“Everybody Knows Someone Who Needs This Information!” (TM)
It’s always said that a picture is worth a thousand words — well, here’s your chance to learn a lot! I want to share these incidence maps with you; each has it’s own story to tell.
___ I think you will be surprised about the high correlation of one food behavior having such wide-ranging implications for getting diabetes AND in even bigger terms, for confirming the link between low-income and diabetes.
I have long advocated that nothing other than shelter, utilities and fares for public transport to get to work should come between you and healthy food. Everything else stands behind them, including even “health care”.
Healthy food IS your first medicine.
And, it’s sobering to see that when you have only a few dollars, if they aren’t spent wisely, you really lose your health.
And, a big part of young people losing their health so early to an obesity and diabetes epidemic is the so-called “food” mentioned in the maps. Study them carefully, and decide how you can use the information to better your Health.
Food Choice and Income Impacts Getting Diabetes
___ Use the following article to try to determine whether you are taking an accurate assessment of your Health and behaviors needed (and add your family into the mix, too, as those around influence one another).
There’s evidently a serious “disconnect” in knowledge and in viewing ourselves as more healthy than we may really be. That’s a dangerous combination.
Your only protection is to be realistic about your Health and to do what’s needed to (regain it and) maintain it. Don’t sell yourself short or be in denial. As a sample:
- Nearly 30 percent of the respondents gave themselves an A for managing their personal health, while 92 percent of their doctors gave them a C or lower.
- Nearly a third of the study respondents gave themselves an A for eating healthily. Once again, 92 percent of doctors gave them only a C or lower.
- About a third gave themselves an A for getting regular exercise, while 91 percent of their physicians gave them a C or lower.
Read more here. Who’s Really Unhealthy?
___ And, in regard to exercise, Prevention reports on a recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research which says that doubling the amount of time spent doing cardio exercise more than tripled the amount of fat lost that week!
___ Following-up on studies that a Swedish researcher made decades ago among the Pima tribe in Arizona, the world’s largest group of diabetics, (after they were forced to forego their traditional foods when moved to their reservation land). His study showed that “natural” differences like being fidgity burns up an amazing amount of calories. This is confirmed now by a little-finger size instrument you can get. Learn more at Calorie Trackers and FitBit
___ The March edition of Prevention magazine discusses ways to “party” on 400 calories. Yes, it can be done! While I am not advocating that anyone should be using alcohol’s empty calories regularly, (also knowing the extra burden it places on your liver), we all know there are times when you need to be able to be social in certain contexts.
Here’s a few of their “party” menus to learn by heart so you can keep the physical and caloric damage to a minimum. Alcohol is also very acidic pH, so be sure you are drinking plenty of pure water and eating lots of alkaline veggies after any of these “parties”.
Remember, alcohol does affect your blood sugar level.
For yourself when hosting a party or ask your host to provide it: give yourself a finger-size serving of goat cheese, 1/2 an apple (sliced), 2 high-fiber Rye Krisp crackers, (2) 1″ squares of Dark Chocolate (at least 70% cacao) and 5 oz. of red wine. That menu will be 390 calories. The alcohol accounts for 125 of the calories.
At “Happy Hour”: Get something as close as you can to this at a tapa bar. about 12 mini pretzels, 2 chicken satay skewers (about 1/2 a breast of chicken, total), a 3 oz. martini and a 5 oz. glass of white wine (or red wine). This will be 400 calories. The alcohol accounts for 290 calories.
In a Restaurant Sharing: Order a regular size Nacho Plate and eat no more than 1/4 of the plate (about 250 calories). Let the others have the lion’s share. Order a small, 6 oz. frozen margarita, with extra ice, (made with strawberries, if possible, to get some vitamins and minerals), (but otherwise just a plain margarita). This will be 395 calories. The alcohol will be 190 of the calories.
Pizza Nights with Friends or Family: Firstly, make sure yours is a thin-crust pizza; order individually if needs be and then use only half; don’t finish it – just give the rest away or take it home for the next day. Top your pizza with only veggies and light cheese! Then, add one beer (275 calories). The meal will be 410 – 425 calories. See how fast it adds up!
OK. This was an interesting mathematical approach to some important topics you deal with. Making informed choices is essential. The numbers don’t lie, so I hope you make good use of this information.
Spring starts this Saturday at 10:23am where I live, and others will be heading into Autumn. Be sure you make these dietary adjustments. Eating seasonally helps to reset your body’s biological clock, and seasonal foods are Nature’s recipe for what your body needs. Please respect that.
Best to all — Em
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