This article was originally posted in the USA Daily Chronicles.
If you suffer from one of these lifestyle conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or obesity, please read this article. I am Dr. John, a retired physician on a mission, and today I present the best ways you can return to a condition-free life.
Learn About The Role of Sweetness in the Body
The mistake we often make when we crave sweetness (often accompanied by a need for instant gratification) is that we end up consuming too much processed sugar or other complex carbohydrates to fulfill that longing. But did you know there are so many other options to satisfy your sweet tooth? Through recipes I provide in the Diabetes-Free Cookbook & Exercise Guide, I teach you to use healthy food-based sweeteners to satisfy your body’s cravings for sweet flavor.
Sweet flavors make up most of our normal meals.
Think about it . . . Breakfast in the Western world is typically cereal, a muffin, a donut, a croissant, sugar-laden yogurt, or some other carb-based food product like pancakes, waffles, or toast. Lunch is often a sandwich, pizza (bread), or maybe a hot dog or hamburger (wrapped in bread) or some noodles. And then for dinner, we want rice, potato, or pasta to go with our protein and a small portion of vegetables. This is also often accompanied by bread or rolls.
All of these complex carb-based food items qualify as “sweet” in the flavor index because on digestion they yield glucose. The problem is, that the quantity is way out of balance for good health, and the quality is usually lacking. The fact is, for thousands of years, humans used to eat simpler, less processed foods. The majority of foods now available in a standard supermarket had not been invented until maybe 100 years ago or less. In choosing these boxed and packaged convenience foods, we have created a huge health crisis. We need to get back to eating more natural ingredients that our bodies know how to digest and assimilate to return to an optimal state of health.
It can be life-changing to learn to use natural flavors in foods to shape your health.
As you become healthier, your body will reflect the changes concerning your tastes and cravings. You may be surprised to wake up one morning and have no desire for that tray of
pastries someone brought to the office!
To get started on this journey, take a moment to step back and observe your habits.
When you crave sweetness, try what nature has provided to us in their “natural packaging,” i.e., the sweetness of fruits. In doing this, you will experience reduced sugar cravings as a wonderful and beneficial side effect! Moreover, eating three different varieties of fruits a day can help the body acquire many nutrients to boost your immune system.
Ask Your Doctor These Questions About Lifestyle Conditions
The goal of these questions is to help you gain a clearer understanding of the real medical science of your condition and its treatment. However, some of these questions may challenge your doctor to question whether what he or she believes is accurate. This is potentially an opportunity for your doctor to update his or her knowledge on the topic and even to rethink your treatment plan.
Doctors are not right all the time, and sometimes patients must challenge them to go deeper in their understanding of the cause of a lifestyle condition and how best to help prevent or eliminate it.
Type 2 Diabetes
- How does oral medication reduce the glucose in my blood?
- What is the reason for my body to resist insulin?
- Is there a test to know the degree of my insulin resistance?
- My friend needs dialysis despite taking insulin. Will I have to do the same?
- Will my children develop diabetes? Have they discovered a gene for Type 2 diabetes?
Body Weight, Diets, and Eating for Nutrition
- I have normal blood glucose and cholesterol. My brother who is shorter and weighs less than me needs medicines to control blood sugar and cholesterol. Can you explain why?
- If I already have energy stored as fat, why do I feel hungry?
- When hungry, I eat almost the same amount of food to feel full. My toddler child eats varying amounts at each meal. Can you explain this?
- Is it better to eat smaller meals several times per day compared to fasting for longer periods to control my weight?
- Do you think exercise can prevent obesity and diabetes, even in an older person who has less muscle mass?
Cancer
- It is said that gene mutations cause cancer in adults. Is this true for children too?
- If cancer cells naturally occur in the body all the time, can we cure cancer?
- I am a cancer survivor. How can I slow the growth of any cancer cells that may still be present in my body?
- Can I improve my immune system to fight cancer by consuming a wide range of nutritious foods?
- Will my children inherit cancer genes?
Cardiovascular Disease
- Can you explain the role of good (HDL) cholesterol? What does it do?
- What happens to the cholesterol that is removed from my blood when I take a cholesterol-lowering medication? Where does it go?
- Can I consume bran from grain and get the benefits of whole grain?
- Can’t I get the same nutrients as I do in grains from the bran of seeds and nuts?
- I have high blood pressure, but I still enjoy salty foods. Can I still enjoy foods if I gradually reduce the food salt content slowly?
Take this advice, may it serve you well. To a happy and healthy life!
As a best-selling author and Nationally Syndicated Columnist, Dr. John Poothullil, advocates for patients struggling with the effects of adverse lifestyle conditions.
Don’t let Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes control your life – start a delicious new journey to a healthier, happier you today!
Discover how you can live a diabetes-free life with Dr. John’s groundbreaking cookbook and exercise guide. With over 80 appetizing low-carb recipes created by Chef Colleen Cackowski, you’ll never miss the high-carb, high-sugar foods of your past.
Every recipe nourishes your body and keeps your blood sugar levels in check so you can enjoy tasty, satisfying meals. Dr. John also offers 12 easy-to-do exercises to boost your flexibility and balance and keep you healthy as you age.
What people are saying…
Filled with tons of easy-to-make meals and encourages enjoyable meal planning for moms like me. I highly recommend this book to diabetics and families trying to live and eat healthily. —Maria Chalissery, M.Sc., Diet Technician
If you are looking for ways to improve your health and add more zing to your meals, these recipes are exactly what you need. —Jyoti Veeramoney, Chef, Certified Yoga Instructor
These exercises are great because they focus on dynamic movement that improves joint range of motion and flexibility. They require no equipment, build core strength and stabilization, and incorporate movements that can correct posture, which can decrease the risk of falling. —Sophia LaValle, NASM Certified Personal Trainer
