Crock Pot Pork - Diabetic Friendly

Enjoy a steaming bowlful of this meaty, mouth-watering dish and you’ll know from the first taste why it’s a long-time favorite in the Diabetic Connect community. Only 8g carbs!

Photo Credit: Diabetic Connect
















Ingredients

2 Pounds Boneless Pork Shoulder Ribs

1 T Olive Oil

1 T Montreal Steak Grill Mate (McCormick)

1/4 C Slivered Onion

3 Whole Cloves Garlic

1/4 C Fresh Cilantro

1 t Cinnamon

1 t Corriander

1 t Cumin

1/2 t Alspice

1/3 C lime juice (Fresh keylime is best)

1/4 C Agave Nectar (raw or amber)

1 15 oz Can of Diced Tomatoes with Garlic and Onions

Directions

In a measuring cup, whisk lime juice with Agave nectar and set aside.

Coat large skillet with olive oil and place raw pork in to sear over medium heat. Sprinkle with Montreal Seasoning as you turn to brown each side.

While the meat is searing, place all your raw veggies and spices into 4 qt crock pot. Place each piece of meat ontop on first layer in crock pot. Be sure to leave space between each piece.

Pour undrained can of tomatoes and lime juice mixture over meat, cover and turn on high for 2 hours.

Reduce your heat to low and cook for another 2-4 hours until prok falls apart and maks a stew like soup.

This is fantastic on rice with black beans or just in a bowl with some whole grain dipping bread.

You can reduce the calories and carbs by using stevia or xylitol in lieu of the Agave Nectar. If you use stevia, only one packet should be required. None of these should spike your sugars.


Nutritional Facts
Servings 8
Yield 8 servings
Carbohydrates 8g
Calories 348
Sodium 136mg
Protein 28g
Fat 33g

Check out more "Potluck Favorites" at Diabetic Connect

Link Between Diabetes and Sleep Apnea

Getting a good night's rest is vital for healthy metabolism

Photo courtesy of Diabetic Connect

There is currently much discussion about the relationship between sleep apnea and diabetes. 

What is known for sure is that sleep apnea is a condition that causes sleep disturbances, leaving you feeling tired throughout the day. Proper sleep is essential for restoring and renewing body systems. 

The ability to concentrate during the day without getting adequate sleep can be drastically diminished. Driving can be dangerous under these conditions.

Continue reading at Diabetic Connect

Yummy Splenda Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy to make cookies with a nice soft texture. You will want to make double batches because they won't last. 

DON'T be tempted to use more flour. The batter is very soft, which is why you need to refrigerate it before scooping onto the cookie sheet.









INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup Splenda Sugar Blend
1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix Splenda and softened, until smooth and without lumps.
2. Add egg and mix.
3. Add peanut butter and mix.
4. Add remaining ingredients and mix.
5. Cover and refrigerate until the batter is firm (1 to 2 hours)
6. Heat oven to 370 degrees.
7. Scoop out small balls ... about 1 1/2 inches in diameter
8. Using a fork, gently press each dough ball.
9. Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown ... do not over bake.
10. Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

My advice is to make two batches because the first one will be gone before the cookies cool!

NOTE: It is important to use the Splenda BLENDS not the Splenda Granulated Sugar. White Sugar Blend. Splenda's White Sugar Blend has been especially designed for baking. It provides functional properties for your baked goods - such as browning, volume, texture and moistness.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/splenda-cookies

Diabetic Chicken Recipes

Remember to skin it before or after cooking. 

Chicken Veggie Dish

Ingredients

• 12 ounces boneless chicken breasts
• 8 ounces cauliflower
• ½ pounds mushrooms
• 8 ounces flour
• 3-4 medium-sized green onions
• 3 tablespoons dry sherry
• 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 8 ounces broccoli flowerets
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot
• ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon ginger root

Preparation

Skin the chicken and cut it into small pieces, after removing fatty substances. Dice the mushrooms and chop the green onions into one inch pieces. In two tablespoons of water, dissolve the arrowroot and set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep non stick pan and stir-fry the chicken on high heat. When the chicken is thoroughly cooked, transfer it into a plate and let it warm. In the same pan, stir-fry cauliflower and broccoli for 2-3 minutes. Put in the green onions, sherry, soy sauce, mushrooms and ginger-root and cook on medium heat, while stirring continuously. Pour in the dissolved arrowroot, chicken and sesame oil, and mix well. Cover with a lid and let it cook thoroughly. Garnish it with peanuts and serve hot.

Low-Fat Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 teaspoon caper juice
• 12 ounces poached chicken
• 1 watercress
• 3 teaspoons dried leaf basil
• 4 small green onions
• 4 large romaine lettuce leaves
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• pepper- as per taste
• 1 teaspoons capers
• 1-2 tomatoes
• Pita bread

Preparation

Chop the green onion and basil into small pieces, and slice the chicken into large chunks. In a small bowl, take caper, tomato paste, caper juice, yogurt and pepper. Add watercress and mix well. Take a salad bowl, and place the onions, chicken and basil in it. Pour in the seasonings, and mix well. Top it with tomato slices and leftover watercress. Spread on romaine leaves and serve with pita bread.

Veg-Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients

• 4 ounces chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
• ¼ teaspoon horseradish
• 3 teaspoons low salt, low fat mayonnaise
• 4 ounces mushrooms
• ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic
• 4 multigrain crisp rolls
• 2 medium-sized onions
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 teaspoons ketchup

Preparation
Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Grill the chicken for 5-10 minutes and turn it frequently so that the whole chicken is cooked thoroughly. Take it out of the oven and let it cool so much as to become warm. Chop the mushroom, onions and garlic into thin pieces. Take a non-stick pan and grease it with the cooking spray. 

When the oil gets heated, add onions and mushrooms, and fry on medium to low heat. Put in the garlic and stir for 2-3 minutes. When the mushrooms are fully cooked, take it off the heat and keep aside. By this time the chicken must have become warm, so chop it into small slices and place it in a mixing bowl. Add the fried mushrooms, onions and garlic and blend well. Put in Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish and mix well. Stuff this into the rolls, and enjoy the delicious veggie chicken sandwich.

These chicken recipes have all the essential nutrients and at the same time are planned keeping in mind the needs of diabetic patients. 

Source: http://theturbulencetraining.com/diabetic-chicken-recipes.html

How To Get The Worst Night's Sleep Of Your Life

Tooga via Getty Images

If you're searching for the elusive good night's sleep, you've probably already tried a few old standbys. Maybe you swear by a warm bath or regular exercise or a calming cup of chamomile tea. Hopefully you've already committed to leaving your cell phone outside your bedroom.

But you can try all the natural sleep aids in the world without much success if you're still making any of the classic sleep mistakes.

Want to reap more and better sleep -- and ward off stroke, obesity, diabetes, memory loss, cancer and early death in the process? 

Head over to Huff Post Healthy Living and find out what NOT to do

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/15/worst-nights-sleep_n_4891065.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Diabetics - Walk Your Way to Fitness

Want an easy, accessible way to stay fit with diabetes? Try walking for exercise. Find out the benefits of walking and how to start a walking program.

Chicago-based diabetes educator Toby Smithson, RDN, LDN, CDE, knows a lot about exercise for diabetes — in part, because she has diabetes herself. 

An important message she shares with others who have diabetes: Walking for exercise is important.

In fact, one of the most effective ways to prevent and control diabetes is literally as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.

The benefits of walking are far-ranging. Walking for exercise does the following:

• Burns calories, which helps you lose and control weight
• Builds muscle, which helps you burn calories
• Exercises the heart, decreasing risks of heart attack and stroke
• Improves insulin resistance and changes how the liver processes glucose and fat
• Improves your lipid profile, increasing “good” HDL cholesterol
• Lowers blood pressure
• Boosts mood
• Helps prevent cancer and lowers risk of osteoporosis
• Raises your heart rate

Read complete article at Everyday Health

Quinoa Health Benefits

Nutrients in Quinoa
Quinoa is a great source of manganese  and magnesium. It’s a very good source of protein source as well as vitamins E and B2, and dietary fiber. It’s a good source of iron, copper, phosphorus and zinc. 

Quinoa has been considered as a crop for NASA’s Controlled Ecological Life Support System due to its high protein values and unique composition of amino acids. 

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Our bodies require amino acids to make structural proteins as well as produce hormones and neurotransmitters. Although our bodies use a multitude of amino acids, we only need nine essential amino acids in our diet.



Health Benefits of Quinoa 1 – Quinoa for Weight Loss

Health Benefits of Quinoa 2 – Quinoa for Celiac Disease

Read more here http://www.aboutnutritionfacts.com/health-benefits-of-quinoa.html

57% of Type 1 Diabetics Expect Cure by 2024

This press release is an announcement submitted by PRWEB, and was not written by Diabetes Health.

New York, NY (PRWEB)

More than half of people who havetype 1 diabetes or have a family member or close friend with the disease expect a cure to be found in the next 10 years, according to a semi-annual survey conducted by the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance.

The findings, outlined in a new report a new report (see link below) from the JDCA, show that 57% of people in the type 1 diabetes community think a cure will be discovered in the next decade. Another 30% expect a cure in the next 25 years.

However, research from the JDCA has found that the current research pipeline likely won't deliver on those expectations unless there is a shift in prioritization. 

The nonprofit donor advocacy organization has identified only six type 1 diabetes research projects out of the 332 currently in human clinical trials that have the potential to deliver a cure by 2025.

The survey also found that only 50% of diabetes donors feel informed about how their gifts are being used. Phil Shaw, general manager of the JDCA, said charities and researchers aren't keeping the diabetes community adequately informed about cure progress.

"The survey identifies an opportunity for diabetes charities to better communicate with donors about the impacts of their gifts," Shaw said. "People with type 1 diabetes think a cure will be found in the next decade, which means diabetes foundations should align their research with those expectations."

When asked to choose between a "practical cure" that would allow people with diabetes to live a normal life with the disease in the next 15 years or an "idealized cure" that would completely eliminate the disease in 50 years or more, 83% of survey respondents said they prefer the more immediate solution. Despite this, JDCA research has found that only 2% of donations currently go toward practical cure projects.

In order to align donor expectations with progress toward a cure, Shaw said nonprofits and research centers need to focus on near-term projects and ensure that they are full funded and fully resourced.

"Diabetes charities have a responsibility to donors to shift funding toward projects that will deliver a cure in our lifetime," Shaw said. "They should prioritize research based on the likelihood of finding a cure for people currently living with diabetes, not future generations."

The JDCA's third survey of the diabetes community polled 251 U.S. adults who either have type 1 diabetes or have a family member or close friend with the disease. To download a copy of the survey report and additional JDCA research, visit the JDCA reports page at http://www.thejdca.org/publications-2/reportsbydate/.

About the JDCA

The JDCA is an independent analyst of the type 1 diabetes charitable universe and brings a business-like perspective to help donors focus research toward a practical cure. The mission of the JDCA is to achieve a type 1 practical cure before 2025 by steering donor contributions to the most effective charities.

The JDCA report is available online at: http://www.thejdca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Cure-Attitude-and-Trends-Survey.pdf

Source: Diabetes Health

Consumption of Raw Sugar Leads to Toxic Glycation

We’ve all heard it many times by now - the consumption of refined sugar is killing people. 

And it’s true. As a matter of fact, I often refer to sugar as the “American diet culprit” — a statement that I stand behind 100%.

But how exactly is sugar killing us? Or let me ask it this way: What is sugar really doing to our cells and tissues that is so very harmful?

Below, we’ll answer this by investigating the pathological reaction involving sugar. We’ll also explain how you can prevent it from happening to you, naturally.

Sugar Reacts to Cause Dangerous Glycation

First off, sugar is very reactive … chemically speaking. It readily combines, or reacts, with cell-surface proteins and fats. This reaction is called glycation and it’s not a good thing at all.

Every molecule of protein and fat in your body has a distinct structure and form. If the structure or form is changed, even just slightly, the result can be complete dysfunction of the protein or fat.

We call this the “structure-function” relationship of molecules. The need for a specific structure to perform a function can easily be envisioned if we think about the way a key has to fit into a lock.

In fact, the “lock and key” model in biochemistry is used to describe the need for a perfect match between a protein enzyme and its binding site. In another example, think about it on a more grand scale.

Look at your hand. It has a very detailed and specific structure to it. Crushing your hand in an industrial accident and breaking all of your fingers, changes your hand’s structure.

In a “crushed” form, your hand cannot function as a hand. Your hand has lost its “structure-function” relationship.

Sugar Destroys Structure-Function Relationships

The same is true for proteins and fats on the surface of your cells. When sugar reacts with a surface protein, say a receptor for a hormone, it changes the receptor’s structure and ultimately its function as a specific hormone receptor.

What does this mean to the cell? Well, the hormone, which carries a specific message for the cell, can no longer pass on its message. And keep in mind that the hormonal message could very well be essential for the cell’s function and survival. And that’s just one example.

Destroying the structure of a cell-surface protein or fat through glycation will destroy its function. The cell membrane becomes damaged and the cell dysfunctions. This inevitably is followed by tissue damage, organ failure, and organism death.

Bottom-line: Too much sugar undergoes a dangerous reaction called glycation. So let’s take a look at some ways of preventing it.

Carnosine Sacrifices Itself to Protect Your Cells

Carnosine is a unique small protein, called a dipeptide, which can interfere with the glycation process.^1,2 It probably protects against glycation in two ways. 

First, it may, in a sense, “sacrifice itself.” Instead of sugar reacting to critical cell proteins, it will attack supplemented carnosine instead. I like to call it the glycation martyr. 

Secondly, carnosine seems to have an ability to help “unfold” (return to normal) the structure of glycated proteins. In a laboratory study, researchers showed that glycated alpha-crystallin (a protein) unfolded and returned to normal structure after carnosine was added.¹ 

Supplementing with 1 gram a day of carnosine may help people with sugar issues reduce the amount of glycation their cells and tissues experience.

Benfotiamine Manages Normal Sugar Reactions

Another way to prevent glycation is to make sure sugar undergoes normal metabolism — meaning it’s used properly for energy or safely stored away for later use. This is wherebenfotiamine comes into play — a fat soluble form of vitamin B1. It can help ensure sugar is correctly metabolized.³

Benfotiamine is a co-factor for the enzyme transketolase — which is critical to blood sugar metabolism. In a landmark study, it boosted healthy transketolase activity in cell cultures. The result was activated glucose metabolism, resulting in healthy blood sugar levels and less sugar available for glycation reactions.³ 

The researchers concluded that benfotiamine could help inhibit advanced glycation reactions, maintain healthy endothelial, retinal, kidney and nerve cell function.

Special Forms of B6 Inhibit Glycation

Sub-forms of vitamin B6, like pyridoxamine and pyridoxal-5’-phosphate, have been shown to protect critical cellular fats and proteins against glycation reactions.⁴

They probably work similar to benfotiamine by helping our cells manage sugar better and stopping glycation early on, before too much damage occurs. In any case, research has clearly shown that supplementing with them can minimize glycation reactions.

A team of biochemists at the University of South Carolina, for instance, were able to show that these sub-forms of B6 trap reactive metabolites formed during the initiation of glycation. They then chaperone them harmlessly into the urine before too much damage occurs.⁵ 

Sugar – How Sweet It Isn’t

So here’s the takeaway: Sugar is not a sweet, innocent compound. It’s highly reactive and can cause great structural damage to critical proteins and fats. Once structurally damaged, these proteins and fats cannot function properly.

So what can you do to protect yourself? First, start off by eating less sugar. Then, also consider supplementing with the triad of anti-glycation nutrients mentioned above — carnosine, benfotiamine and special forms of vitamin B6.

References:

1. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2004 Jul 1;427(1):110-5.
2. Exp Gerontol. 2009 Apr;44(4):237-42.
3. Nature Med. 2003 Mar;9(3):294-9.
4. J Lipid Res. 2006 May; 47(5): 964-74.
5. J Biol Chem. 2003 Oct 24;278(43):42012-9.

Source: Life Extension Blog