The Importance of Weight Loss

Losing weight is important, primarily for diabetics. 95% of diabetics are overweight or obese. Abdominal fat is particularly dangerous as it acts like a separate body organ secreting compounds that interfere with the absorption of glucose into the many cells of the body.

Simply by losing a few extra pounds you can go a long way toward proper blood sugar control.

Of course losing weight isn’t that easy to do for many people. As you age you tend to add pounds and getting it off and keeping it off becomes a major challenge. Fad diets and many of the weight loss products being marketed simply don’t work as you are likely to lose it and gain it all back eventually. That’s great news for the proponents of the diet program, but not for you.

What you need to understand is that it takes more than eating less of the foods you love. The major barrier to losing weight rests with the diet you are currently consuming. It’s the kind of food we eat that contributes to weight gain. And the kind of food you eat is loaded with fat, sugar, chemicals and other unwholesome ingredients. You eat foods that are convenient. You eat on the run. You eat food that is highly processed. That kind of food transforms rapidly into blood sugar and causes dangerous spikes that ultimately damage the major organs of the body and deaden the delicate nerves in both the feet and eyes. It’s not how much you consume that’s important but what you consume!

Simply by switching from the typical highly processed food to a high fiber diet can help toward losing excess weight. High fiber foods take longer to digest and lead to a slower rise in blood sugar which the body can cope with. The trouble is that you don’t always have time to prepare a wholesome meal. But fresh fruit and vegetables have high fiber and that contributes to health.

Take a look at this list of food: Garlic; Spinach, Oats; Barley; Broccoli, Flax seed, Fish.

Chances are you are NOT eating any of these foods, yet they are among the healthiest foods you can consume. Fruits and vegetables are not high on the list of foods for children and adults alike. With our highly stressed lifestyle, you eat what’s convenient and eat too much of it.

If diet was all that mattered, you’d have an easier time to lose weight. But there are other factors besides just the right diet that plays a part on how successful you will be in shedding the pounds. Family history of obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and drinking habits, age and the type of drugs need to be addressed before you can safely lose weight.

In this article we are looking at weight loss through diet alone. This will help you lose some of those pounds. The first step to weight loss is to look at what foods you should avoid and what food you should replace them with. Hamburgers, fries and Coke only help you pack on extra pounds. Substituting these foods with a balanced meal of protein, high fiber carbohydrates and the right kind of fat such as omega-3 oils will make you feel full longer and curb those cravings that occur after a high calorie, low fiber meal. A fruit makes for a better snack than chips and a chocolate bar.

While your doctor may insist you lose weight, you need to keep in mind that many standard medications that you currently take can lead to weight gain. Except for metformin, other drugs used to treat diabetes help toward weight gain. Even insulin can leads to weight gain if you are overweight.

To be sure the best way to shed pounds is by taking an aggressive approach; switch your eating habits to include wholesome high fiber foods and get on a daily exercise regimen. Don’t expect to see a dramatic loss in your weight. It takes time to establish a routine diet. But perseverance is the key.

Eventually you will feel better, have more energy and find that you no longer crave or desire the food that has made you fat.

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The author has been a diabetic for over 9 years. Like many he experienced the symptoms. He has since tackled the disease by losing weight and normalizing his blood sugar through natural means.  He has recently written an ebook on the right way to diet for diabetics. You can get a copy at: http://stores.lulu.colm/mrmagica

7 Essential Herbs for Diabetics

Herbs are essential elements of everyday life. While they are not given the same emphasis as vitamins and minerals, they help to maintain health and prevent disease and illness. Unfortunately in today’s world many people simply do not get enough essential nutrients and that has lead to the influx of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

If you are diabetic you are likely taking some drug to normalize your blood sugar. Unfortunately, these drugs do not address the complications that affect most diabetics: Neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney failure and gum disease can shorten your lifespan.

The trouble stems mostly from a lack of essential nutrients. Considering that the average American gets far less than the RDA levels, it’ no surprise that major illnesses affect so many. Diabetics are particularly vulnerable to suffering from complications. Their kidneys in an effort to get rid of excess sugar throw out many os the vitamins and minerals so necessary to maintain eyesight and organ function. In fact, diabetics need to take MORE than a non-diabetic. Supplementation is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY.

There are a number of herbs that can help you avoid and prevent diabetic complications. Along with vitamins and minerals, taking herbs can help you avoid the amputations, blindness and early death. Here are 7 of the most important:

Gymnema Sylvestre has been used in India for centuries to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. It is a plant that grows in the tropical regions of India. In one study 400 mg of Gymnema extract was given to 22 type 2 diabetic patients along with their oral medications. All of them experienced improved blood glucose control and 5 of them were able to discontinue their drug use. Direct application of this herb to the tongue helps people eat fewer calories at a meal. It enhances the action of insulin. Recommended dosage is 200 mg two times a day.

Bitter Melon: As the name implies is not easy to take. It’s a cucumber like plant that grows in Asia, South America and Africa. It’s strength lies in its ability to lower blood sugar. Just 2 ounces of the juice was shown to improve glucose levels in 73% of type 2 diabetics in one study.

Fenugreek seeds were often used in folk medicine to treat diabetes. In order to lower blood sugar, about 15 to 50 grams twice daily is needed. The active ingredient is the soluble fiber along with the alkaloid trigonelline. It helps both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Considering its bitterness, it’s not very palatable to swallow in capsule form. You should use it as a spice as the East Indians use.

Salt Bush is native to the Middle East. Just 3 grams taken daily has shown to provide improved blood sugar regulation in type 2 diabetes.

Bilberry, known as European blueberry, was used in France since 1945 to treat retinopathy, the deterioration of the retina in the eye, one of the many complications from diabetes. It protects the macula of the diabetic eye. Many diabetics have found improved vision using supplements from 80 to 16o mg 3 times a day.

Gingkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living trees that has survived over 200 million years. So adaptable one survived the nuclear blast in Hiroshima. Over a thousand scientific studies have been done over the last 40 years showing the value of ginkgo biloba in effective treatment of diabetes. The extract is widely prescribed in Europe today. It’s an effective antioxidant. It improves the body’s circulation and expands the small capillaries that nourish the extremities in the eyes, hands and feet. It inhibits the stickiness of cells, and helps reduces inflammation and allergic responses. It improves overall circulation in the body.

Ginseng is one of the oldest herbs known. It helps to lower blood pressure and can even raise it if it is too low. Just 3 grams before a meal can reduce blood sugar spikes in type 2 diabetics. American ginseng helps to stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas and thus increase the output of insulin. Native Americans often used the herb. Korean ginseng increases insulin sensitivity and helps lower blood sugar.

Consider taking these herbs for better blood sugar control. Using them will help avoid the complications that many diabeticsw suffer.

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The author has been a diabetic for over 9 years. Like many he experienced the symptoms. He has since tackled the disease by losing weight and normalizing his blood sugar through natural means.  He has recently written an ebook on the right way to diet for diabetics. You can get a copy at: http://stores.lulu.colm/mrmagica