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 Vegetables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetables. 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)



Monday, January 16, 2012

Eating the King's Food

Powerful Antioxidant Support



Chronic illness and inflammation is rampant in our society. We spend a lot of money on highly processed foods and fast foods to fill our collective stomachs all to the detriment of our collective health. Insurance premiums have sky-rocketed along with the cost of hospital stays and prescription drug prices have followed suit just the same. It would seem that we are destined to have a medical model that is doomed to failure. What is needed is a more common sense approach to addressing chronic illness before it begins. If we can head our illnesses off "at the pass" we could avoid continued failed health. I would like to share with you something that I have found that is a significant first step in taking back our health.

The Book of Daniel gives us an ancient clue that is well researched and time tested. Chapter 1 reads in part:
"8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way."
It continues,
"11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead."

The "royal food" was the "King's food" (as it reads in other versions of the bible). What made up the King's food? King Nebuchadnezzar ate sumptuously by the standard of the day. Because he was king he had the resources to afford meat and much wine. The average citizen of Babylon could hardly afford to eat the way the king did but we can (and do) in our daily lives. We consume more meat today as a society than in any other time period. Many chronic and inflammatory conditions (e.g. gout, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis) can be laid right at the feet of increased meat consumption especially red meat.

Daniel asked to be tested so he might prove that a diet consisting of vegetables and water would be superior to the royal food eaten. Note that it only took 10 days to see a noticeable difference. That is a testament to just how resilient our bodies can be if we give it a chance and provide it the tools necessary for healing. When Daniel made his observations he was a young servant along with his fellow colleagues. Surely if the young ones benefit from a wholesome diet and also perish with a diet that is less than stellar, as illustrated in the passage, how much more important would it be for us older folks?

Let us strive together to reduce the burden on our bodies by reducing the amount of meat we consume. Vegetarianism is not necessarily the goal here but surely we can learn from this ancient text much about how we should eat. We, too, like Daniel should resolve to not defile our bodies.

Provide your heart and energy production the spark it needs!


Sunday, October 9, 2011

Cold and Flu Season Advice

Powerful Immune support against the cold and flu 



With our first taste of Fall like weather (a welcome relief for most of us) now is a great time to prepare for the “cold and flu” season. Here are a few ideas for you and your loved ones.

What to Eat

Eating well and proper supplementation is key in helping your body fight the good fight. Unfortunately, we tend to rely or otherwise come into contact with an increased amount of comfort foods during this time of year because of the holidays (and perhaps increased alcohol use, as well, for many different reasons). Nourishing the body now with great all-natural nutritionals that contain vitamins and minerals will help either stave off a cold or assist in recovering from one more quickly. Proper vitamin and mineral levels at the start will assist for a faster finish. The old stand-by vegetables to stick close to would be the green leafy variety (spinach, cabbage, etc.) for their calcium and magnesium. Broccoli and tomatoes are excellent for their antioxidant powers. Carrots help increase the flow of blood and also deliver powerful antioxidants ensuring your entire system gets nourished. Incorporate onions and garlic into your eating plan as often as possible. Bacteria and other pathogens have a tough time against this dynamic duo. If you are interested in powerful liquid nutritionals perhaps you should try a fucoidan based beverage. It nourishes the immune system and could prove very effective in your fight against the ill effects of the flu. Read more about it at https://thoughtfulhealth.mysisel.com/en/US/productdetail.htm?id=26.

Exercise

Exercise is an often over looked aspect of cold prevention. Exercise in and of itself is a great detoxifier. Nitric oxide is produced during moderate to strenuous physical activity. This helps to not only keep arteries clear but also helps to remove impurities from the body allowing the immune system to rest and get ready for other potential threats. Getting your heart rate up and maintaining that higher rate for at least twenty minutes could save you days of misery.

Home Remedy

What should you do when you begin to feel the first tell-tale signs of cold or flu like symptoms? Make your own therapeutic syrup! It has been well established that cough syrups, especially for kids, do not work (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181128,00.html). Follow this simple recipe to make a tonic that could stop or shorten your cold or flu symptoms:

•Honey (Unpasteurized to prevent enzyme destruction; usually a locally produced honey will not be pasteurized)

•Fresh garlic juice

•Organic or Natural Black Seed Oil (cold pressed only)

Mix equal parts black seed oil and garlic juice. Add honey to the mix to a consistency you prefer. It is best to mix and consume at the very first hint of trouble to prevent the onset of all the symptoms. It is also a great preventative so if you are prone to colds and flu take a tablespoon or more of this per week to build your immunity. This particular tonic has been used in our household for over a year and has proved to be very effective.

Following these tips could save you from the expense and misery caused by being sick any longer than you have to be, if at all. If you would like more tips or have a more specific concern contact me at thoughtfulhealth@gmail.com. Happy cooler temperatures to all!

A word of caution…When reading the article referenced for this report please know that I do not endorse the “alternative” to cough syrup sited in the article. The underlying cause should be addressed and the remedy listed above is one of many great alternatives.

Also, it is typically advisable to not give children under the age of two honey because of a potential allergic reaction to some enzymes found in honey. Consult you Healthcare Practioner before doing so.

Powerful Immune support against the cold and flu