Chicken Casserole Diabetic Friendly

Texan Ranch Chicken Casserole, both Healthy and Diabetic friendly.

Source: tasteofhome.com via CE on Pinterest

Diabetic Recipe of the Day

Craving a desert that is diabetes-friendly and low carb? Watch and learn how to make this delicious, low carb cheesecake using SPLENDA. A desert for diabetes and non-diabetics alike! http://www.dlife.com

Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s

Research confirms that elevated glucose levels, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes lead to Alzheimer’s.

That may explain how these two life-altering diseases came to be dance partners in the health-crisis tango that’s striding across North America: 23 million people have type 2 diabetes, and 79 million people have pre-diabetes (it’s not inevitable, but many of those folks will develop type 2). At the same time, the incidence of Alzheimer’s is expected to double by 2050.

This one-two punch of diabetes and Alzheimer’s is not something anyone wants to walk into. But our diabetes-proof, protect-your-brain, four-step plan will keep you healthier, happier and wiser.

1. Maintain a healthy fighting weight with healthy food choices (lots of veggies and fruits, 100 percent whole grains and no added sugars or sugar syrups).

2. Go for 30-plus minutes of exercise five days a week; we love walking 10,000 steps a day.

3. Get friendly with healthy fats. There’s the odd-numbered omegas: omega-3 DHAs, omega-7 and omega-9; plus poly- and monounsaturated fats like canola oil. Lose trans and saturated fats in baked goods, meats and full-fat dairy.

4. Reduce stress with meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, fun and helping others. Why does this work? Well, stress can kill brain cells and lead to weight gain, which can lead to inflammation, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

Read more 

Does Potassium Lower Blood Pressure or Not?

It’s not groundbreaking news that high blood pressure and diet are related. 

Even when you go the medical doctor route, one of the first things your doctor will suggest is lowering your salt intake to help control your blood pressure.

But what else can help? Does potassium lower blood pressure? Often, one important nutritional catalyst is overlooked; and yes, it is indeed potassium.

Potassium has several functions in the body, aiding with the proper workings of the heart, kidneys, nerves, muscles and the digestive system. A lack of potassium can manifest itself in many ways, including high blood pressure.

Read more at Natural Society - Does Potassium Lower Blood Pressure or Not?

Less Calories and Salt Helps Fight Diabetic Retinopathy

Eating less calories, salt helps fight diabetic retinopathy

 A study in Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that eating less calories may help reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy in African-American people with Type 1 diabetes or prevent the progression of the disease.

The study found baseline total calorie intake was significantly associated with 6 year incidence of vision threatening diabetic retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes patients, either proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, and the incidence of severe hard exudates.

For the study, African American patients were followed up for six years and dietary information was surveyed at baseline.

Diabetes Symptom - Do A Self-Check

• Are you finding yourself battling dizziness? 
• Do you have the need to wake up and use the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning? 
• Is you weight going up and down for no apparent reason? 

These are symptoms that have been associated with diabetes. If you answered yes to more than one of these diabetes symptom questions, you should see your doctor. But, if you answered yes to these questions, don't automatically assume that you are diabetic.

Major and minor diabetes symptoms to look for are dizziness, nerve damage, blurred vision and excessive thirst and hunger.

Read full article

Diabetic Recipe of the Day

Fruit Salad Snack 

Ingredients

1 Cantaloupe
2 lbs. of Strawberries
1 Mango
2 Kiwi
2 Fiji Apples
1 pound green or red grapes


Directions Get a large re-sealable bowl and add grapes, cut up cantaloupe, strawberries, (peel mango first) mango, (peep kiwi also before adding to salad), kiwi and apples into squares or whatever shape you desire!

After cutting up fruit, place top on bowl and shake the fruit up so that all one fruit isn't on the bottom. No need to add sweeteners, just enjoy the fruit with its natural flavor. Having a natural snack you can access at any time, helps to avoid the temptation to eat other less healthy snacks.

Measure out in half cup or 1 cup servings, according to your meal plan and enjoy. Not only is this a quick snack to make, but it is healthy and makes you feel like you're on a tropical island somewhere! (oh and if you are not sure how to cut a mango, here is a video from allrecipes.com on how to cut a mango!) Enjoy!!

Is sugar toxic? - CBS News

If you are what you eat, then what does it mean that the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar a year? 

Sanjay Gupta reports on new research showing that beyond weight gain, sugar can take a serious toll on your health, worsening conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer. Some physicians go so far as to call sugar a toxin. Full article - Is sugar toxic? - CBS News

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes Diabetes appropriate - Low calorie, Low carbohydrate, Low cholesterol, Low saturated fat, Heart healthy

Source: eatingwell.com via CE on Pinterest

Diabetic Apple Pie

Diabetic Dessert Recipes - Diabetic Apple Pie

Source: diabetic-diet-recipes.net via CE on Pinterest

Petrochemicals in the Body

There were so many visitors to our last blog posting about Women, Blacks and Hispanics Diabetics Linked to Plastic Chemicals, I decided to post additional information about how to protect yourself and your family. We can't get away from "plastics" and "chemicals" - but we can at least know what is harmful - Charles

The Petrochemical Industry has provided us with  valuable medical and much needed industrial products, however petrochemicals are also dangerous - depending on their use. 

Do you know that Petrochemicals are found in most food products, our water, household cleaning products, personal care products, household furnishings, and even children's toys? 

These petrochemicals CAN be absorbed through the skin and scalp, and then human organs and tissues - and over time these chemical agents can lead to nerve, liver and brain damage, birth defects, acute asthma, and cancer - Shocking, but true.

There are more than 80,000 chemicals in use today - far more than we humanly know how to categorize, and more than we know what to do with. More important, we have no idea of the effects on the human body, or the effect on our environment of  90% of these chemical compounds.

Chemicals are released into the air, water and ground. These chemical releases can severely affect human life and the environment. In this case, we cannot talk about one without the other. We all breathe the air, drink the water, and much of our food comes from the ground, and water.

So Where Do We Start?

You may find toxins almost anywhere in your home, but some of the important places to consider eliminating toxic substances are:

• Household Cleaning Products
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Water
• Personal Care Products
• Home Furnishings

Household Cleaning Products

When you use toxic cleaners, the chemicals stay in the air for hours, even days, and you and your family breathe them into your body. The residue left behind by these chemicals are also toxic to anyone who touches or uses the surface where the chemical residue is left.

Now, to further complicate this toxic problem, when you use additional chemicals on these surfaces, the combination of chemicals can actually create another toxic compound.

It is advisable to get fresh air into your home as much as possible to disburse these chemical agents, and look for cleaning products that are natural and made from non toxic ingredients.

Experts say the average household contains anywhere from 3-25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are in cleaning products. There is no government law that requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels, or to test their products for safety.

So, it's up to you, to choose your cleaning products wisely.

When you buy new cleaning products, look for manufacturers who list the natural ingredients on the label. Also you should purchase products that contain non-petroleum-basedchlorine and phosphate free surfactants, products that are , and products that claim to be "non-toxic" and products that are biodegradable.

A note of caution: some cleaners may advertise that they are "environmentally sound" but will fail to provide a full list of ingredients. In looking for products, make sure you can read the list of ingredients.

Some products are marketed as non-toxic and natural, but do not list the natural ingredients. Remember, the manufacturer that gives you the most information about its product is usually the manufacturer you can trust.

While these chemicals have been used for years to clean homes and offices, studies now show that these chemicals have an adverse effect on humans. We've become used to reading the words "Danger, Toxic, Warning or Poison" on the back label of cleaning products, but never considered the risk to our health if we used these products "safely".

Well this was yesterday, but today we know these chemicals produce toxic fumes and leave toxic residues throughout our home no matter how "safely" we use them.  

Safe Food and Drink

Purchasing organic food, and growing your own vegetables is the safest way to reduce the amount of toxin in your food intake.

Frozen products and canned foods contain petrochemicals. Fruits and vegetables (which are supposed to be food for you) are highly contaminated with petrochemicals used in fertilizers, pest control and petrochemical solutions that "make" your fruit look better - as in "shiny".

Since our government has not taken the problem of food safety seriously, it will be up to the American people to demand safe food, free of pesticides and petrochemicals.

Water is another big safety issue. Tap water is treated with chlorine or chlorine dioxide. These two petrochemicals can form into chloroform, which is linked to liver, nervous system damage and kidney failure.

Bottled water has become a billion dollar operation, however buying bottled water is not assurance the water is free from harmful chemicals.

Aspartame - Artificial sweetners such as Nutra Sweet and Equal both contain phenylalanine and methanol, and should be avoided. Splenda (sucralose) is marketed as natural because it is made from sugar. It starts out as sugar, but winds up as an artificial, synthetic product. The structure of sugar is changed chemically by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups.

These product types are also used in many of the diet soft drinks, and thousands of other "diet" or low carb products.

Personal Care Products

Every bathroom cabinet in America is full of chemical compounds, and other harmful synthetic substances.

Once again, the federal government does not require companies to provide a full disclosure on what chemicals are used to make personal care products.

Your mouth wash, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other hygiene products contain a wide variety of chemical compounds and synthetic substances - all petroleum based. Since consumers are not allowed to know the chemical make up of these products, you obviously have no idea what harmful chemicals you apply to your body on a daily basis.

While many natural products on the market may be higher in cost, they are the choice for those who take their health, and their families health seriously.

When choosing natural products, the best products contain a list of the ingredients - and these ingredients will have familiar names - unlike the 20 or more letter ingredients that most of us cannot pronounce.

For example, many natural soaps contain olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and organic botanical extracts.

Females need to be aware that tampons are made from rayon (highly chlorine-bleached wood pulp) and/or low-grade cotton, which has often been grown overseas and has been treated with DDT. Many tampons are subjected to chlorine-based bleaching. Women should consider switching to sanitary pads that are non-chlorine beached rather than tampons.

Non permanent Hair Dye contains a combination of peroxide and ammonia, which has been proven to damage and alter the molecular structure of hair, and can cause allergic reactions. Permanent dyes contain tiny amounts of coal tar, which is a harmful petrochemical for the body.

The quest to have "brighter" clothes has brought about Optical Brighteners, also called optical bleaches or fluorescent whitening agents. This is a group of colorless, fluorescent chemicals that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it back as visible blue light. The blue light actually masks the yellowing, and makes it appear brighter and whiter.

Optical Brighteners have been a marketing genius for companies that manufacture detergents, however in reality they are simply a "special effect", and your clothes are not cleaner, nor are they brighter or whiter.

Optical Brighteners stay on your clothes, and can produce skin reactions, and irritation to any part of your body. As for the environment, the chemicals are toxic to fish, and over time scientist state these chemicals can actually mutate bacteria. Optical Brighteners are also non-biodegradable, and once they get into the ground or water, they stay.

Home Furnishings

While energy efficient homes save money on utilities, these tightly constructed homes, schools and business buildings do not allow the flow of fresh air. In these air tight environments, chemical fumes from paint, stains, furniture, cleaning products, and other materials create a toxic environment.

While we are all concerned about the breathing quality of the outside air, recent studies show the air in the average homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside.

Older homes that were built before 1980 have their own particular toxic problems - lead paint on the walls and woodwork. In an older home that has lead paint, just opening and closing doors and windows can release fine lead particles into the air, and when remodeling an older home, more of these dangerous particles get into the air, and home furnishings.

When the Consumer Products Safety Commission studied air pollution, it found that outdoor air contained an average of less than 10 volatile organic compounds (or VOCs-a type of airborne pollutant) while indoor air contained approximately 150.1 VOC's.

Carpet is one of the most toxic elements in our homes. The carpet backing is made of toxic petrochemicals, the pad is toxic, and the glue is also toxic. These chemicals are especially harmful to small children, who spend time playing on carpeted floors, and also household pets.

When choosing a company to clean your carpet, be aware many of the companies use harmful petrochemicals, and the fragrance to disguise the chemical order is also toxic. Search for companies who do not use these products.

How about the furniture in your home? Well, furniture made from plywood or particle board are treated with formaldehyde and can emit toxic fumes in your home for up to five years after purchase.

The cushions on your couch and chairs are made from polyurethane plastic and are covered in acrylic, polyester or polyvinyl chloride - more toxins.

Your children's toys are not exempt from toxins. Toxic plastic toys are made of poly vinyl chloride (PVC). In order to keep the plastic flexible and soft, the use of the chemical phthalates is used. This chemical emits toxic fumes that are inhaled by children, as well as ingested when children put these toys in their mouths. Even the infamous Barbie doll is made of PVC.

Another cause of concern are games and puzzles that contain mercury beads. Mercury is extremely poisonous, can be absorbed through the skin, and lead to death.

According to Greenpeace, children are exposed to a variety of these plasticizers via vinyl childcare products like toys. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has requested that toy manufacturers cease using polyvinyl chloride, however many PVC toys still remain on the market.

What Can You Do To Decrease Toxins in Your Body & Home?

• As mentioned above, you should have as much fresh air circulating through your home as possible.
• Only use paints and stains that are low VOC, and avoid spray paint entirely. One example of a good low VOC paint is Benjamin Moore Eco Spec - ask around for other low VOC paints. 
• Purchase furniture that have whole wood frames, along with cotton and wool cushions
• If you dry clean your clothes, take them out of the plastic bag, and air out for 3-4 days before bringing into your home. Perc is a toxic chemical used in the dry cleaning process, and it causes damage to the central nervous system, birth defects, and cancer. Initial effects upon breathing Perc is usually headaches and dizziness. 
• When purchasing children's toys, try to find toys made from polyethylene or polypropylene, which are both non-chlorinated. If you are not sure of the chemical make up of a plastic toy, it is best to avoid buying at all, especially in the case of small children and babies. 
• Burn Candles made from beeswax or vegetable wax instead of petroleum based paraffin wax.
• Purchase an Air Purifier, and also a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filer (High Efficiency Particular Air) - both are excellent if you suffer from allergies. 
• Switch to natural household cleaning products
• Purchase fruits and vegetables from as many local merchants as possible, or buy organic fruit and vegetables in the store
• Become pro-active, learn which products to avoid, contact government representatives about your concerns, and be sure to tell your family & friends

Chronic Exposure

The good news is that the majority of people are not normally exposed to large doses of chemicals. Chronic exposure is the term used for exposure to chemical substances at levels significantly below the toxic level.

In other words, we normally do not inhale or ingest enough chemicals to kill us immediately, but instead inhale or ingest enough chemicals that may eventually cause serious health problems, and harmful effects to our environment.

The petrochemical industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and petrochemicals are here to stay. Governments are not requiring full disclosure of petrochemicals in products people use everyday, so it will be up to the people to demand these changes, along with adopting more natural products and foods into their lifestyle.

Also take a look at products made from petroleum YOU use everyday -
Popular Products Made From Petrochemicals



More Information About Petrochemicals 

What Are Petrochemicals?

History of Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals in the Body 

Harmful Petrochemicals 

How Plastic Is Made 

Dangers of DEA - Personal Care Products 



Other Useful Sites


National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

Pesticide Action Network of North America

Diabetic Alert Dog

Virginia-based Guardian Angel Service Dogs, which specializes in training alert dogs for diabetics..

Headed by Dan Warren, who suffers from type 1 diabetes and trained service dogs in the U.S. Marine Corps, Guardian Angel dogs complete an 8-phase training program where they learn to understand human scent and thus can detect whether a person has high or low blood sugar — sometimes 20 to 45 minutes before a spike or drop occurs. 

Murphy noted that when a person's blood sugar is high, he or she emits a sweet smell that is often undetected by humans — but dogs can smell it. When a diabetic's blood sugar is low, the body releases a smell of acetone.

"We custom-tailor the program for each individual's severity, age, [and] geographic location," among other variables, Warren said. The dogs are also trained to fetch glucose tablets, insulin supplies, and other essentials for diabetics.

Read Story : Family hopes diabetic alert dog will help boy live normal life - By Jaime Rebhan - Wareham, MA - Wareham Week VillageSoup

A Recipe For Soul Food Sanity

"Good Lord, good meat, c'mon, let's eat!"

That abbreviated grace uttered over a plate of soul food is one of the few laugh lines from New York filmmaker Byron Hurt's (shown at left) new documentary, Soul Food Junkies. 

Scheduled to screen Sunday at the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, Soul Food Junkies is a thoughtful, historical, and personal examination of the unhealthy effects of African American eating habits.

Nationally, nearly half of all African Americans suffer from high blood pressure. In Philadelphia, 20% suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Black children are 15% more likely to be obese than white children.

Mayor Nutter, in his ongoing crusade to make Philadelphia a safer, greener, more active, and healthier place to live, twice proposed a two-cent-an-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages - only to get gulped down by Big Soda.

Read more at philly.com

Rockefeller: Bill Extends Diabetes Care

Medicare would cover National Diabetes Prevention Program

A U.S. senator is working on a bill to combat diabetes by making more West Virginians eligible for preventive care by expanding the National Diabetes Prevention Program to those enrolled in Medicare.

Study shows the change will improve care and reduce health care costs, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said.

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act will help seniors and individuals with disabilities prevent type 2 diabetes by allowing Medicare to implement the National Diabetes Prevention Program through community settings like the YMCA, local health departments, community health centers, and local churches reaching people with Medicare wherever they live.

Head over to News and Sentinel to read full article

Women, Blacks and Hispanics Diabetes Linked to Plastic Chemicals

Do you know? Phthalates are added to some cosmetics, perfumes and other personal care products to stabilize colors and fragrances. 

A wide variety of household goods rely on phthalates, including vinyl flooring, adhesives, shower curtains and cosmetics. More than 75% of Americans have phthalates in their urine.

A group of chemicals found in household plastics and medical supplies is linked to higher rates of diabetes in women  - up to double the rate for women with the highest levels, according to new research led by Harvard scientists.

Blacks and Mexican Americans and women living in poverty are exposed to the highest levels of some of these compounds, called phthalates, the scientists reported.

Until now, most phthalate research has focused on reproductive consequences because these compounds seem to disrupt male hormones. Boys exposed to phthalates in the womb had signs of feminized genitalia, which may lead to fertility problems. Researchers also have found neurological effects, including reduced IQs and attention problems in boys.

Black women in the study had more than double the concentrations of DEP, the phthalate in cosmetics, and DBP, the phthalate in adhesives and lacquers that was linked to a double rate of diabetes, when compared with white women.

Mexican-American women had 75% higher concentrations of DEP. Poor women had up to 78% higher levels of BBP - the phthalate in vinyl flooring that was associated with a double rate of diabetes  - than women living above poverty level.

This article has been condensed - Read full article here