High G.I. and G.L., getting rid of them also
After learning some de-stressing techniques and foods to take for stress, it is appropriate to follow some logical path into reversing the symptoms of diabetes.
The next logical step is to watch the Glycemic Load, this is, the amount of sugars we eat or drink every time we put something in our mouths!
We hear this all the time, don't eat too much sugars, cut down on chocolates, watch out of white bread, white sugar, lollies, ice cream, etc. etc. etc....
All the things we really like we cannot have enough of them...uhmmm
Well, I think you can have just a bit more if you do one or more of the following (more about dosing requirements in future posts) :
Take some Chitosan before every meal (absorbs fats and sugars for slow release)
Eat half a grapefruit before you start eating
Take some Cinnamon with sweets or before meals
Drink plenty of water
Drink Green or black tea
Drink Milagro de la selva tea
Eat celery sticks
Go for a walk/have some fun as soon as you finish eating
Energise yourself to use up more (burn calories) energy
If you must watch your Glycemic Load, remember to use the formula used in my previous posts, for as you know the glycemic index is only an indicator when it comes to the calculation of the actual glycemic load (more important than G.I.) .
So we got the steps happening:
1. De-stressing techniques and foods to help de-stress,
2. Managing the glycemic load,
and in my next blog I will concentrate on
3. how to increase your enegy levels, key foods to have, to make you feel as energetic as a teeneger on a Saturday night! so the body learns to burn more calories and keep that glucose blood level normal.
Until then...
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Reversing diabetes using anti-stressing natural remedies
Reversing Diabetes using anti-stressing remedies
As I mentioned in my previous blog, de-stressing plays a very important role in the treatment of diabetes, you may read that post if you haven't yet.
Stress is a normal part of life, we'll be dead without it!, however, as you know, stress affects blood sugar levels, so to stay healthy, you must learn to de-stress. This is a very hard task in today's world, as we live in very negative times, economic instability, global warming and pollution, the prospect of a global war...uhmmm...terrible isn't it?
So we should try to help our bodies by adding some natural remedies and nutrients to help achieve this quicker (and help stop diabetes from getting worst).
The short list of natural products to look at includes the following:
Vitamins
Celery
St. John's Wort
Chamomille
Kava kava
Rhodiola
Valerian
Catnip
Scullcap
Passion flower
Fish oil (omega-3)
There are some other natural remedies but the above should be enough to get you started.
Important:
Before you try any of the above products, you should check with your doctor.
Make sure you don't have any medical conditions which may be affected by taken any of the above (even in small doses). Also, find out if you are taking any medicines that could make any of the above natural remedy dangerous.
Tip: try one remedy at a time. If you detect any side effect, discontinue its use inmediately.
How long to try for : 12 weeks with breaks every 2 weeks in between.
Vitamins
The B6 and B12 vitamins help regulate the body's response to stress and maintain a healthy nervous system. Take with food.
Celery
Celery contains compounds called Pthalides which help relax the muscles of the arteries that regulate blood pressure helping the arteries to dilate. Pthalides are also known to reduce stress hormones (which cause blood vessels to constrict).
St. John's Wort
This is a well known anti-depressant, good for anxiety. It works by decreasing the uptake by the brain of a substance known as Serotonin. There may be side effects if you are taking other medications. Check with an expert first.
Chamomile
Well known tea, helps relax the nerves, headaches and insomnia. It's considered a herbal nervine that supports, soothes and rejuvenates the nerves. Chamomile tea has been used as a calming agent for centuries and is widely regarded for the way in which it helps compose the mind.
Kava Kava
This herb can help relieve acute and chronic anxiety without making you feel drowsy. It is a tranquilizer without addictive potential.
Not recommended if you have Parkinson's disease.
Rhodiola
It is good for reducing stress on the heart and to help normalise irregular heart beat.
It has been confirmed as anti-fatigue, anti-stress and a cardiotonic.
Valerian
This is a well known natural sedative. It is useful for relieving stress and anxiety because it helps you sleep. Is not addictive, does not make you feel drowsy in the morning.
Catnip
This has double action: it nourishes the stomach and also the nerves. It helps calm the nervous system.
Scullcap
This is a general nerve tonic, considered one of the best nervine herbs.
Passion Flower
The flavonoids present in passion flower are the primary constituents responsible for its relaxing and anti stress effects.
Fish Oil (Omega-3)
Fish oil has been found to reduce levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, which increase heart rate and blood pressure. Scientific studies have concluded that fish oil inhibits the adrenal activation elicited by mental stress, therefore reducing stress in people who take it.
In the next blog I'll concentrate on the next step to reversing diabetes: managing the intake of low G.I. foods and their relationship with G.L.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, de-stressing plays a very important role in the treatment of diabetes, you may read that post if you haven't yet.
Stress is a normal part of life, we'll be dead without it!, however, as you know, stress affects blood sugar levels, so to stay healthy, you must learn to de-stress. This is a very hard task in today's world, as we live in very negative times, economic instability, global warming and pollution, the prospect of a global war...uhmmm...terrible isn't it?
So we should try to help our bodies by adding some natural remedies and nutrients to help achieve this quicker (and help stop diabetes from getting worst).
The short list of natural products to look at includes the following:
Vitamins
Celery
St. John's Wort
Chamomille
Kava kava
Rhodiola
Valerian
Catnip
Scullcap
Passion flower
Fish oil (omega-3)
There are some other natural remedies but the above should be enough to get you started.
Important:
Before you try any of the above products, you should check with your doctor.
Make sure you don't have any medical conditions which may be affected by taken any of the above (even in small doses). Also, find out if you are taking any medicines that could make any of the above natural remedy dangerous.
Tip: try one remedy at a time. If you detect any side effect, discontinue its use inmediately.
How long to try for : 12 weeks with breaks every 2 weeks in between.
Vitamins
The B6 and B12 vitamins help regulate the body's response to stress and maintain a healthy nervous system. Take with food.
Celery
Celery contains compounds called Pthalides which help relax the muscles of the arteries that regulate blood pressure helping the arteries to dilate. Pthalides are also known to reduce stress hormones (which cause blood vessels to constrict).
St. John's Wort
This is a well known anti-depressant, good for anxiety. It works by decreasing the uptake by the brain of a substance known as Serotonin. There may be side effects if you are taking other medications. Check with an expert first.
Chamomile
Well known tea, helps relax the nerves, headaches and insomnia. It's considered a herbal nervine that supports, soothes and rejuvenates the nerves. Chamomile tea has been used as a calming agent for centuries and is widely regarded for the way in which it helps compose the mind.
Kava Kava
This herb can help relieve acute and chronic anxiety without making you feel drowsy. It is a tranquilizer without addictive potential.
Not recommended if you have Parkinson's disease.
Rhodiola
It is good for reducing stress on the heart and to help normalise irregular heart beat.
It has been confirmed as anti-fatigue, anti-stress and a cardiotonic.
Valerian
This is a well known natural sedative. It is useful for relieving stress and anxiety because it helps you sleep. Is not addictive, does not make you feel drowsy in the morning.
Catnip
This has double action: it nourishes the stomach and also the nerves. It helps calm the nervous system.
Scullcap
This is a general nerve tonic, considered one of the best nervine herbs.
Passion Flower
The flavonoids present in passion flower are the primary constituents responsible for its relaxing and anti stress effects.
Fish Oil (Omega-3)
Fish oil has been found to reduce levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, which increase heart rate and blood pressure. Scientific studies have concluded that fish oil inhibits the adrenal activation elicited by mental stress, therefore reducing stress in people who take it.
In the next blog I'll concentrate on the next step to reversing diabetes: managing the intake of low G.I. foods and their relationship with G.L.
Monday, March 20, 2006
De-stress, Low G.I.(G.L.) & Re-energize to start reversing diabetes
Stress, High G.I. (G.L.) and Lack of energy - get rid of them first!
STRESS
The effects of stress on glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes is an innevitable raise in blood glucose levels. This is what you don't want, so to fight back it is important to learn to relax... yes relax! you can try controlling stress with relaxation therapies, if you find it difficult to do on your own.
It is well known that stress blocks the body from releasing insulin in people with type 2 diabetes, so reducing stress may be the key to an improved health. Also, the normal bodily response to stress is to increase blood glucose for energy required for the "fight or run" stress response.
Again, as I said in my previous blog, everyone is different so the best way to find out if your glucose levels are affected by stress is to try for yourself by checking your blood glucose levels under different levels of strees (a scale from 1-5 maybe all you need to see if there is a relationship for you)
If test indicate that your blood glucose is higher when you're stressed, then you should start learning some relaxation techniques...like breathing, yoga, exercising...laughter :-)
HIGH G.I. FOODS
This is very obvious, isn't it? The higher thw G.I. of fooods the higher your glucose level will go, and that's trouble!, or is it?
It's very important to mention also the G.L. (Glycemic load) as this is probably more relevant when food is on the table, ready to go to your mouth.
The G.L is calculated by taking the percentage of the food’s carbohydrate content per portion and multiplying it by its Glycaemic Index value:
G.L. = Carbohydrate content per portion x G.I./100
Example:
The G.I. of watermelon is high (GI = 72), but its G.L. is relatively low (GL = 7).
Why?
because the quantity of carbohydrate in a serving of watermelon (say 150 g slice) is not much, as it contains quite a bit of water.
This, however, is not the case for watermelon juice, as the quantity of carbohydrate in a cup of watermelon juice (say 250 ml) is greater.
So, fruit juice would be a more concentrated source of carbohydrates high G.I and high G.L.
So watch out, get your calculator out, but, relax....and eat safe knowing that your blood sugar wont go through the roof.
LACK OF ENERGY
R.W. Emerson once said : "The world belongs to the energetic" and I say: "Diabetes belongs to the non-energetic".
This is really harsh, I know. The blood glucose levels keep climbing up, you feel depressed and unwell, you can't find energy for anything, except for sleeping....Uhmmm....NO GOOD!
Turning back the clock on diabetes does require lots of energy, and you should have plenty as sugar is full of it!
Energy will get you moving, moving will increase blood flow, good blood flow will prevent organ damage and improve some other organs function, bringing back better health.
In future blogs I will include some anti-fatigue techniques and foods which will energise you and make you start burning all that excess calories, which are just going around the blood stream...more in my next blog....just relax for now...relax... :-)
STRESS
The effects of stress on glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes is an innevitable raise in blood glucose levels. This is what you don't want, so to fight back it is important to learn to relax... yes relax! you can try controlling stress with relaxation therapies, if you find it difficult to do on your own.
It is well known that stress blocks the body from releasing insulin in people with type 2 diabetes, so reducing stress may be the key to an improved health. Also, the normal bodily response to stress is to increase blood glucose for energy required for the "fight or run" stress response.
Again, as I said in my previous blog, everyone is different so the best way to find out if your glucose levels are affected by stress is to try for yourself by checking your blood glucose levels under different levels of strees (a scale from 1-5 maybe all you need to see if there is a relationship for you)
If test indicate that your blood glucose is higher when you're stressed, then you should start learning some relaxation techniques...like breathing, yoga, exercising...laughter :-)
HIGH G.I. FOODS
This is very obvious, isn't it? The higher thw G.I. of fooods the higher your glucose level will go, and that's trouble!, or is it?
It's very important to mention also the G.L. (Glycemic load) as this is probably more relevant when food is on the table, ready to go to your mouth.
The G.L is calculated by taking the percentage of the food’s carbohydrate content per portion and multiplying it by its Glycaemic Index value:
G.L. = Carbohydrate content per portion x G.I./100
Example:
The G.I. of watermelon is high (GI = 72), but its G.L. is relatively low (GL = 7).
Why?
because the quantity of carbohydrate in a serving of watermelon (say 150 g slice) is not much, as it contains quite a bit of water.
This, however, is not the case for watermelon juice, as the quantity of carbohydrate in a cup of watermelon juice (say 250 ml) is greater.
So, fruit juice would be a more concentrated source of carbohydrates high G.I and high G.L.
So watch out, get your calculator out, but, relax....and eat safe knowing that your blood sugar wont go through the roof.
LACK OF ENERGY
R.W. Emerson once said : "The world belongs to the energetic" and I say: "Diabetes belongs to the non-energetic".
This is really harsh, I know. The blood glucose levels keep climbing up, you feel depressed and unwell, you can't find energy for anything, except for sleeping....Uhmmm....NO GOOD!
Turning back the clock on diabetes does require lots of energy, and you should have plenty as sugar is full of it!
Energy will get you moving, moving will increase blood flow, good blood flow will prevent organ damage and improve some other organs function, bringing back better health.
In future blogs I will include some anti-fatigue techniques and foods which will energise you and make you start burning all that excess calories, which are just going around the blood stream...more in my next blog....just relax for now...relax... :-)
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Risks of natural remedies for diabetes
Risks Of Natural Remedies for Diabetes
After searching for natural products available for treatment of diabetes, I found so many different kinds of dosing for each product which makes it difficult for one person to know how much it is safe to take.
As nobody likes to be a guinea pig, I will start researching some logical ways for anyone to try these products without having to play too much of a risk.
As traditional medicine says: "The dose makes the cure", so it must apply to natural remedies. Too little wouldn't be much good, too much of anything can kill you!
So my quest will be to find some relationship between age, sex, genetical make up, height and weight to be able to estimate initial dosing and to test if there is any relationship with key parameters like : blood glucose levels, Cholesterol levels, and effect on any of the listed symptoms listed in my previous blogs.
As this is all experimental, and probably fun to do, it is important to realise that anything which I will be posting here should no be taken as a medical advise, or as a possible treatment or cure for diabetes. Remember everyone is diferent and what works with one person may not work with others. Also any effectiveness of treatments would be related to how advanced the problem is.
Anyway, I think the critical issues to target would be the prevention of physical damage caused by diabetes. By physical damage I mean, damage to organs like the liver, kidneys, pancreas, skin, heart, nerves, and others.
The simplest way to start, of course, would be to walk (as fast as you can) 20-30 minutes a day, eating low G.I. foods and get some body massaging (particularly where blood flow may slow down, like the feet and other extremities), and keep as energetic as possible.
As I see it, diabetes is a disease of the pancreas and of the liver, thus both organs would have to be targeted to improve this condition.
A bit of physiology will help us understand what is happening to our bodies and how we sould reverse this deterioration and restore back to our normal life. I'll post a bit more of that in my next blog...
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Conventional vs. alternative & traditional treatments for diabetes
General symptoms associated with diabetes (Just making sure) - Updated
Before I start investigating the paths to treatment, management and prevention of diabetes, I'd like to share some of the most common symptoms associated with it (Please add more if I missed them):
You keep drinking liquids all day but you're still thirsty
You keep urinating often, even if you haven't drunk much
You suddenly start loosing weight without excercising (don't be deceived, it's no good!)
You feeling worn out although not much activity is happening in your life
You keep eating all day and still feel hungry
You crave for sweets or chocolates or things rich in sugar
Your eye sight start playing up, blurry and even sleepy
You develop sores that tend to heal slowler than normal
You have dry and itchy skin not just after showering or after taking a bath
Your feet and toes tingle for no reason
You feel sleepy after few minutes driving (even though you have slept well the night before)
You loose some feeling in your feet without any particular reason
You have this sense of unwellness but can't pinpoint why
You feel lethargic and lacking energy...
This is all I can remember for now, please add any more if you have experienced them at the beginning, or during a diabetic onset.
Ok, then what we want to know is if we can eliminate any, or all of these symptoms before we get it or to slowed them down if we're already got it. I hope there is a safe and logical path to reverse and cure this disease, and we can discovered it and pass it on to everyone around the world (Big dreamer, aren't I?).
Diet + Excercise is the first thing we hear, but is not easy to do as you have to be so dedicated and motivated, when you are already depressed knowing that you are a diabetic and have to cope with the symptoms above.
So what can we do?
I guess we could try dieting and maybe walk around the shopping mall more often. But we can also try things that could be safe. Alternative products which have been researched by science and products which have been traditionally known anywhere in the planet.
Some well known traditional products + some nice foods you're probably having already
I'll start my list with the following (more later + see if there is any serious research done with any of them, also please feel free to post if you have any experience with any of them) :
Note: some of these seem to help indirectly or enhance others.
Green tea, Black tea, Coffee
Cinnamon, Ginseng, Ginko biloba
Garlic, Onion
Chitosan
Pau D'arco, Milagro de la selva, Gymnema Sylvestre
Mixed herbs (Liver tonics), Milk Thistle
Bitter Melon, Banaba, Goji Berry
Oils : Fish Oil, Flaxseed oil, Borage oil, fish oil supplements
Minerals: Chromium, Magnesium, Vanadium
Peanut Butter, nuts
Low G.I. foods
Water
Etc.... (more soon)
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Natural remedies for diabetes
Natural Remedies For Diabetes, How Many?
One of the most amazing things that happens when you do a web search about natural remedies for diabetes, it's the fact that the list of available products, claiming to be the ones for diabetes, is quite large.
The list is pretty large to be included here, but I will make every effort to list and find as many as I can.
Also, something interesting that I found, was the use of natural techniques for the treatment of diabetes. I'd like to concentrate in herbal/plant remedies here, but if I come accross something useful or of enough interest, then I will post it here.
It looks like the saying is very valid for diabetics (and those inclined to get it): You Are What You Eat, but I'd like to add: What you eat + YOUR GENES ! and since there is very little we can do with our genes (yet! but gene therapy could be available soon) then we should concentrate on what we put in our mouths. That's a good start, I think.
As most of us would be already looking after our diets (as much as we can) and try to live a healthy life style (without quitting the things we enjoy, like wine, beer, etc!), what we need to know is if there is anything in the list which we can use, without killing ourselves in the process.
But there would be some of us, also, who forget about those healthy advises, or are too busy watching TV or just don't care much about things...I hope I can find something good for them too.
I'll continue my research and will be posting some of my findings soon. Hope you can add some comments too...
One of the most amazing things that happens when you do a web search about natural remedies for diabetes, it's the fact that the list of available products, claiming to be the ones for diabetes, is quite large.
The list is pretty large to be included here, but I will make every effort to list and find as many as I can.
Also, something interesting that I found, was the use of natural techniques for the treatment of diabetes. I'd like to concentrate in herbal/plant remedies here, but if I come accross something useful or of enough interest, then I will post it here.
It looks like the saying is very valid for diabetics (and those inclined to get it): You Are What You Eat, but I'd like to add: What you eat + YOUR GENES ! and since there is very little we can do with our genes (yet! but gene therapy could be available soon) then we should concentrate on what we put in our mouths. That's a good start, I think.
As most of us would be already looking after our diets (as much as we can) and try to live a healthy life style (without quitting the things we enjoy, like wine, beer, etc!), what we need to know is if there is anything in the list which we can use, without killing ourselves in the process.
But there would be some of us, also, who forget about those healthy advises, or are too busy watching TV or just don't care much about things...I hope I can find something good for them too.
I'll continue my research and will be posting some of my findings soon. Hope you can add some comments too...
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
About diabetes natural healing
ABOUT DIABETES NATURAL HEALING
Hi there, Have you ever wondered if we can heal ourselves from nasty diseases, like diabetes, using the power of nature?
I have. I am a biologist (after leaving med school after two and a half years) and have been a naturalist since I discovered that diabetes runs in our family genes!(among other things of course!).
I discovered this truth more than 5 years ago when my older brother and my older sister where diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I also have a friend whose father died from the disease few years ago. It's really nasty and it seems that conventional treatment are doing little to stop or cure this disease.
As I want to prevent this disease from getting me, and other members of my family, I have reserched some natural products which may have some real benefits for treatment and prevention of this disease.
My aim in this blog will be to post some of the results I have found through years of research. If anything good comes out of all this we'll be sharing it here, however, as you would know, not everything works for everybody, so we don't expect this blog to become a source of advise for anybody, but would be glad to hear from other people interested in natural products, primarily for treatment and prevention of diabetes type 2.
The more information we exchange the better for all of us.
So keep an eye on this blog as I will be posting as often as I can (if I don't get too busy working!) and if possible would like to hear some ideas, experiences and comments from anyone interested in natural healing...
Hi there, Have you ever wondered if we can heal ourselves from nasty diseases, like diabetes, using the power of nature?
I have. I am a biologist (after leaving med school after two and a half years) and have been a naturalist since I discovered that diabetes runs in our family genes!(among other things of course!).
I discovered this truth more than 5 years ago when my older brother and my older sister where diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I also have a friend whose father died from the disease few years ago. It's really nasty and it seems that conventional treatment are doing little to stop or cure this disease.
As I want to prevent this disease from getting me, and other members of my family, I have reserched some natural products which may have some real benefits for treatment and prevention of this disease.
My aim in this blog will be to post some of the results I have found through years of research. If anything good comes out of all this we'll be sharing it here, however, as you would know, not everything works for everybody, so we don't expect this blog to become a source of advise for anybody, but would be glad to hear from other people interested in natural products, primarily for treatment and prevention of diabetes type 2.
The more information we exchange the better for all of us.
So keep an eye on this blog as I will be posting as often as I can (if I don't get too busy working!) and if possible would like to hear some ideas, experiences and comments from anyone interested in natural healing...
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