Search Results for: blog reading food labels when you have diabetes

About the Diabetic Diet

Before I was put on the diabetic diet, I was told by some healthcare professionals that it is really the healthiest diet for anyone to be on – even if they aren’t diabetic. Now, I am not a nutritionist, so I can’t say if that is 100% true or not, but I know I have tried a few diets and the diabetic diet is the easiest to stick with as far as I am concerned. What makes the diabetic diet unlike other diets? Well, I for one don’t really get hungry. That is because on the diabetic diet, you eat … Continue reading →

Chromium Deficiency

Your body doesn’t need massive amounts of chromium, but it does need some chromium in order to function properly. The intestinal tract absorbs very low amounts of chromium — not much more than two and a half percent of the chromium consumed at best. What your body does manage to absorb gets stored in the liver, spleen, tissue, and bones. What helps improve chromium absorption? Vitamin C (found in fruits and veggies) Niacin (a B vitamin found in red meats, poultry, fish, and whole grains) You don’t necessarily have to stress about your chromium intake. The body needs very little … Continue reading →

Natural Sugars vs. Added Sugars

Do you have a sweet tooth? I sure do! But… there’s a long history in my family of diabetes. I do worry about how much sugar I get in my diet — both added sugar and natural sugar. Naturally sweet produce like fruits and some veggies (sweet potatoes, carrots, etc) make up a big part of my diet. There is a big difference between natural sugars and added sugars. The sugars in fruits and vegetables certainly aren’t as dangerous as added sugars. In fact, nutrition experts say that natural sugars don’t raise your diabetes risk the same way added sugars … Continue reading →

Latino Food Guide Pyramid

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There hasn’t been a lot of food news lately other than the same issues regarding cloned foods, tainted foods, and the ban on trans fats. But here is something I read recently that caught my eye: a new Food Guide Pyramid featuring traditional cooking and latino foods. Some of you who have been reading my blogs for awhile probably already know this but for those who don’t, I am a minority in a mostly Hispanic community. Being the cooking enthusiast that I am, I have since learned how to make pernil, sofrito sauce, adobo seasoning from scratch, arroz con gandules, … Continue reading →

Tip of the Day- It’s No Sugar Day!

If you had a hard time getting through “No Soda Day”, here’s a real treat for you! Today, just for today, try to go without sugar. Sugar has been named the bad guy in many a health problem. The most apparent is diabetes, but it also can be a major player in depression, yeast infections, headaches, and obesity, just to name a few. I wouldn’t dare suggest that you or I go without it for longer than a day. That would be extreme measures indeed. You’d be rebelling against me in masses. I’d probably have to escort myself to the … Continue reading →

How much salt are you eating?

Yes, salt is a necessary nutrient. But most of us eat far more salt than we actually need to be healthy. Most of us can eat as much as 6-9 grams of salt a day when we only need less than 3 grams. The Nutrition Facts Label lists a recommended daily value of 2,400 mg (2.4 grams) of sodium per day. That’s about 1 teaspoon of salt each day. Too much salt in your diet can cause fluid retention, and in about 50% of us, high blood pressure. It may also be a factor in osteoporosis because it causes us … Continue reading →

Reading Food Labels When You Have Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it isn’t enough to just watch your sugars. Reading the labels on your favorite foods can help you understand your blood sugar fluctuations and manage your diabetes better. Step One: Read the Ingredients Ingredients on the label are listed in descending order. The thing at the top of the list is in your food in the largest amount; each successive item is in a smaller amount than the one before it. Look for healthy ingredients like whole grains and monounsaturated fats. Know your sugars — anything that ends in -ose like lactose and sucrose or -tol … Continue reading →

Metamucil and Weight Loss

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OK, I’ll admit that the topic of fiber in our diets is something you might expect to find in a health blog by a vegetarian but this definitely belongs in a weight loss blog. Truth be told, I am a carnivore. I don’t have the discipline for a vegetarian diet. I believe human beings were given canines so that we too can rip into meat. After 39 years of living in this skin of mine, I have discovered that my body runs a whole lot better when it is running on a combined fuel of protein and vegetables. (Sadly, I … Continue reading →

Being “The Blood Sugar Police.” A Job I Didn’t Apply For

The title of “Mom” comes with many responsibilities. “Blood Sugar Police” was one I hadn’t planned on. It was one of those jobs I wish I could have politely turned down, but no. I was drafted into the position, like it or not, when my young son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age seven. Job Training I received my training at the Children’s Hospital of San Diego, where I learned to jab oranges with a syringe and measure blood sugar levels. (See my blog, “Oranges and Ball Machines: My Training In Caring for My Son’s Diabetes.”) I’ll be honest … Continue reading →