Salutations!

As the cost of "Sick"care skyrockets so to do the cost associated with every aspect of the sick care industry (insurance premiums, co-pays, pharmaceutical drugs, sick leave, etc.). The time to act and take care of ourselves while jealously guarding our health has come. We can no longer afford to hand over our health or our wealth to others and hope to live happy, productive lives. The goal of this blog is to wade through some of the more mundane as well as a few sensational health issues that affect us today and how to get over them.







Showing posts with label Calories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calories. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Diabetes - A 21st Century Scourge: Phase 2 Approved Food List



Admittedly the Phase 1 part of the plan is restrictive to say the least which is why it is designed to last just 4-6 weeks at a time. The benefit is extensive, however, allowing for an appropriate jump start to any anti-diabetes campaign. At some point it becomes necessary to transition to Phase 2.

The second phase of this plan is meant for lifelong changes to eating habits that will nourish the body and sustain your efforts to reverse or significantly mitigate diabetes. The first thing you will notice is the increase in the variety. The uptick is based on the increased likelihood that your metabolism is either higher or in much better working order after following the phase one program. The phase 2 food chart gives the recommended amounts of each food category that should be consumed during any particular meal.

The focus of every meal is to be as healthy as possible. Limit meat portions especially red meat which should be kept to no more than 18-22 oz. per week. Lean meats such as fish, elk, lamb, and turkey should be your focus. You may also find it helpful to have one or two of your meals be vegetarian based limiting your meat consumption to one or two meals a day.

Eating Out

Extreme care must be taken when eating out. Your diligence is required when ordering for many reasons. One, the ingredients used to create meals in most restaurants will be inflammatory and have the potential to set you back in your goals. Second, portion sizes are almost always two or three times larger than what is recommended for consumption at one meal. You may find it helpful to decide in advance that you will only consume ⅓ - ½ of what your ordered and ask for a box to pack it in in advance. Remember to eat slowly and savor each bite. This will help you feel satisfied without overeating.

When ordering salads order dressing on the side and stick to vinaigrette style dressings. Soups should be broth based. Avoid cream based soups as they are loaded with rancid oils, fats, and calories. Soups with lentils and beans will be far more filling with fewer calories. If having a meal that consist of only soups and salad be sure to have some fiber handy to help you feel full after the meal if necessary. This will help you not succumb to the temptation of ordering additional food. 

Desserts

Having a tasty treat with a meal or as a snack is always tempting but there are some things that must be considered. If you have reached your waistline goal and your blood sugar is under control then partaking from time to time shouldn't be a problem. If at all possible, though, save dessert for special occasions and rare treats. Your focus is to not go back to what you are trying to leave behind. When you do have dessert be sure to consume some fiber in the form of a supplement to help lower the glycemic value thus avoiding a spike in blood sugar and insulin production.


 Meal Planning


Plan your meals on a weekly basis. Shopping and preparing your meals on a day that is convenient for you is a great way to ensure success on your journey. The food chart provided will come in handy in assisting you in this process.


Approved Foods for Phase 2

Legumes, Beans and Starches (Servings are 1/2 cup for women and 1 cup for men)
Cereals (with unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk)
Low Glycemic Fruit (1/2 cup servings)
Vegetables (at least 1/2 cup or more women and 1 cup or more for men)
●     Beans: kidney, lima, navy, pinto, red, black
●     Black-eyed peas
●     Green peas
●     Butter beans
●     Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
●     Green beans
●     Lentils
●     Yams
●     Sweet potatoes


















●     Old fashioned oatmeal or steel cut (1 serving for women, 1-2 servings for mens)
●     Blackberries
●     Blueberries
●     Raspberries
●     1/2 grapefruit
●     Granny Smith apple
●     Kiwi
●     Strawberries
●     Asparagus
●     Bell peppers
●     Broccoli
●     Brussel sprouts
●     Butternut squash
●     Cabbage or sauerkraut
●     Carrots (1/2 cup, raw only)
●     Cauliflower
●     Celery
●     Collard greens
●     Cucumbers
●     Eggplants
●     Lettuce
●     Okra
●     Onions
●     Spinach
●     Squash
●     String beans
●     Taro
●     Tomato
●     Turnips
●     Watercress
●     Zucchini



Approved Foods for Phase 2 Cont.


Lean Proteins
(Dairy) - Dairy is best avoided but limited quantities of the following is ok.
Lean Proteins (Meats) - 2 to 6 oz. for women and 3-8 oz. for men
Healthy Fats (two servings per day, none at dinner)
Oils (two servings per day, none at dinner, do not heat)
●     Cottage cheese, plain-non fat
●     Cream cheese
●     Low-fat Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla
●     Eggs (pastured center or organic) - two to three large eggs or one yolk and three egg whites

















●     Beef, organic extra lean. Limit red meat consumption to 18 oz. per week.
●     Buffalo, bison, elk, caribou, venison, goat, ostrich
●     Chicken and turkey (remove skin)
●     Turkey sausage
●     Turkey bacon
●     Fish, wild caught (cod, flounder, haddock, herring, halibut, mahi-mahi, sea bass, perch, snapper, tongol tuna, orange roughy, tilapia, salmon, trout, sardines, mackeral
●     Almond butter (2 tablespoons)
●     Almonds (about 18 almonds, 1 oz.)
●     Organic peanut butter (2 tablespoons)
●     Peanuts (1 oz.)
●     Pecans (1 oz.)
●     Cashews (1 oz.)
●     Avocado, fresh (1/2 cup
●     Guacamole (1/3 cup)
●     Hummus
●     Pumpkin seeds (2 tablespoons or 1 oz.)
●     Sunflower seeds (2 tablespoon or 1 oz.)
●     Flaxseeds (3 tablespoons or 1 oz.)
●     Organic cold-pressed olive oil (1 tablespoon)
●     High-oleic sunflower oil (1 tablespoon)
●     Cold-pressed peanut oil (1 tablespoon)
●     Cold-pressed sesame oil (1 tablespoon)
●     Cold-pressed avocado oil (1 tablespoon)
●     High-oleic safflower oil (1 tablespoon)


Cont. Lean Proteins (Meats) - 2 to 6 oz. for women and 3-8 oz. for men



●     Lean pork (limit pork consumption to one serving per week)
●     .Shellfish (wild caught if possible) - Limit consumption to 1-2 servings. (shrimp, crab, lobster, scallop, oysters, mussels)



Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Two Weeks Down, One to Go!

Two weeks into this 21 day "empty calorie" fast and I am amazed at what has taken place. The power of empty calories over our lives is even more evident now that I have (along with a few super troopers) undergone this unique challenge. It is extraordinary the grip that foods devoid of nutrients and filled with simple carbohydrates has on our lives. So much so that some people wouldn't even consider taking the challenge because they feel as if they cannot do without their sugary coffee, morning danish or nightly Oreo run. Now that we are down to one week left on this very important fast I have to ask at what cost do we do these things to ourselves? Do you enjoy sinus issues? Is the extra inch around your waistline worth it? Does high blood pressure and diabetes sound delicious? I don't want to preach but I see so much hurt and pain around from chronic illness and it makes me sad and sometimes angry. We must do better.

Personally my sweet tooth has to be tamed. And like many others I allow it to run free from time to time. However, for the past two weeks it has been in check and I can tell you how good it feels to wake up in the morning without sniffing and snorting because my nose and throat itches or the post nasal mucous is trying to gag me. Also, I have to take my belt in another notch to compensate for the extra room I now have because of a receding waistline. My goal for this fast was not to lose weight or clear up sinus issues (but I'll take it). The goal was simply to give my body a chance to do what it does best and it is the same chance I want you to give your bodies.

When we lay down at night it is usually because we are sleepy. That sleepiness is the body asking us for a chance. A chance to rejuvenate and repair itself. A chance to desperately restore balance. Chronic inflammation from our food and environment does nothing in helping our bodies repair themselves. The absence of great nutrition combined with empty calories only expands our waistlines and lead to chronic illness.

Take a moment and inventory your ills. If they have anything to do with pain and/or inflammation I would suggest a great place to start in turning it around would be the empty calories that has invaded your life and taken your health. It may not be the only thing you need to do but it would be a great place to start!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The 21 Day "Empty Calorie" Fast

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If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter (@thoughthealth) you are likely aware of the 21 day "empty calorie" fast challenge. For those of you who are not aware here is my Facebook note that gives a brief overview:

"For 21 days we will abstain from consuming any and all empty calories. Sweetened beverages (i.e. soda, sweet tea, lemonade, etc.) and desserts (potato chips, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc.). Also included would be anything artificially sweetened. Give your body a break from inflammation and rejuvenate your immune system. If you must have something sweet fresh fruit is acceptable." A few advantages of participating may be:

- allergy abatement
- inflammation relief
- deactivate continuous immune system response
- insulin burden relief
- support weight loss or maintenance through calorie reduction
- relieve mineral loss

This 21 day fast is not a gimmick. The purpose of the fast is many fold as suggested by the Facebook note. In addition to the reasons given in the noted highlights I would like to demonstrate through this fast how easy it is to consume foods and other things on the daily basis that only contribute to acidosis and weight gain without providing any nourishment to the body.

In the midst of this fast some people will figure out quickly how out of control we are as it relates to food. This brings me to why the fast is 21 days for there are several reasons. First, psychologically it is said it takes 21 days to break a habit. It is not the intention of the fast to keep you completely away from empty calories forever. Indeed, I only wish to bring into your awareness more often what it is you are consuming. Second, 21 days is enough time to show either weight loss or inches lost as the body basks in the glow of a break from the metabolic nightmare that is our current diet. Third, the liver gets a chance to take a breather which increases metabolism and the ability to cleanse the blood of toxins leading to better health.

In regard to artificial sweeteners it is a goal of this fast to give the liver a break. Artificial sweeteners taxes the liver giving no rest to the weary (liver). There are other issues to contend with to numerous to cover in this post but please refer to my artificial sweetener blog posts. They will tell you how artificial sweeteners actually lead to weight gain.

Naturally I cannot promise anyone that they will lose weight/inches or that your metabolism will increase. What I can tell you is that your weight and metabolism will not get better if you do not start somewhere. Underlying medical issues may prevent seeing physical benefits but internally things will either improve or stop declining. Ultimately the goal is to prove to yourself that you are in control of you and to stop the unnecessary downward health trend.

Contact me at Thoughtfulhealth@gmail.com, on twitter @thoughthealth, on Facebook (search my name Derrell Jones) or Skype derrelljones1

Much Love to everyone and let’s Take Back Our Life!!!!

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Is Vitamin Water Bad for Your Health? Well...It Won't Help It

How innocuous is Vitamin Water? Its water and vitamins, right? What is the harm? When you watch the comical commercials you would think Vitamin Water was some sort of miracle tonic from yesteryear. Up all night clubbing and drinking? Down a Vitamin Water. Playing hard on the court or ‘ye old’ ball field? Pep up with Vitamin Water. After all, the water hydrates you and all those vitamins are great for energy and rejuvenation. A closer look, however, reveals a beverage that is at best mediocre and at worst an outright detriment to health.

Let’s start with what should be obvious about any type of water. Water has no color yet Vitamin Water does. This fact is often overlooked but is very important. The Coca Cola Company, having made $700 million last year distributing Vitamin Water, adds artificial dyes to the water. These chemical dyes have been linked to ADD/ADHD and other adverse health conditions.

Then we come to the sugar content. Vitamin Water is sweetened with crystalline fructose, a version of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Consuming Vitamin Water can inevitably lead to spikes in blood sugar which ultimately crashes. It is the spike that makes you feel ‘energized’ giving you a false sense of energetic elevation. Unfortunately the crash leaves you needing another sugar fix or you must face the wrath of lethargy and poor performance. While we are on the subject of wrath, let us consider all of the sugar that is in Vitamin Water. It contains approximately 30 grams or 6 ½ teaspoons of sugar. By contrast a Hershey Bar has 24 grams of sugar. Along with the spikes and crashes the toxic nature of processed sugar must be considered. Over consumption of sugar hinders the body’s immune system by adversely interacting with the white blood cells changing their shape, number and function. Processed sugar has no place in a beverage that claims to be beneficial to the body.

Calorically Vitamin Water can sabotage a workout. The nutritional label, an oxymoron in regards to this product, explains that there are 50 calories per serving. Unfortunately, there are 2 ½ servings per bottle for a total of 125 sneaky calories. When you consider what processed sugar does to the immune system combined with blowing up your workout due to calories or adversely affecting your athletic performance (sugar crash) it hardly seems worth it.

In addition to everything that has been mentioned the true crime are the vitamins. People who think of Vitamin Water somehow think vitamins are in it. That’s probably because the name is ‘Vitamin Water’. In nature there are many vitamins ranging from A to K and the B complexes are numerous but Vitamin Water only contains five – C, B3, B5, B6, and B12. To add insult to injury these few vitamins (and the electrolytes as well) are synthetic. Synthetic vitamins are not always bioavailable. In other words, the body may not recognize the synthetics as vitamins. So, Coca Cola only uses five vitamins in their product and they may not be assimilated in the body. Brace yourself because the insults continue. If the body doesn’t recognize the synthetics as vitamins they are attacked by the immune system as a foreign substance. This taxes the immune system in addition to sugar’s role in adversely affecting it. No wonder chronic illness is so prevalent with the dubious nature of products marketed in a way that makes us think they nourish us.


If you are working out, playing hard or just wanting to recharge drink some purified water and eat a small healthy snack. You could also insist on an all-natural, non-toxic beverage. They do exist. Be aware of what you consume and let LeBron and 50 Cent (avid spokesmen for Vitamin Water) consume this nutritionally suspicious product.

For a great non-toxic, all natural and rejuvenating beverage checkout SISEL Splash at: http://www.mysisel.com/vip/thoughtfulhealth/productdetail.htm?id=2022

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

USDA Guide to the Obvious

The USDA has issued new dietary guidelines for the American consumer. These guidelines are intended to improve the health and well being of concerned citizens who wish to lead healthier lives. With heart disease and obesity reaching unheard of levels the potential guidance is needed now more than ever. And what gems has the USDA come up with? How about eating less fats and sugar, exercising more, and consuming fewer calories. Great advice for the masses but it's hardly a revelation. Most people know to do these thing already. Check out my article at QW Magazine: http://qwmagazine.co.uk/science/8793
to get my full view on this subject and a little advice to boot!