How to Prevent Diabetes

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If you look at the statistics for sugar consumption in the USA and the percentage of the population with Type II (Adult Onset) diabetes, you'll see they track pretty much one-for-one. A friend of mine has "the other kind" of diabetes -- the kind you get through no fault of your own. He is amazed that non-diabetic people live a lifestyle that puts them at such high risk for a disease that complicates his life so much.

Type II (Adult Onset) diabetes is a sugar disease. You can control it, even prevent it. The keys are these:

Managing your insulin (controlling sugar sources)
Eating small portions instead of "filling up" at meals
Keeping your bodyfat percentage down (obesity is a high risk factor)

Let's take a closer look:

Diet
There is no one magic diet that works for everyone. Nor is there a single diet that works best for one individual over a long time. Pay attention to your genetics, and to your ethnic group's traditional foods. If you are African American, that does not mean overcooked vegetables or pork rinds. Such garbage came on the nutritional scene only recently, and is not a true ethnic food. The same is true for Italians who overdose on pepperoni pizza. Being Italian myself as, well as having enjoyed fantastic African cuisine, I can tell you there is a lot more to these diets than the recent introductions often associated with these cultural groups.

Except for Eskimos and a few other highly specialized ethnic groups, all diets must adhere to the same few macronutrient rules. For example:

Eliminate as many processed carbohydrates as possible.
Don't eat carbohydrates 2 hours before bedtime.
Balance your fat/carbos/protein in a roughly 30-40-30 ratio (this is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule--it doesn't work for everyone).
Eat at least 5 or 6 small meals a day.
Always eat a high-protein breakfast.

Did you know that the peanuts offered on airlines are LESS fattening than the fat-free pretzels? It's true. Stay away from fat-free foods--they make your insulin levels do a yo-yo, and that makes you put on fat. Yuck. Worse, it sets the stage for adult-onset diabetes.

Do NOT eat white flour, bleached flour, enriched flour, or any other kind of wheat flour that is not whole wheat. The glycemic effects of such flours will work against you. Eat whole grain flours, and try to get a variety. Amaranth and soy are two good flours. Eat oat groats instead of oatmeal. In short, get your grains in the least-processed form you can. This holds true for everyone, regardless of genetics (unless you have a malabsorption problem). This one "trick" will help you keep your insulin level on an even keel, and that is paramount to diabetes prevention and management.

What also holds true for everyone is: drink lots of water! Fill a gallon jug twice a day, and make sure you drink all of it. Once you get as lean as you want to be, cut back to a single gallon if you want to. For added fat loss, drink chilled (but not super cold) water. Sodas do not count. Such beverages are extremely unhealthy, for reasons I won't cover here. However, I will say that if you want to get osteoporosis, soft drinks are for you. Soft drinks make for soft bones.

Make sure to eat at least 5 or 6 small meals a day, rather than one big one. Doing so levels out your insulin and your blood sugar. Forget about that full feeling. If you find yourself overeating out of anxiety or boredom, fix the underlying problem -- don't add to it by poor eating!

Exercise
You need to build muscle and burn fat. How many lean, muscular people do you know with diabetes? OK, so listen! Live the lean lifestyle, and you will be way ahead in the diabetes game. See: Exercise!

Walking is a great exercise. Do it every day, and you'll raise your metabolic rate, as well as level out your blood sugar. This means you will burn extra calories even while you are sitting in front of your computer or sleeping in your bed! Look at the ways you save calories, and then spend them instead. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park away from the door, instead of up close. Use a pushmower instead of a riding mower. Pay attention to what you do and think of how you can burn more calories while doing it.

Visit Mark Lamendola's site, Mindconnection.com for more helpful articles on health and many other topics as well!

It's Your Health!

How to Prevent Diabetes

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