops before storing.

Cucumbers: Choose firm, dark green and unblemished cucumbers.

Eggplant: Choose heavy and smooth-skinned eggplants.

Fresh Figs: Pick heavy and plump figs. Also, choose the nice-smelling ones as sour-smelling figs are normally old ones.

Garlic: Pick those surrounded with tissue that have firm bulbs. Do not pick garlic with green sprouts.

Grapes: Choose firm grapes. Soft ones could be too ripe.

Hass Avocados: Choose avocados with rough skin as smooth-skinned avocados may have less flavor. Dark-skinned avocados are good to eat.

Honeydew Melons: Melons should not have any bruises or broken skin or rind. It should be easy to open them with a little pressure. Melons with some wrinkled skin may be a good buy. Also, check for a mild fragrance. This indicates the melons are ripe enough.

Leeks: Choose leeks with white bulbs and dark green leaves. Do not pick ones with yellow and brown spots, as they could be over-ripe.

Mushrooms: Choose unwrinkled, plump, unbruised and blemish-free mushrooms for those with the best taste.

Onions: Choose firm onions without any soft spots. Green onions should have bright green leaves or shoots.

Oranges: Oranges should be heavy and bulky. They should be free of any blemishes.

Peaches: Peaches should have a smooth skin and should give when you apply just a little pressure. They should not have any bruises.

Pears: Smooth-skinned and unbruised pears are the best.

Potatoes: Choose firm potatoes without any cracks or bruises.

Raspberries: Choose bright red raspberries. Be sure to check for any white or cotton-like strands around berries. These may indicate the growth of mold.

Red Peppers: Choose red peppers with smooth, thick skin.

Spinach: Choose spinach with dark green leaves and without any signs of yellowing.

Strawberries: Choose dark and bright red plump fruits without any bruises. Also, choose the ones with a fragrance.

Tomatoes: Pick tomatoes that are firm and bright in color. They should be free of any bruises.

Watermelon: Watermelons should have a tight, dark-green rind. Tap the melon slightly. If it gives out a hollow sound, it indicates a juicy and full melon.

Winter Squash: Squashes should have a hard, smooth skin.

Yams: Yams should be free of any cracks or soft spots.

Zucchini: Choose zucchini with firm, dark-green skin. Soft and wrinkly zucchini are old.

To find out more fabulous information about how to incorporate a healthy lifestyle with more fruits and vegetables order your copy of Fabulous Fruit and Vegetables today.

Georgina Cundall
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/how-to-pick-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-at-a-store-701079.html

I’m a female. 21 years old. My height is 5′6.5" and I weight 158 lbs.

I want to lose some weight. At least 10-20 lbs. I think 130-140 is a descent weight for my height. At least average. Correct me if I’m wrong.

I don’t know how to do it in a healthy way. My parents and entire family are obese. They have heart problems and diabetes. I was raised on hamburgers and fast foods and nasty greasy stuff. When I was little I remember being allowed to eat chips and cheese dip for breakfast and ice cream for dinner plus whatever else I wanted to eat after not being filled up by that junk.

I don’t want to be like my family. I’m surprised I’m not bigger than I am.

Know I’m not totally dense. Vegetables, fruit…I know thopse are healthy…But I don’t that would make a very good meal and fill me up and everything you know?

Are there any recipes?

Also, please don’t reccomend straving myself or throwing up. I did that stuff in the past and it isn’t a road I want to go down again

There are some recipes here for healthily getting fit: http://www.beauty-tricks.com/beautyforum/viewtopic.php?t=12

Also, you don’t need to cut down dessert, you can eat the low fat ones: http://www.beauty-tricks.com/beautyforum/viewtopic.php?t=11

Good Luck, I like you attitude, wish you success!