“Everyone Knows Someone Who Needs This Information!” (TM)
As part of my diabetes diet plan, I want to tell you about Manuel Uribe-Garza from Monterrey, Mexico who should be an inspiration to all of us, even while he is still known as the World’s Heaviest Man. Originally, Manuel weighed in at least an amazing 1240 pounds, especially due to 2 failed surgeries, which interrupted his lymph system’s ability to drain and detoxify his body properly. He has been bed-bound for 5 years, but in the past 2 years, using The Zone Dietary Plan, Manuel has succeeded in losing 418 pounds — just 1/3 of his weight, but if he continues at the present rate, next year he is likely to have lost more weight than anyone has ever lost. (Present official Guinness record-holder is recently deceased Rosalie Bradford of Florida, unofficially, it’s Carol Yager of Michigan, also deceased.) So I hope his story will inspire you to do whatever you need to regain your own Health, for this is an example of the true power of each human’s Spirit.
My diabetes diet plan has also always been inspired, in part, by the revolutionary work of Dr. Barry Sears, PhD, developer of The Zone Diet, whose plan I started long before he ever published a book, when I sent my husband to meet him in the early 1980′s, while I stayed home to mind our toddler. He came back with a stack of photocopied pages, and I soon found out how wonderfully effective The Zone Diet is at modifying blood sugar — I came right back down to the 80′s (“normal” range) after being consistently at about 116, then (pre-diabetic). When I adhered to The Zone, my blood sugar levels were great. http://www.zonediet.com/PYRAMID/WellnessPyramid/tabid/106/Default.aspx
Barry developed The Zone Diet protocol as he was trying to save his own life and his brother’s (their family history would have had them die in their early 40′s) and then he wanted to get the word out about how basic biochemistry is affecting your ability to control your weight and to maintain healthy hormonal balance. The Zone especially emphasizes how to control insulin hormone’s wide-ranging effect and impact on your daily Health, whether you are diabetic or not.
Among other issues, The Zone Diet highlighted that the American Diabetes Association’s dietary guidelines were 180 degrees wrong, for decades, especially in allowing as much as 70% of a diabetic’s diet to come from “complex carbohydrate” and then they espoused getting it mostly by emphasizing high amounts of acid-forming grains, rather than by using alkaline vegetables and few or no grains (as in the successful pH Miracle dietary protocol).
Dr. Sears and Manuel’s physicians are vocal about The Zone Diet’s ability to have effected such radical change for even a person in such dire straits as Manuel is at the moment, and his success is due to his own perseverance using a dietary system designed to control insulin and its wide-ranging impact on Health, for everyone.
As with all systems, it is important to consult with a knowledgeable physician (many receive very little formal training on any of this in medical school), especially if you are diabetic, as The Zone Diet, even though it is a hormonal-balancer, still may include too much protein for your diabetic kidneys (however, The Zone Diet has been used successfully, years ago, in a Texas HMO’s clinical study with its highest-risk members — including diabetics and heart patients).
Now, back to Manuel. Surprisingly, he eats only a Zone-balanced 2,000 calorie diet (21 Zone-blocks), the same amount that he will eat 2 years from now, when he hopes to be a normal-weight of 250 pounds. This is because your dietary quotas are always based on your lean muscle mass NOT your total weight. And, even though he is still bed-bound, Manuel has acquired tremendous new fat-burning capability by building-up his muscle mass via arm-cycling exercises.
His dedicated personal-trainer and husband-wife physician team (Dr. Silvia Orozco, MD and Dr. Gustavo Orozco, MD) applaud Manuel’s tenacity and are happy to announce that this Heaviest Human is possibly the Healthiest Human in North America! Yes, you read that correctly! How can that be???
Yes, there IS a total disconnect between how obese a person may LOOK and how Healthy that person actually IS!
And, that’s is what is so desperately wrong about how obese people are treated, automatically, in our ignorant, discriminatory society.
Using The Zone Dietary Plan, Manuel’s lab tests show natural, healthy numbers (no-medication needed, or used), numbers that will put most skinny people to shame.
___ His blood sugars are normal.
___ His resting heart rate is 56 (equivalent to that found in the best-trained athletes).
___ Manuel’s blood pressure is 110/60 (that of a healthy teenager).
___ His cholesterol levels are normal range.
Here is a sample of one of Manuel’s daily meal plans. He is constantly under the care of his physicians who supervise his 2,000 calories per day meal plan, which is really a life-change regimen, that he will continue himself for the rest of his life, once he reaches normal weight in 2 years.
Here is a sample meal plan for one day:
Breakfast:
6 egg white scrambled eggs
¾ cup melon, ½ grapefruit, and 1 cup strawberries
3 tablespoons guacamole
Lunch:
3 ounces tuna salad with avocado and cucumber
½ grapefruit
3 cups vegetables
Snack:
Protein Shake (3 scoops Zone Protein Powder in water, 18 peanuts, 3 peaches or 1 cup mandarin oranges, blended)
Dinner:
Chicken Fajitas (3 oz. chicken, onions, peppers, and [1] 6″ tortilla)
2 cups vegetables
2nd Dinner:
Fish Filet in Green Salad (4 oz. white fish, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, pumpkin, green beans, squash, and cucumbers)
3 tablespoons avocado
1 apple
Snack:
Protein Shake (1 cup 2% milk, 3 scoops Zone Protein Powder, 9 almonds, Splenda, ½ cup strawberries, and 1 cup melon)
In addition to this food, because of Manuel’s lymphatic needs, he is on a huge supplementation of specific healthy oils. Learn more at:
http://www.zonediet.com/OurFaithfulZonerManuelUribe/tabid/181/Default.aspx#
There are things that I disagree with on this particular set of menus and I will describe them below. It is one reason why I no longer include completely random-food choice as the basis for Zone-eating or on my diabetes diet plan for Type 1 or Type 2 diabetics. The Zone still allows acidic food-combinations and artificial sweeteners that my diabetes diet plan does NOT, but The Zone Diet does form a generally healthy foundation, and is even more effective if you make mostly alkaline food choices and those modified for Blood-Type — which is most of what my long-term, sustainable Diabetes Diet Plan is designed to do.
My comments:
___ Melons should always be eaten at least 20 minutes before any other food, including other fruits. They are so excellently alkaline that their digestive needs do not jibe with those of other foods, and if eaten other than described, all the foods will not be digested optimally or even well. Have ALL fruits 20 minutes before the rest of the meal, and melons 20 minutes before that (!).
___ I never agree with the use of artificial sweeteners, even for diabetics, (Manuel is not diabetic). There are healthy, low glycemic alternative sweeteners like agave nectar and prickly pear cactus syrup or stevia which your body will recognize as food. You can even use a touch of real, organic, raw honey if in the proper Zone-block portion (not for children under 3 years old due to possible botulism spores in any honey) in a Zone-constructed meal. Artificial sweeteners alter your biochemistry in deleterious ways; it is especially hurtful of your brain chemistry and artificial sweeteners make you FAT.
___ I do not recommend peanuts at all, but only those grown in Deaf Smith county Texas are free of aflotoxin mold, which is incredibly injurious to your liver. Arrowhead Mills brand and Marantha are 2 brands that I believe qualify by using this acceptable source. Check that information is still current. Marantha Organic Almond Butter is much more nutritious, without the danger of the molds. Raw almonds are the healthiest nuts (they are increasingly difficult to get, except online, as California, the world’s largest producer, recently has mandated irradiation and still allows labeling them as “raw”!).
___ The Zone Diet’s protein powder has been soy-based (I think) in the past. I am not a fan of fractionalized, dehydrated soy. Although touted as healthy, there is a dark-side to soy, and you need to read more about it. I prefer a micronized whey protein powder which has been processed to be free of the allergenic components of milk, if you must use such powders. Learning the Zone-Block system will give you protein-equivalents, so those could be used as stand-alone foods instead of any protein powders, in the same meal, alongside the smoothie made with any equivalent zone-block liquids or the ones already listed.
___ It is not necessary to have huge amounts of animal protein to stay healthy, if being vegetarian is compatible with your Blood Type, but there should always be some animal protein so that your body does not lose its ability to process these proteins. It will lose that ability if you are vegan. Being a lacto-ovo vegetarian should help, but the enzymes that you need to process animal flesh may still be “lost” (check with your doctor about that), and it’s very easy to become over-acidified on constant amounts of milk, cheese and eggs, and even easier for carnivores on regular amounts of animal flesh, especially land-animal meats.
I suggest eating fish at least once a week to maintain your body’s enzymatic ability; so, consider putting your “philosophy” aside for one meal. And, I also believe you, as parents, do not have the right to take this natural digestive ability away from your children and impede their future choices or needs in a civil emergency.
There are at least 3 short-term vegan diets (one “pH Miracle For Diabetes” by Dr. Robert O. Young, PhD and the other Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD’s “30 Days Raw to Cure Diabetes” and the program by Shane Ellison, MS at The People’s Chemist) that have been successful, but I stand by my own statements above, for eating at least one fish meal a week if you are otherwise vegetarian, (after you finish the diabetes-cure diet protocols, if you use them), for the reasons given above and because I believe that fish is another basic, foundational human food, supported by the anthropological and archeological evidence. And, fish is definitely brain and heart food, better than just about any other.
Dr. Young says freshwater fish are less acidic than ocean fish; for both, you must know the environment where they were fished, as that is paramount, to have safe fish. If not using cold-water ocean fish, then it is important to read about finding safe fish-oil supplements below.
My husband and I were vegetarians for decades, as was my child, but we were never vegan. We followed the Blood Type Diet since 1980, and we finally found that we were the always-vegetarian blood-type A sub-group that needed “some” fish protein, as described in Dr. James D’Adamo, ND’s second adaptation of his original Blood Type Diet (now continued research is by his son, Dr. Peter D’ Adamo, ND). See his site and blog online at www.dadamo.com and listen to the audios etc.(especially the interview Peter did with renowed heart-surgeon and health advocate Dr. Memet Oz, MD at http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/index.php/the-genotype-diet-podcasts/?blog=24
as well as the very informative post at www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/index.php/2008/07/13/the-queen?blog=24 .).
In including fish, it is important to understand which species are at risk (use the chart at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s endangered list) and also know some species of fish put you at-risk because of ecological contamination. Tuna is on Manuel’s Zone menu above, but IF you use tuna, you should have tuna only a maximum of twice a week (once for children; none for pregnant or lactating women), as it is the top of the food chain and has huge mercury levels for you, if you eat it too often. You keep the toxic mercury in your body, period. The only way to get rid of mercury is to go on a physician-assisted, formal chelation program. So, choose the right fish, harvested to help our planet (which also means no shellfish).
Dr. Sears also makes the point many times that the vast majority of suppliers of “molecularly-distilled” fish oil are NOT doing this critical process properly or well. The heart-healthy, inflammation-reducing, healthy Omega-3 fats from cold-water fish need proper processing as all the ecological toxins are harbored in the fat of any animal. See reference section for University-tested acceptable fish oil sources.
Hemp oil is a fabulous vegetarian source of the same Omega-3 healthy fats. Flax and avocados are also worth mentioning.
I use both hemp oil, hemp seeds and also avocados instead of the more-expensive, wild, cold-water fish, most of the time and Dr. Robert O. Young, PhD, suggests the use of up to 3 healthy, preferably organic, avocados a day and a (vegan) diet of 50% fat (especially because healthy fats do not impact insulin levels like carbohydrates do, and healthy fats support needed, natural anti-inflammatory production). There is a target 30% fat on The Zone Diet (40% complex carbohydrate, 30% protein, 30% healthy fats). It is well-known science that says ‘you must eat the healthy Omega-3 fats to: 1) lose weight’ 2) have natural anti-inflammatories being made by your body (to help prevent arterial damage and for pain management) and 3) provide the chemicals to maintain your brain and Health.
OK, I have to stop this post. I am off to the eye doctor for my check-up and I have forms to fill out. Make sure you keep getting your eyes checked, too, consistently by the same practitioner so any “changes” can be noted, and make sure your eyes are dilated, so your retinas can be examined properly!
Best to all — Em
REFERENCES:
University of Guelph – IFOS – documenting brands of fish oil for safety
http://www.nutrasource.ca/ifos_new/index.asp
http://www.nutrasource.ca/ifos_new/index.asp?section=ifosconsumer
http://www.nutrasource.ca/ifos_new/index.asp?section=ifosconsumer&ifossection=5%20Star%20Rating%20Reports
Dr. Robert O. Young, PhD – Alkaline Diabetes protocol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-EmCBVJXow
http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com
http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/2007/11/ph-miracle-for-diabetes-works.html
Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD – Raw Foods Diabetes protocol
http://www.rawfor30days.com/Site/Simply_Raw.html
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/32119/reversing-diabetes
http://www.treeoflife.nu/diabetes
Shane Ellison, MSc – The People’s Chemist: Multi-Faceted 90 Day Diabetes Cure Protocol
http://www.trans4mind.com/counterpoint/ellison.shtml
http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/2007/11/new-research-tips-the-scales-in-favor-of-fat/
http://www.healthmyths.net/ecourse.php
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp
Dr. Barry Sears, PhD: www.zonediet.com www.drsears.com
Dr. Peter D’Adamo, ND: www.dadamo.com
http://www.dadamo.com/B2blogs/blogs/index.php/the-genotype-diet-podcasts/?blog=24
Please access the several pages of my Total Article Archive using the tab on the upper Navigation Bar. Enjoy!
(c)2008 Em at http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com
If you decide to use or quote from my article, please respect my copyright and include my full copyright citationand website address in your article. Thanks!
This is a really informative article. You’ve really packed a lot of great information in here for diabetics looking for a healthy diet plan. Have you looked into the APO E Gene Diet at all? I’m a Type 2 diabetic and I’ve been having really good results with Pamela McDonald’s integrative approach to eating right.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your response and for mentioning the APO E Dietary Life-Plan. This blog is meant to be a dialogue of sharing, and yours is an interesting, important addition.
I had not heard of McDonald’s APO E Diet yet, but Dr. Peter D’Adamo, ND published his Genotype Diet this year, too.
I think major revelations about Health are seldom “given” to just one person.
Pam McDonald has impressive credentials, and I think with Dr. Andrew Weil, MD in her corner, maybe this time, the needed information to understand our biochemical (genetic) individuality, which guides our Health, will not be suppressed as it has been … see below.
All of these individualized approaches can, in modern time, be traced back to the up to the pre-computer-age 500 page, individualized, intricate, thorough dietary assessment of Dr. William Donald Kelley, DDS, MS, and before that initially, to the individualized body-types and their diets according to humankind’s oldest medical system, Ayurvedic Medicine, from India.
Dr. Kelley, DDS cured his own stage 4 pancreatic cancer in the 1950′s and began the protocols that his son-in-law stole and turned into The Metabolic Typing Diet “by” William Wolcott (not as accurately as Dr. Kelley’s original).
In the 1950′s and beyond, Dr. Kelley was hounded by the American Medical Association (as a “dentist” couldn’t make a “medical” advancement!) and then stalked by the US Government, as a surrogate for Big-Pharma, who were SO desperate to suppress his successful cure for cancer, that they have succeeded permanently in disallowing access to most pancreatic enzyme sources needed to provide his cure!
Pancreatic enzymes, as sold now, are processed “differently” to remove the efficacious, needed ingredient/s. (It’s a while since I read the book, so the details are not fresh in my mind.)
They also took Dr. Kelly’s certifications and livlihood away for daring to “buck” The System, as cancer is Big Money, and we wouldn’t want people eating properly and being Healthy, would we?
His work is carried on by his original medical student protege from Cornell, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, MD, who has improved all of the protocols over the decades. Dr. Gonzalez’ clinic is still operating in New York City.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kelley is now just an embittered shadow of the man he was after decades of stress and no recognition of his great contribution. However, he’s still alive, last I heard, in his 90′s, a full 50+ years after his “few months to live” sentence by regular doctors.
Read Dr. Kelly’s original piece at:
http://www.drkelley.com/CANLIVER55.html
BigPharma and US Government goons have suppressed a great many efficacious protocols or harangued or threatened (even eminent) researchers in a variety of Health fields — others that come to mind are:
___ Royal Rife (deceased)
___ Gaston Naessens (deceased)
___ the brilliant and dedicated Dr. Stanley Jacobs, MD of Portland, Oregon (DMSO, for diabetes, plus)
___ Jim Humble for MMS (Chlorine Dioxide protocols)
___ Dr. Andrew C. Ivy, MD of Illinois
___ Stanislaw R. Burzynski, MD currently of Houston, Texas and more
For Dr. Stanley Jacobs, MD:
http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/MSM.html
http://www.bergstromnutrition.com/
http://www.nwhealthsolutions.com/diabetes.htm
source: http://www.nwhealthsolutions.com/
For Dr. Burzynski, MD see:
http://www.cancermed.com http://www.burzynskipatientgroup.org
http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/Antineo.html
http://www.vitaminb17.org/dr_burynski.htm (yes, his name is mis-spelled in the url) .
European governments have generally been more tolerant, but are not perfectly so. Successful researchers in Europe, among others, are: renowned Dr. Peter Mandel, ND of Germany and Dr. Tullio Simoncini, MD in Italy.
Dr. Peter Mandel, ND:
http://www.colorpuncture.com/mandel.html
http://www.esogetics.com/english/esogetic_holistic_medicine.html
Dr. Tullio Simoncini, MD:
http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer02/Simoncini.html
http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/therapy-simoncini.html
http://candida-international.blogspot.com/2007/03/is-cancer-caused-by-candida-fungus.html
It is my dearest wish that all of us will be allowed to get the fullest, best, indivdualized information to monitor and maintain our Health.
It looks like Pam McDonald’s APO E Diet is designed to start us on a really Healthy track. Let’s hope the price for testing and care will come down, soon (or be covered by insurance … not sure if it would be now, or not).
You can hear an interview that Pam did within the last few days at: http://scienceforlife.net/
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter D’Adamo, NDs’ simpler diagnostic is a cost-effective way to get started. Read his book, The Genotype Diet, along with Pam’s.
Thanks again, Ruth, and I look forward to your further comments. I wish you well.
Best to all — Em