Tag: diabetes

Frustrated With Weight Loss?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC1 Comment
Wally's Before and After Profile Pic
What Healthy Living Did for Me!

Let’s face the truth! Most people make losing weight much too complicated. It doesn’t need to be. Listed below are the pitfalls most people make when trying to lose weight.

Doing anything temporally will give you temporary results! You have to get this, a diet is temporary.

  • Change your diet gradually– Many people jump right in and and totally change their diet to the extreme. They go from the typical American diet rich in processed foods to a very restrictive diet. Any time you make sudden change in your diet and lifestyle you highly increase your risk of failure. Make the change slowly. Instead of taking foods away try adding healthy foods to your diet. You will begin to crowd out the harmful foods with healthy foods. Replacing breakfast with a nutritious balanced meal replacement drink like Vive is a great way to begin the change.
  • Stop Stressing about life and losing the weight.  Because we make it so complicated we get overly stressed. If you have stress from work or home you need to manage it or remove the source. Stress will make it almost impossible to lose much weight. In addition stress kills!
  • Eat enough calories– Many people begin by drastically cutting food intake thus calories too much. If you go below 1200 calories for more than a couple of days your body senses a famine has arrived and it lowers your metabolic rate to conserve energy. You can even gain weight if you cut calories to much. If you stay in a severe calorie reduction under (800 calories or less, like anorexia) you body shifts to the catabolic effect of starvation and your body will begin to consume muscle and organs for its nutrition needs.
  • Do Not Skip Meals! You need to eat at least 5 times per day. It keeps blood sugar balanced and energy available. It also keeps the metabolism boosted. A healthy meal replacement shake is an option and can serve your body well. I recommend Vive, it was created for weight loss and energy and is packed with an abundance of nutrition!
  • Drink plenty of water– Many will not drink enough water. It takes water to release and burn fat for energy. Water is so important for your health!
  • Exercise– If you are obese you can lose weight for a short time by just cutting calories, however that will eventually slow and then stop. You must move more. Exercise does many wonderful things for our body. One benefit is that it speeds up our metabolic rate causing us to burn more calories through out the day! Just walking is a great exercise. Increase your speed and time as your fitness and health improves. Before beginning any exercise program please consult with your doctor for their approval. Walk twice per day to speed up the weight loss!
  • Stop weighing everyday! You weight can change up or down five or more pounds in any given day. You will set your self up for disappointment by weighing all of the. Weigh your self every two weeks. Do it first thing in the morning immediately after waking up and after your first urination.
  • Stop beating your self up! No body is perfect. Treats are allowed, even unscheduled ones. The next time you eat make a healthy choice. Bashing your self, will make you eat more.
  • DO NOT DIET!  It is our mindset to use the word diet and when we do we automatically set up in our mind that we will change our diet and lifestyle for a period of time and then come back home to that awesome food that got us fat to begin with. Plus because you have starved your body (both calories and nutrients) before, your body senses this and begins to subconsciously increase your desire for fatty and sugary foods. Sure you lose 30 pounds and then you gain 50 back. Dieting will only make you fatter one diet at a time! Think lifestyle change!
  • Nutrition Nutrition Nutrition!!!!  When you body is getting loads of nutrients it begins to clean and detox getting rid of toxic materials you have stored for years. Your body does not like to let go of fat unless it can detox adequately. Your body stores toxins in your fat. Depleted nutrient stores in your body get filled up and topped off. Then the bodies systems begin to come back into harmony with one another. Blood sugar begins to balance,cravings begin to disappear, energy improves, thinking improves, your hair and skin begins to glow. Your body starts regenerating itself to a new healthy one.

The bottom line is that weight loss and health do not come from a “diet” they comes from living a healthy lifestyle. That’s it. Adopt a healthy way of living and watch your body change!

Healthy Wishes.

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Sugar! the Poison We Can’t Resist!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC2 Comments

Sweet Poison

I am not sure why we Americans don’t see it. Sugar is the biggest threat to our health but we keep consuming it is excessive amounts. Plus, food manufacturers love it because it makes you eat more and more and more of their sugary foods.  We American’s simply can’t resist it! Doctors love it because it’s a guarantee most of you will be seeing them in the near future .

It’s Poison, also, Sugar makes us fatter.  When you eat refined sugar, if you don’t quickly use it as energy, insulin turns it into fat! It’s addictive,  accelerates aging, reduces immune function, impairs mental and neurological function, can destroy your brain, heart and organs, creates systemic inflammation, gives some people a buzz and destroys bodies. Does this sound healthy??

Not all sugar is bad. Sugar from plants foods like carrots, beets, strawberries and bananas can be good for us if they are eaten in their whole form. Healthy sugars are important because our brain and central nervous system rely totally on sugar or glycogen (stored sugar in the body) for their energy. Our muscles love sugar or glycogen to produce energy for high energy needs.  Fruit juice is very high in sugar so even though nutritious it is too high in sugar, eat the whole fruit.

People get addicted to sugar. They love the taste and the quick energy it releases. However they can’t see the pervasive damage being done to their blood vessels, brain, heart and other organs.

This may shock you, but I believe sugar and sugar like foods (processed flour products) are probably the biggest cause of all illness and disease. It creates so much stress on the body, lowers the immune system, wrecks havoc on the hormonal system and creates systemic inflammation. The harm being caused is wide-spread and long-lasting.

Sugar has made its way into almost every food stuff man is processing and refining. Sugar is added to bacon. luncheon meats, mayonnaise, peanut butter, dried fruit, fruit juices, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, prepared foods, cereal, granola, cookies, flavored milk, soft drinks, coffee drinks and hundreds if not thousands of other foods. Milk has about 3 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounce glass.

The purpose of the added sugar is to make you eat more of the food it is in. It’s all about money. If you keep buying it, the food manufacturers will keep selling it. Stop buying it and they will begin to make healthier foods.

Your best defense is learning to read food labels and being able to find all the different names of sugar. When reading the food label pay special attention to the serving size and the grams of sugar per serving. Try to limit the amount of sugar you consume to 6 grams or less per serving. Look for foods that have 3 or more grams of fiber per serving.

Sugars Many Names

When reading the food ingredient list on the food label look out for these names. I would also include agave nectar as a sugar to avoid. It is higher in fructose that HFCS and is a processed sugar.

  1. Barley malt
  2. Beet sugar
  3. Brown sugar
  4. Buttered syrup
  5. Cane juice crystals
  6. Cane sugar
  7. Caramel
  8. Corn syrup
  9. Corn syrup solids
  10. Confectioner’s sugar
  11. Carob syrup
  12. Castor sugar
  13. Date sugar
  14. Demerara sugar
  15. Dextran
  16. Dextrose
  17. Diastatic malt
  18. Diatase
  19. Ethyl maltol
  20. Fructose
  21. Fruit juice
  22. Fruit juice concentrate
  23. Galactose
  24. Glucose
  25. Glucose solids
  26. Golden sugar
  27. Golden syrup
  28. Grape sugar
  29. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
  30. Honey
  31. Icing sugar
  32. Invert sugar
  33. Lactose
  34. Maltodextrin
  35. Maltose
  36. Malt syrup
  37. Maple syrup
  38. Molasses
  39. Muscovado sugar
  40. Panocha
  41. Raw sugar
  42. Refiner’s syrup
  43. Rice syrup
  44. Sorbitol
  45. Sorghum syrup
  46. Sucrose
  47. Sugar
  48. Treacle
  49. Turbinado sugar
  50. Yellow sugar

Flour Based Products

Flour (ground up grains) turns to blood sugar as rapidly as does white table sugar! Most breads, cereals, cookies, crackers and pastries have a high glycemic value. They raise blood sugar rapidly. Not all grain based products have higher glycemic load values. Whole Grains when eaten in their natural form release sugars slowly.  Steel cut oats have a lower glycemic load value that rolled oats.  Enriched and refined flours have little fiber allowing the starch to turn to blood sugar rapidly. Even whole grain breads can cause a quick release of blood sugar because part of the bodies digestive process has already been performed.  To my knowledge the lowest glycemic bread is Ezekiel Bread.

Use Natural Sweeteners like stevia and raw honey. They offer health benefits and do not impact blood sugar levels as severely as refined sugars do.

In summary, to reduce your risk of developing a sugar related disease or adverse health condition avoid or limit simple carbohydrates by eating more vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains (limit to 4 servings per day). Stay away from non natural sweeteners like Splenda and aspartame. Use natural sweeteners, however, learn to enjoy foods that are less sweet. Break that sugar addiction, kick it to the curb and enjoy life. I recommend stevia or raw honey as the healthiest sweeteners.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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Chocolate and It’s Healthy Delecious Goodness!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

 

The beginning of Chocolate!
The beginning of Chocolate!

Chocolate comes in many forms and truthfully I am a chocoholic. I eat dark chocolate and raw cocoa powder several times per day. The taste is awesome and the benefits are huge.

Raw cocoa added to your NutriBullet can supercharge your body in many ways. Be creative with it.

Warning- not all chocolates are healthy! Milk chocolate or other candies in which chocolate is added does not have the health benefits of dark or raw chocolate. They most likely have milk and lots of sugar in them. Even healthy dark and raw chocolate is high in calories so limit your amount so you do not gain weight. It only takes 1 to 2 ounces of dark chocolate or raw powder once a day to get the health benefits of chocolate.

To make sure I eat the healthiest chocolate I use only 85% dark or higher and when I make hot chocolate I use the healthiest, which is raw (uncooked or unprocessed) cocoa powder.  Chocolate is one of the highest antioxidant rated foods. Chocolate is rich in powerful antioxidants like resveratrol and epicatechin, is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, potassium, phosphorus and Vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Folate, B2, B5, B6, and Vitamin K. Chocolate also contains brain and heart healthy fats and other healthy phytonutrients.

Health Benefits

  • Helps reduce blood pressure
  • Provides great energy
  • Boost metabolism
  • Improves bone health
  • Protects cells from free radical attacks
  • Reduces premature aging
  • Helps reduce stress
  • Improves vascular wall health
  • May reduce blood clots
  • Can improve both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.
  • Improve insulin function
  • Reduces platelet stickiness
  • Improves immune response
  • Improves our mood
  • Improves our sleep
  • Can improve heart health

How Chocolate Improves Our Mood!

Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate a few times a week can help lower your blood pressure and improve blood flow and may even help prevent the formation of blood clots. It helps increase our uptake of serotonin, which improves our mood. Chocolate also has Phenylethylamine (or PEA), which is a natural chemical produced by our brains to produce endorphins (mood elevating hormones that are attributed to the feeling of love). And you guessed it right! Dark chocolate is full of it! This creates a euphoric feeling in our brains and can help with depression, irritability, grief, and much more!

Another substance found in chocolate is anandamide. A fatty substance that is naturally produced in the brain, anandamides makes us feel relaxed and improve our mood.

Immune Function

It’s also good when your sick, if you can’t get the rest you need or your dieing of the flu just try a bit of dark chocolate. The Xantheose, an ingredient in dark chocolate, has been proven to suppress a cough and help with symptoms and inflammation. This effect is attributed to the antioxidants present and likens this food to blueberries, acai berries and many more super foods.

Enjoy dark and raw chocolate; it doesn’t take much, just an ounce or two every day to get the desired health benefits and pleasurable relaxation it provides.

While writing this for you I am enjoying a delicious cup of velvety rich dark cocoa. I add a little Ceylon cinnamon, almond milk and stevia, the aroma and taste is bliss!

Enjoy your chocolate!

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Reference sources

Contemporary Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine-Cocoa and Cardiovascular Health –Circulation. 2009; 119: 1433-1441 doi: 10.1161/​CIRCULATIONAHA.108.827022

[Langer, S. and Marshall, L.J., et.al., (2011) “Flavanols and Methylxanthines in Commercially Available Dark Chocolate: A Study of the Correlation with Nonfat Cocoa  Solids”. J. Agric. Food Chem., 59, 8435]

[Erdman, J.W. and Carson, L., et.al., (2008) “Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease”.  Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr., 17, Suppl. 1: 284].

[Allen, R.R. and Carson, L., et al. (2008) “Daily Consumption of a Dark Chocolate  Containing Flavanols and Added Sterol Esters Affects Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Normotensive Population with Elevated Cholesterol”.  J. Nutr., 138, 725].

[Katz, D.L., Doughty, K, and Ali, A. (2011) “Cocoa and Chocolate in Human Health and Disease”.  Antioxid. Redox Signal., 15, 2779],

Engler MB, Engler MM, Chen CY, et al. Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and increases plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Jun; 23(3): 197-204.

Taubert D, Roesen R, Lehmann C, et al. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial.  JAMA. 2007 Jul 4; 298(1): 49-60.

[Murata, M. and Katagiri, N., et al., (2009) “Effect of Beta-Phenylethylamine on extracellular concentrations of Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens and Prefrontal Cortex”. Brain Res., 1269, 40],

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Wally’s Transformation – The Real Story

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

I am often asked about my story. How did I accomplish so much weight loss and do it without any surgery or medication?  My life change is a miracle for not only me, but for many others who now benefit from the blessings that were given to me.

This is how my miracle happened.

WallyFatIn the fall of 2005 I weighed somewhere in the range of 450+ pounds.  For nearly two decades, I “yo-yo” dieted my way from a 230 pound athlete to an obese, unhealthy person. You might be wondering how this could have happened.  I, too, wondered every time I looked into the mirror.  And, I kept hoping that the reflection I saw was not me.  Each and every time I started a diet, I would lose some weight, but, it always returned and carried an added penalty of ten or more pounds.  It got to the point that I realized dieting was going to kill me.  I knew that I didn’t want to be obese or even overweight any longer, and I prayed daily to God, asking him to deliver me from the prison of physical bondage.

A few years earlier my wife developed Fibromyalgia.  It developed into a severe case and she was unable to work.  It tortured me to see this normally energetic, hard working, life-loving person suffering so much, yet, there was nothing I could do to help her.  I felt totally hopeless.  She was seeing three different doctors, was taking seven different medications, and continued to grow more ill.   I prayed relentlessly for a solution to her Fibromyalgia during the fall of 2006.
Miraculously, two things happened simultaneously.  First, in early November of 2006, I was diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed medication.  After reading the warning that included a disclaimer, “may cause death”, I was adamant that I was not going to take it.

Truthfully, I never thought I would get diabetes.  Through the years, my doctor had warned me that at my weight, it was only a matter of when, not if.  The diagnosis really scared me.  I literally didn’t eat for three days.  I already had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and severe arthritis, skin conditions, lymphedema and rosacea.  Adding diabetes to the list of illnesses was unbearable.

At the same time, I began seeing a guy on TV selling a colon cleanse.  Ironically, every time I turned on the TV there he was.  On Saturday mornings I would get in my truck or car and I would hear the same guy doing an infomercial on the radio.  “OK God,” I thought, “I get the message loud and clear.  My wife needs a colon cleanse”.  I decided that if that is what she needed, I was going to get the very best product available.  I did my research, talked with several providers and finally, I found a product that sounded just right.  I called and spoke with a very sweet lady named Rena.  After explaining the details of my wife’s ailments, Rena didn’t want to sell me the cleanse.  She felt it might be too intense.  Instead, Rena recommended a different product to boost my wife’s nutrition, and she explained it was not only a better option to begin with – the product was lower cost, as well.  When’s the last time you had someone undersell you?  It felt right, so I placed the order and was excited!  I just knew this was going to help my wife feel better.  I wanted to surprise my wife, and didn’t tell her about my research or the order.  When the package arrived on Friday, I explained the “surprise”.  Oh, was she surprised… however, not in a good way.  She was dead set against trying it.   She had already determined that this was her life and she was tired of all of the previous failures.  You see, we had tried many different treatments (all medical) and none had worked at all.  She commented, “What makes you think something natural can help me when medicine and doctors can’t?”  I didn’t see that coming, and my answer that I had prayed and God led me to this product, wasn’t sufficient.   She didn’t “buy” my explanation one bit.  However, all weekend a little voice kept telling me to take the new nutritional product.  On Monday I started taking it as directed.

By the end of the first week I noticed I felt better.  By the end of the second week my cravings were going away.  (I actually discovered this by accident.  In my office I had a drawer that I kept my stash of snacks.  On Friday, I had to get in the drawer for something else, and I was shocked that all of my honey buns and Snicker bars were still there.  I honestly hadn’t realized I hadn’t eaten one snack all week!)  That was a real revelation.  I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening to me.  The following week, my energy level really increased, so much so, that I just had to go for a walk.  The first walk I had taken in years!  Though only about one hundred yards, it was terribly painful and difficult.  I had developed severe arthritis in my left knee and ankle.  However, I was very determined to get my life back.  I was beginning to see a ray of light and some hope, and I was not going to let hope slip away.  Later that afternoon I walked again, and I repeated it every day, increasing the distance gradually, with each walk.   Within two weeks I went from being able to walk only 100 yards to walking 1 mile!!!  Within one month my diabetes dropped to almost normal levels.  During this time my taste began to change.  My desire for the “bad foods” was diminishing.  Additionally, I had an incredibly strong desire to learn all I could about nutrition and natural health, which I am certain God instilled within me. I began to read and study every book and article I could get my hands on.  Within three months I was back at night school, studying and learning nutrition.

During the early days, my diet began to change to a more plant based diet with a lot less sugar, breads and fatty meats.  I continued walking several times every day. Thankfully, I had a very understanding manager who encouraged me to walk while working, since I was always available by phone!  I gradually worked my way up to walking six to eight miles daily.  In fact, during the first 18 months, the only exercise I did was walking.  The weight was melting off and my health was improving dramatically.

What I now know, and what I want you to clearly know and understand through my experience, is that while I had been over-feeding myself, I was starving nutritionally.  The combination of nutrition starvation and a high intake of refined sugars and breads caused the cravings that I could not control.  The intake of a good nutritional product combined with a nutritious diet gave me the nutrition my body desperately required, and served as the catalyst that my body needed to change.  I continued to take that product for a while and then began adding other supplements to it to boost my nutrition even more.  My wife noticed the positive changes going on, and soon joined me on the quest for a healthier lifestyle.  I’m delighted to tell you that within the next year she was 90% better.  Nutrition works!

You might believe that my doctor was very happy for my discovery, right?  Not quite. For years he always pushed gastric bypass surgery.  He never once recommended changing my diet or nutrition as an alternative approach.  I was so excited about the changes in my health, and I couldn’t wait to tell him about my discovery.  He was not impressed.  His comment was, “Well, you are walking more so that’s why you are losing weight.”  (While that was true, I couldn’t have walked before because of my aches and pains.)  He added, “Your diabetes is better because of the medication.” I replied, “No, Doctor, I never took the medication.” My doctor continued, “Well, then it’s because you changed your diet.” I explained, “Yes, because the nutrition helped reduce my cravings.” Still a doubting Thomas, the doctor stated, “Nutrition isn’t going to help you, it won’t hurt you, but, it doesn’t help anything.”  He couldn’t have been more wrong.

I explained to my doctor that I wasn’t going to change one aspect of my new lifestyle.  He shrugged, and wrote me a prescription for blood pressure medication and another for my rosacea.  Over the next year my need for blood pressure medications went away.  I have a yearly physical to make sure I am staying healthy.

As of this writing, I have no adverse health issues.  I am not taking any medications.  I have lost almost 220 pounds of fat and gained about 20 pounds of muscle.  I exercise everyday but Sunday.  Exercise is a critical part of being healthy.  My body is now able to perform just about any task I ask of it.

 

My routine is simple.

I eat healthy 90% of the time and I indulge 10% of the time, meaning, I can eat anything I want.  I have two healthy smoothies every day, a couple of healthy snacks and one healthy meal.  And, I exercise at least 1 hour six days per week. Now I bicycle for 6 to 10 hours and 120 to 150 miles every week! What a turn around in health!!

WallyThinA concept is born.  I had to make the transition easier for others.

All during this time, I was not satisfied with having to take so many different nutritional products.  Not only was it confusing and time consuming, I believed that there had to be a better way to get the nutrition our bodies needed.  Today it is impossible through diet alone to get all of the nutrition we need, because our foods do not have the nutrition they had 50 years ago.  Everyone needs extra supplementation.  My concept had to include only one or two products, and they must be very easy to take.  I believed that if I could change my lifestyle, then I could help others alter theirs, as well.   I could overcome a major reason most American are so unhealthy, because of nutrient starvation.

After completing my education and receiving my certification, I began helping other people make changes to their diet and lifestyle, but I continually ran into a major obstacle.  Nutrition supplementation was confusing and difficult. Everyone that is changing from the Standard American Diet (SAD) is nutrient bankrupt and requires supplementation to overcome their nutrient deficiency. We must increase a body’s nutrient stores to control cravings and improve adverse conditions.  The nutrients make changing one’s diet much easier. Our tastes begin to change when our body’s nutritional stores begin reaching levels of adequacy in the body.  Raising nutrient stores in the body allows people to have better control over their food choices.

Over the years I have completed extensive research, and tried hundreds of different nutritional products, and not one of them fulfilled my goals.  Some were close nutritionally, but either didn’t taste good or were confusing to take, or a combination of both undesirable factors.

I began in earnest to make my nutritional dream product a reality.  This was a major undertaking, but I knew it could be done. It took three years of development to accomplish, but we did it.  Two important goals of the product were to fulfill very strict and demanding nutritional objectives, and be pleasing to the palate.  Our goals were difficult to accomplish, since traditionally, these goals have been on the opposite ends of possibilities.  It’s very difficult to make a product that is incredibly nutritious taste good, in fact, it’s  nearly impossible. I have to admit I wasn’t sure it could be done. There are many viable products on the market, but they tend to fall into one of two categories:   very nutritious and taste bad, or taste great and offer limited nutrition. We spent six months alone just perfecting the texture and taste. I knew if it didn’t taste great and the texture didn’t feel right, people would not take it.
Introducing Vive!  Weight Loss and Health as Easy as 1-2-3

Today our new nutritional product Vive! is not only incredibly nutritious, but is enjoyable to drink.  It provides the essential areas of nutrition your body needs.  Vive! provides vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, protein, carbohydrates and antioxidants. Vive! has just about the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins to facilitate better absorption of the nutrients. We turned Vive! into a drink mix that is so versatile you can make it a drink, a shake, a pudding and ice cream, too! And as importantly, it is the best tasting nutritional drink you are going to find, guaranteed.

Vive! can be used as a meal or snack replacement and is perfect for weight loss.  It’s great for moms, athletes, kids, and senior citizens.  Truly, Vive! is for anyone wanting the best in nutrition and optimal health.

Vive! is simple.  No more pills, capsules or spoons of supplements, just two shakes a day, with one healthy meal and several healthy snacks, and you will be on your way to a healthier life.
Vive for Life
Shake It, Drink It, Live It!

http://www.viveshake.com

Healthy Wishes
Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

www.wallybishop.com

Sugar, More Addictive Than Cocaine?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC17 Comments
Dietary Poison!

It’s addictive, white, accelerates aging, comes from a plant, impairs mental and neurological function, can destroy your brain, heart and organs, creates systemic inflammation, gives some people a buzz and destroys bodies. Am I talking about cocaine or sugar?

People get addicted to sugar. They love the taste and the quick energy it releases. However they can’t see the pervasive damage being done to their blood vessels, brain, heart and other organs until its almost too late.

This may shock you, but I believe sugar and sugar like foods (processed flour products) are probably the biggest cause of all illness and disease. It creates so much stress on the body, lowers the immune system, wrecks havoc on the hormonal system and creates systemic inflammation across the cardiovascular system. Sugar even turns cholesterol into a bad health issue. Cholesterol is not the demon it is made out to be. Its only when we eat so much sugar that cholesterol is released in larger amounts to patch damaged blood vessels caused from the sugar. We acutually need cholesterol. The harm being caused from sugar is wide-spread and long-lasting.

Sugar has made its way into almost every food stuff man is processing and refining. Sugar is added to bacon. luncheon meats, mayonnaise, peanut butter, dried fruit, fruit juices, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, prepared foods, cereal, granola, cookies, flavored milk, soft drinks, coffee drinks and hundreds if not thousands of other foods. Milk has about 12 grams or 3 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounce glass. Yogurt can have much more.

The purpose of the added sugar is to make you eat more of the food it is in. It’s all about money. If you keep buying it, the food manufacturers will keep selling it. Stop buying it and they will begin to make healthier foods.
Your best defense is learning to read food labels and being able to find all the different names of sugar. When reading the food label pay special attention to the serving size and the grams of sugar per serving. Try to limit the amount of sugar you consume to 6 grams or less per serving. Look for foods that have 4 or more grams of fiber per serving. Sugar should never be more than 10% of your daily calories. In a 2,000 calorie

Sugars Many Names

When reading the food ingredient list on the food label look out for these names. I would also include agave nectar as a sugar to avoid. It is higher in fructose that HFCS and is a processed sugar.

  1. Barley malt
  2. Beet sugar
  3. Brown sugar
  4. Buttered syrup
  5. Cane juice crystals
  6. Cane sugar
  7. Caramel
  8. Corn syrup
  9. Corn syrup solids
  10. Confectioner’s sugar
  11. Carob syrup
  12. Castor sugar
  13. Date sugar
  14. Demerara sugar
  15. Dextran
  16. Dextrose
  17. Diastatic malt
  18. Diatase
  19. Ethyl maltol
  20. Fructose
  21. Fruit juice
  22. Fruit juice concentrate
  23. Galactose
  24. Glucose
  25. Glucose solids
  26. Golden sugar
  27. Golden syrup
  28. Grape sugar
  29. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
  30. Honey
  31. Icing sugar
  32. Invert sugar
  33. Lactose
  34. Maltodextrin
  35. Maltose
  36. Malt syrup
  37. Maple syrup
  38. Molasses
  39. Muscovado sugar
  40. Panocha
  41. Raw sugar
  42. Refiner’s syrup
  43. Rice syrup
  44. Sorbitol
  45. Sorghum syrup
  46. Sucrose
  47. Sugar
  48. Treacle
  49. Turbinado sugar
  50. Yellow sugar

Flour Based Products

Flour (ground up grains) turns to blood sugar as rapidly as white table sugar! Most breads, cereals, cookies, crackers and pastries have a high glycemic value. They raise blood sugar rapidly. Not all grain based products have higher glycemic load values. Whole Grains when eaten in their natural form release sugars more slowly.  Steel cut oats have a lower glycemic load value that rolled oats.  Enriched and refined flours have little fiber allowing the starch to turn to blood sugar rapidly. Even whole grain breads can cause a quick release of blood sugar because part of the bodies digestive process has already been performed.  To my knowledge the lowest glycemic bread is Ezekiel Bread.

In summary, to reduce your risk of developing a sugar related disease or adverse health condition avoid or limit simple carbohydrates by eating more vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains (limit to 2 servings per day). Use natural sweeteners, however, learn to enjoy foods that are less sweet. Break that sugar addiction, kick it to the curb and enjoy life.

I would highly recommend you read the book Grain Brain by neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, it could be a life changing book.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

ViveShake.com

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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Enzymes, the Catalyst of Life

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC1 Comment
This is where enzymes live! RAW FOODS

Enzymes are a type of protein and act as catalysts that promote chemical actions at the cellular level. There are two major actions in the body in which things are made and another in which things are broken down. These too systems are called the catabolic (tears down) and the anabolic system (builds). Enzymes are a major part of these two systems.

Digestion requires enzymes that tear down foods to their smallest molecular state for absorption and utilization in our bodies.  In our metabolic system enzymes prompt actions that convert things from one form to another. This is extremely important and we could not live without enzymes. Our bodies make several quarts of enzymatic fluid everyday.

Most enzymes do other things than digest foods. In fact, the body is designed to provide only a small amount of enzymes for food digestion. Our body has limited enzyme resources and is only going to produce so many.  If the enzyme resources are constantly being used to digest foods, others systems and organs can’t do their job as well and suffer the consequences. Our heart, lungs, kidneys, thyroid, liver, muscles and other organs also need enzymes to do their jobs.

So where should our food digesting enzymes come from? The answer is living plant foods. Raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds have live enzymes that will do the majority of digestion of the foods once they have been sufficiently chewed to release the enzymes. When we eat these living foods in raw form (not cooked) we get enzymes that support our body. The enzymes raw foods provide keep your pancreas from being overworked and can add years to your life

Enzymes also carry nutrients and can’t function without certain nutrients.  Some enzymes carry specific vitamins and minerals and without the presence of the vitamins and minerals the enzyme can’t do its job. It’s sort of like going to the prom without a date. You are there and are available but with no partner to dance with. Enzymes need vitamins and minerals to dance! This is just one reason getting lots of vitamins and minerals in your body is so important.

If your enzymes can’t do their task due to a lack of nutrients that means you can’t build hormones, make and repair tissues, make adequate energy, blood cells or immune compounds.

Once the temperature of a raw food goes beyond 117 degrees enzymes die and in addition some vitamins are damaged.  Eating raw veggies and fruits insures you get maximum nutrient content. Living foods contain enzymes.

In a nut shell, eating raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds will give your body the enzymes it needs allowing the body to produce enzymes for other very important life support functions. The body is only going to make so many enzymes and when it reaches that point, well death is at the door.

Please make raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds a part of your daily diet routine. Your pancreas will love you for it.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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15 Rules of Healthy Living for Optimal Health

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
Exercise Is Vital To Health

Following these suggestions will optimize your health potential! Healthy living should be a family goal.

  1. Remove all unnatural sources of sugar from your life.  (Table sugar, brown sugar, HFCS, corn syrup, confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, etc…) Sugar acts as a poison that causes inflammation to our arteries and veins leading to heart disease, atherosclerosis and of course diabetes. Sugar in natural live foods does not have this effect.
  2. Remove all refined and processed foods from your life.  (most boxed or canned flour based products)  Breads, pastas and cereals should be organic whole grain selections. Refined flours (those that say enriched, bleached, flour, wheat flour, bromated, multigrain and unbleached are refined) have the same effect on the body that added sugars do because they are simple carbohydrates and are absorbed into the body as blood sugar very quickly leading to the same disease potential and weight gain. These types of grains can get you into a vicious cycle of wanting to eat more and more of them.  It becomes a carbohydrate addiction that can be hard to break!
  3. Replace frying with sauteing, baking, grilling or broiling.  Use olive oil or coconut oil.
  4. Replace flour based foods with “Whole Grain” choices.  (first ingredient in the list should say whole grain)
  5. Eat foods as close to nature in their raw state as possible (fresh or frozen).  If you must eat canned vegetables please rinse well.

    Veggies Are a Part of Healthy Living
  6. Eat a diet rich in variety. Include as many colors of vegetables (70% of your diet should be vegetables and fruits) fruits and grains, nuts and seeds every day. Limit nuts and seeds to 1 to 2 oz. per day.   Aim for 6 to 9 servings of vegetables per day and 3 servings of fruits per day.
  7. Limit saturated fats and totally eliminate trans fats from your diet. Include polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which are very healthy for you in moderation.  Olive oil is a monounsaturated oil and most nuts contain a good source of monounsaturated oils. The Omega 3 Polyunsaturated oils come from walnuts, chia seed, flax seed and cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, halibut and cod.  Chia seed and ground flax seed is the best sources of vegetative Omega 3 Fatty Acids however you also get them from other vegetables and fruits like winter squash, broccoli and strawberries.  Flax seed also provides lignans which may help prevent certain types of cancers.
  8. Eliminate or reduce the intake of animal proteins. According to the China Study (the longest running nutritional health study every conducted) the intake of animal protein that exceeds more than 10% of our daily protein intake leads to the potential activation of cancer causing genes. In addition the over consumption of animal foods can cause obesity, heart disease and diabetes in some individuals.  Interestingly the consumption of plant proteins had no negative effect on genetic expression.
  9. Eliminate dairy products (cheese, milk and creams) from your daily diet. Replace with Almond milk or Rice milk.   I do not consume dairy products and do not recommend them. There are healthy dairy alternatives to choose from.
  10. Get plenty of water every day, 80 ounces over 24 hours. Hydration is very important to health and assist in the removal of toxins and from the body. It is required in every metabolic activity. If you are ill, exercise intensely or sweat profusely you will need additional water.  A good rule of thumb is 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight.
  11. Supplement your diet with a good whole food supplement that addresses the key areas of nutrition required for vibrant health. (ask for our suggestions)
  12. Move more every day. Exercise is very important in delivering the nutrients we consume to every cell  in our body and primes the lymph system pumping toxins out of our bodies. In addition exercise increases our metabolic rate helping to burn more calories (weight-loss) and will increase our bodies’ efficiency in using utilizing oxygen, increasing our overall fitness level.  To lose weight and build health we need to have a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days per week.
  13. Get a minimum of 20 minutes of fresh air and sunshine daily.
  14. If you smoke, quit.
  15. Limit or eliminate caffeinated and alcoholic beverages from your diet. If you must drink limit them to no more than one alcoholic beverage per day for females and 2 for males.  Other than red wine there is not enough nutritional value in alcoholic beverages to include them in your diet. They actually rob your body of nutrients.  I do not recommend alcoholic beverages.

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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How Much of Public Enemy #1 Are You Eating? More Than You Know!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC3 Comments
An Attractive, Tasty Poison!

In my business I meet all types of people at varying degrees of wellness and varying level of health knowledge. Some people do not know the way they are eating and living is actually abusing their bodies, this is not common however.  Most people do know, I just think they don’t respect their bodies enough or love a damaging diet and lifestyle more than their concern to be healthy.

There are several foods and food ingredients that merit the label “Public Enemy” as far as their impact on our health.   There are two (2) that sit at the top and cause serious health issues. Today I am going to discuss what I think is the #1 food hazard to our health.  The reason it rates as number one is because it is is related to well over 100 adverse health conditions, is widely available in many foods and it is disguised under many names and food manufactures love to use it in its most unhealthy forms. Why? Because of money!  It is cheap and will make you crave the foods these unhealthy ingredient are in.   Simply put, it makes food manufactures a lot of money. I can’t totally fault them, they are responding to the demands of consumers.  We must change.

Do you have any idea what public enemy #1 is?  On average Americans eat 2 to 4 pounds of this stuff every week. In 1900 Americans only consumed 5 pounds per year. It is known by many names. It is a cheap favorite of food manufacturers. It causes havoc in your body and is responsible many adverse health conditions and diseases. This stuff is terrible for you and your children. Please visit our web page on Children and Adolescent Health to learn how to build healthy children.

Sugar!!!!!!! 

(I am not advocating a low carbohydrate diet)

There has been a lot of in the news recently about the negative health effects of sugar. Lets explore it!  Sugar really does act like a poison when it is in the wrong form or we consume too much of it. Sugar is linked to cancer, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease and others.

Sugar is a form of carbohydrate. The carbohydrate family is broken into 2 groups; fiber and starch.  Each of these groups have other sub groups. Starches are divided into simple and complex and for fiber into soluble and insoluble fibers. Let me be clear. I am talking about added sugars, refined and processed (a food man has altered and or removed part of ) sugars also known as simple sugars, not naturally occurring sugar in foods ( complex carbohydrates) from nature you eat such as beets, carrots or apples. The best sugars come from complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are foods with fiber and offer many health benefits.

Your body needs some sugar to be healthy. Your brain and central nervous system only use glucose (blood sugar) for energy.  Your cells favorite source of energy is glucose (blood sugar). In fact 40% to 55% of your calories should be from carbohydrates.  Blood sugar energy received from complex carbohydrates is the cleanest form of fuel to burn. Your carbohydrates should come from vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils and whole grains; complex carbohydrates.

Not all starches and sugars are the same. Avoid foods with a high glycemic load. It’s the glycemic load of food that is important. Look for foods with a Glycemic Load value of 10 or less. There are some of mother natures foods that you still need to be aware of  the sugar content. Some starchy vegetables that have little fiber can raise blood sugar quickly causing the same kind of problems that added sugars cause. For example; the glycemic load for dates is 22 which is high and the glycemic load for strawberries is 1 which is very low.  The glycemic load for a baked russet potato is 33 which is very high compared with a sweet potato which has a glycemic value of  11 to 16. The lower glycemic foods have a lot of healthy fiber which slow down the conversion of the starch to blood sugar. The rise in blood sugar is also influenced by the type of starch compounds present in the food such as amylose and amylopectin. Starches with a higher percentage of amylose had lower blood sugar and insulin responses.

I would not use artificial sweeteners as a replacement. Unpasteurized honey and black strap molasses are the best natural sweeteners, however use them sparingly because they are sugar. I do not recommend agave nectar or agave syrup. They are processed/cooked and have a higher ratio of fructose to glucose than does high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The best sweeteners to use on a daily basis are Stevia and Xylitol.  They have little blood sugar impact. Sugar alcohols like Xylitol can cause gastric distress in some people if they consume too much. Try mixing the Stevia and Xylitol together for the best results. I recommend you get used to foods being less sweet. Try using less sweetener to break the addiction to sugars. By breaking the addiction to sugar you can avoid temptation by the sugary devil.

Sugar has made its way into almost every food stuff man is processing and refining. Sugar is added to bacon. luncheon meats, mayonnaise, peanut butter, dried fruit, fruit juices, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, prepared foods, cereal, granola, cookies, flavored milk, soft drinks, coffee drinks and hundreds if not thousands of other foods. Milk has about 3 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounce glass.

The purpose of the added sugar is to make you eat more of the food it is in. It’s all about money. If you keep buying it, the food manufacturers will keep selling it. Stop buying it and they will begin to make healthier foods.
Your best defense is learning to read food labels and being able to find all the different names of sugar. When reading the food label pay special attention to the serving size and the grams of sugar per serving. Try to limit the amount of sugar you consume to 5 grams or less per serving. Look for foods that have 3 or more grams of fiber per serving.

Sugars Many Names

When reading the food ingredient list on the food label look out for these names

  1. Barley malt
  2. Beet sugar
  3. Brown sugar
  4. Buttered syrup
  5. Cane juice crystals
  6. Cane sugar
  7. Caramel
  8. Corn syrup
  9. Corn syrup solids
  10. Confectioner’s sugar
  11. Carob syrup
  12. Castor sugar
  13. Date sugar
  14. Demerara sugar
  15. Dextran
  16. Dextrose
  17. Diastatic malt
  18. Diatase
  19. Ethyl maltol
  20. Fructose
  21. Fruit juice
  22. Fruit juice concentrate
  23. Galactose
  24. Glucose
  25. Glucose solids
  26. Golden sugar
  27. Golden syrup
  28. Grape sugar
  29. High-fructose corn syrup
  30. Honey
  31. Icing sugar
  32. Invert sugar
  33. Lactose
  34. Maltodextrin
  35. Maltose
  36. Malt syrup
  37. Maple syrup
  38. Molasses
  39. Muscovado sugar
  40. Panocha
  41. Raw sugar
  42. Refiner’s syrup
  43. Rice syrup
  44. Sorbitol
  45. Sorghum syrup
  46. Sucrose
  47. Sugar
  48. Treacle
  49. Turbinado sugar
  50. Yellow sugar

Flour Based Products

Most breads, cereals, cookies, crackers and pastries have a high glycemic value. They raise blood sugar rapidly. Not all flour based products have higher glycemic load values however. Whole Grains when eaten in their natural form release sugars slowly.  Steel cut oats have a lower glycemic load value that rolled oats.  Enriched and refined flours have little fiber allowing the starch to turn to blood sugar rapidly. Even whole grain breads can cause a quick release of blood sugar because part of the bodies digestive process has already been performed.  To my knowledge the lowest glycemic bread is Ezekiel Bread.

In summary, to reduce your risk of developing a sugar related disease or adverse health condition avoid or limit simple carbohydrates by eating more vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains. Use natural sweeteners, however, learn to enjoy foods that are less sweet. Break that sugar addiction, kick it to the curb and enjoy life.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

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New Years Resolutions, Successful Weight Loss, Part 1

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC1 Comment

The Holiday Season between Thanksgiving and January 1st  is a dietary challenge for most  of us.  How did you do? Were you able to keep the pounds off or did you gain a few?  Now is the time to get in the right frame of mind to tackle your weight and health issues. This New Year,  can be the year you really improve your health and develop a lifestyle that will promote vibrant health forever!

If you are serious about taking the pounds off and keeping them off read on! Having lost over 200 pounds and kept it off, I guess you could say I know what I am talking about when it comes to weight loss.

Most people start with a great attitude and lots of enthusiasm. This last for about 3 months and before you realize it you are slowly sliding back to your old habits. I am sure that’s not what was intended however over 90% of those making dietary resolutions do not keep them through the year. They did not have a plan to carry them through. They lasted 3 months on desire alone and it takes much more than desire to have successful long-term weight loss. If desire is all that is required to lose weight, we would all be at a great weight and healthy.

If you really want to reach your goals you must be determined that nothing will get in your way.  Success in business or weight loss requires a plan or formula.  So what is required?

Resolution Tools

  • clear picture of the goal
  • path to reach the goal, a plan  (diet, exercise, detoxification, relaxation, education etc…)
  • strong determination ( you can’t let family, friends or circumstances sabotage you and rob you of your goal)
  • knowledge ( do you know how many calories you should consume, the right ration of carbohydrates, fat and protein in your daily diet, which foods increase metabolism, which foods promote health and which ones don’t etc…)  This is one of the areas most people get trapped by. There is an incredible amount of information in the internet. Much of it is wrong and even harmful in some cases.  Trust a dietary health professional to give you safe and effective advice.

Weight Loss Forever

The fact is, losing weight requires a change in the way we think, eat and the amount of activity we engage in. If you keep doing what you doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got. So change is necessary. There is no magic bullet or pill. Diets do not work. What we eat is vitally important to proper weight balance. If you want permanent change, a change in your lifestyle is what works.

Why Diets Do Not Work

In America when someone uses the term “diet” in the context of losing weight it usually means they are going to change what they are eating and maybe exercise a little for a temporary period until they have achieved their desired goal. Then what do they do?  They will return to their original eating and lifestyle habits. They have not established healthy lifestyle habits or fixed the problem that caused the weight gain to begin with. Yes they are going right back to the very same behavior that got them to that point of needing to lose weight to begin with. Hopefully you are getting the message. If you only want to lose a small amount of weight for a few months, OK diet. If you really want to lose weight and keep it off you must quit thinking a diet will do it. You will set yourself up for failure.

A Healthy Food Relationship

Our relationship with food can be out of balance or skewed. Most people look at foods as an enjoyable hobby, event or even a means of comfort when sad, frustrated or angry. Without understanding the mechanics that drive us to eat we fall into the traps of over consumption.

Hunger vs. Appetite

You must also learn to identify the difference between hunger ( a real physiological need) and appetite ( a false sense of hunger). Appetite is usually caused by eating at the same time everyday, during events such as when watching football, by social influence going out for beer and pizza with friends or a holiday party or event.  Dietary consumption driven by appetite will almost always cause weight gain.  Overeating when hungry will cause weight gain.

Calories In vs. Calories Out

You must understand your energy balance. This means you must know how many calories you need based on your activity and exercise levels. If you consume more calories than you burn per day you will gain weight. Every day you have a limit, think of it as a calorie budget. As long as you do not exceed the budget you will not gain weight. To lose weight you must consume fewer calories than you burn so your body must use stored energy in the form of fat to function. To lose one pound per week you must burn 500 more calories per day than you eat.  Never eat less than 1200 calories per day. This will slow down your metabolism drastically to the point that you will not lose weight. You may even gain weight. Your body thinks it is starving. Never lose more than 2 lbs. per week on a continuous basis.

Does Weight Loss Equate to Health

Weight Loss does not mean you are healthy. I had a client state, “When I get my excess weight of I will be healthy.”  I had to explain that just losing weight does not mean you are healthy.  The qualities of the foods you consume are much more important for your health than the weight loss. Losing weight without a proper diet will lead to future regain of the weight and other possible health conditions. There are plenty of people at the right weight for their height that are not healthy. For example, some people manage weight through the unhealthy practice or purging or bulimia where they purge the foods they eat and they over exercise. This can lead to a potential for very serious health consequences.  There are many people who may look healthy because they are at a normal weight however they could be eating a very poor diet of fast foods that are making their body’s nutrient bankrupt. Eventually nutrient bankruptcy of the body will lead to illness and possible disease. Weight lost achieved in a healthy way can give an excellent foundation for vibrant health providing a long quality life.

Nutrition

Our health is really dependent of the consumption of the building blocks of our bodies. Refined and processed foods are devoid of the nutrients required to keep us healthy. We need vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, proteins, complex carbohydrates and fiber for vibrant health. Eating foods devoid of them will cause blood sugar imbalances which will cause cravings for carbohydrate rich foods.  In addition the lack of nutrients means you can’t turn the foods you eat into energy. To make energy from foods requires many nutrients and just taking a supplement or eating foods enriched or fortified with the nutrients they are missing is no replacement for nutrients from real foods.

Happy New Years

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Nutritionist

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Always seek medical clearance before starting a new exercise routine. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.


Diabetes, Prevention and Reversal

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC3 Comments
Stop Diabetes!

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is a feared and dreaded disease. It will rob you of your quality of life and can cut your life short by more than a decade. It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness, kidney failure and non-accident caused amputations among adults. In 2006, diabetes was the 6th leading cause of recorded deaths in America.  If the rate of increase in diabetes continues, it is estimated that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes in their life time. In 2007 there were about 24 million people with diabetes and 57 million people with pre-diabetes.  If there is one disease or health condition where diet and lifestyle changes can be effective at reducing the risk or even reversing it’s symptoms, it is diabetes ( type I excluded).

The rate of diabetes in children and adolescents is growing at an unprecedented rate. In children it isn’t only type II diabetes that is increasing, an increase in type I diabetes is being seen as well.  The war against diabetes has been active for over a decade however the numbers continue to increase. This parallels a similar situation in adverse health conditions in adults and the resistance to eat more servings of fruits and vegetables. In 2008, surveys showed only 11% of adults ate the minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day and the percentage of disease and adverse health conditions caused by diet and lifestyle was more than 70%.  Children and adolescents learn from their adult family members so these figures for children should not shock us.

There are different types of diabetes. The three metabolic and genetic types are, type I, type II and gestational diabetes. Diabetes can also be caused by medical complications or pharmacological interactions.

Prediabetes is defined as elevated blood glucose levels, however, not at a level high enough to be classified as diabetes. A normal fasting blood glucose reading is below 100 mg/dl. A person with prediabetes has a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl. If the blood glucose level rises to 126 mg/dl or above, a person is classified as diabetic.  Prediabetes can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.

If you are overweight, your risk of developing diabetes or metabolic syndrome is increased greatly. Excess weight is a contributing factor, the extra abdominal fat increases insulin resistance. If you don’t get some of the excess weight off, it is just a matter of time before you develop diabetes and potentially metabolic syndrome.

We know that diabetes causes great harm to the body if not controlled. What do you think is better for your health, controlling your diabetes with medication or by diet and lifestyle?  Medications have adverse side effects, some of them quiet serious. I think this is a simple answer. Pharmacological drugs are foreign and treated as such by the body. Vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds are natural and are the giver of life’s energy to the body. They bring about balance and harmony to the body’s organs and systems.

Diabetes Prevention and Even Reversal

These are my recommendations for preventing diabetes and even reversing diabetes. My opinions are based on science and practical clinical experience. I was once diabetic and I have helped many diabetics become symptom free.  This is really very simple. For most people these suggestions will offer amazing results.

  • Eat more plant based foods; all vegetables, low sugar fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts and seeds.  Fill half your plate with vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, peppers, avocados, asparagus, spinach, carrots, sweet potato, winter squash, onions, garlic, beets and leafy green vegetables etc… at every meal.
  • Eat more high fiber foods, their fiber slows the absorption of their natural sugars.
  • Eliminate soft drinks, caffeine drinks and fruits juices from your diet.
  • Be aware that milk and yogurt contain lactose, a type of sugar in milk. 8 ounces of milk has about 11 grams of sugar.
  • Eliminate fried foods, the extra weight they pack on adds to insulin resistance and in addition they can cause heart disease.
  • Understand your calorie needs.
  • Learn and use the glycemic index and glycemic load.
  • Avoid simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are great fuel for the body. Aim to get 50% to 60% of your daily calories from complex carbohydrates, 25% to 35% from heart healthy fats and the balance from protein.
  • Avoid foods with more than 7 grams of sugar per serving.
  • Exercise for at least 30 minutes or more, five days per week.
  • Eliminate as much refined flour and processed foods from your diet as possible.
  • Reduce your intake of animal proteins to no more than 3 times per week and red meats to no more than once per week. However, eliminating most animal foods from your diet will show the quickest results.
  • Lose weight. Just a 5% drop in weight can make a big difference in your blood glucose readings.
  • If you smoke, please quite.

Complements or supplements you may wish to consider to help manage diabetes symptoms.

  • Cinnamon; some studies have shown that 1 gram a day (1000 mg) or more for at least 6 weeks helped to lower blood sugar levels.
  • Algae products ( by far the best is Biosuperfood developed by Dr. Michael Kirac, bring balance to the body’s systems)
  • Berberine; 1.0 to 1.5 grams per day
  • Rice bran
  • Chromium; picolinate, asperate or polynicotinate 200 to 2000 mcg per day. Higher doses seem to have greater effect.  ( great sources, dark chocolate, onions, romaine lettuce and tomatoes)
  • Zinc; 25 to 50 mg per day, take with copper 2 to 3 mg per day and manganese 5 to 15 mg per day. ( make sure you get adequate cooper when taking zinc, excess zinc will deplete copper stores in your body).

The results from studies show that diets rich in vegetables, low sugar fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds give the strongest opportunity to prevent and reverse diabetes. Studies show that diets rich in animal proteins raise the risk for diabetes.

How do you think a vegetarian diet fared when studied for its benefits? According to a report submitted by Clinical Nutrition & Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and published in PubMed states; “The vegetarian diet, therefore, contains a portfolio of natural products and food forms of benefit for both the carbohydrate and lipid (fat) abnormalities in diabetes. It is anticipated that their combined use in vegetarian diets will produce very significant metabolic advantages for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

How about a vegan diet compared to the American Diabetic Association’s recommended diet? I have inserted below, excerpts from another trial study report by the Physicians Council for Responsible Medicine on this very question.

Working with Georgetown University, we compared two different diets: a high-fiber, low-fat, vegan diet and the more commonly used American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet.

Both groups did an overall great job in adhering to their prescribed diets. However, the vegan group clearly had the edge in many of the results. Fasting blood sugars decreased 59 percent more in the vegan group than in the ADA group. And, while the vegans needed less medication to control their blood sugars, the ADA group needed just as much medicine as before. The vegans were taking less medicine, but were in better control.

While the ADA group lost an impressive 8 pounds, on average, the vegans lost nearly 16 pounds. Cholesterol levels also dropped more substantially in the vegan group compared to the ADA group.

Diabetes can cause serious damage to the kidneys, resulting in protein loss in the urine. Several of our subjects already had significant protein loss at the beginning of the study, and the ADA group did not improve in this respect. In fact, their protein losses actually worsened somewhat over the 12 weeks of the study. The vegan group, on the other hand, had a large reduction in protein losses.

If you really want to be blown away by the power of the vegetative food world watch this video, it is amazing what they accomplished in 30 days. This is a long video. If you are overweight, are pre-diabetic or diabetic I highly urge you to take the time to watch this film. I am not saying you must do this for diabetes, just that it will offer amazing information on the healing power of food.

These suggestions also help with type I, insulin dependent diabetes, gestational diabetes  or other medically caused diabetes. For type I and insulin dependent diabetics these suggestion can lower the number of units of insulin you may need daily.

With even small changes you can drastically reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Give your life extra years of enjoyment and a better quality of life by avoiding this dreaded disease. If you have loved ones,  encourage them to make appropriate changes for a better and longer life.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.