What Causes Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Type 2 diabetes is something that used to be mainly a problem in adults, but sadly it’s something that is also becoming a problem in children. So what causes Type 2 diabetes? Why is it that some people get it and other people don’t? here are some of the causes of type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity – One of the main reasons that people develop type 2 diabetes is that they are overweight. This is one reason why so many children are getting the disease. We are not eating as healthy as we should and that means that we are gaining too much weight.
- Poor Sleep Habits – Another big reason why people might get type 2 diabetes is that they are not getting enough sleep. A study of almost 9,000 adults show that when they slept less than five hours or more than nine hours were more likely to get type 2 diabetes due to the demand on their pancreas because of insulin and sugar imbalance.
- Lack of Physical Activity – The third big reason why people might be at risk for type 2 diabetes is that they are not as active as they should be. With computers, televisions, and other things that people do sitting down, people are not going out and getting exercise as they should be.
It’s easy to see that most of the causes of type 2 diabetes are easy to avoid. They simply require people to make changes to their everyday life. It’s not easy, but it can be done.
Lose Weight: Love Your Body
When I was in my twenties and now spilling into my early thirties, I have had a problem with weight, and weight fluctuation. Not enough of a problem to be called fat, but enough to keep me miserable and constantly struggling with fear. There was a problematic ten to fifteen pounds that I could never shake permanantly and it was so demoralizing. Anytime I went on a diet, it seemed I ended up gaining weight. I guess this makes sense now (psychologically), because if someone tells us not to think about brown monkeys, what will we think about? Basically, telling myself not to think about food, only made me more obsessed with it. It took up so much of my mind and I knew it was a complete waste of time....not just because it was completely self obsessed, but it wasn't even working! Deprivation is a lousy way to lose weight. I used to think about my weight problem constantly and would always wonder, "why can't I just eat what I want?" When people said they ate anything they wanted it sounded thouroughly insane to me. "But if I eat anything I want, then I'll start eating and never stop." After reading "Women Food And God", I tried to apply the new principles of the book...and yes, I did do that at first.....that is what I did. I ate anything I wanted hoping that I could trust my instincts. I was so discouraged! I gained ten pounds right out of the gate....but then I began to look for a natural rythym of things. I felt sick when I ate a whole tub of icecream, or I couldn't sleep when I drank coffee too late..... I had enough. I sincerely did not want to feel like crap. This is where the healing begins. So I let go of the diets and rules.
I met a woman recently who had lost a large amount of weight. She said the turning point for her was when she finally got the monkey off her back. I could relate. She says, "I didn't even care anymore if I was fat. I just wanted out of the hell I was putting myself through. If I couldn't be thin, I just wanted to be comfortable with my weight." Like many of us, the obsession had become horrific and she couldn't take it anymore. Once we let go of the obsession, we begin to realize that our weight doesn't matter. All that matters is that we are taking care of our body with love...if you can train your mind to take care of yourself with the intention of loving it, then the weight problem will disappear....one way or another.
Eggs: A good Source of Protein
Eggs are a good source of protein, but there has been some speculation over the years about the healthiest ways to consume them, and how many eggs are too many. Some body builders and movies stars eat only the egg whites......and some say you should eat the whole egg. Here are the facts, and you can decide for your self.
Eggs contain one of the highest-quality proteins available in any food including meats. But don't go throwing out the yolk because, in fact, the yolk part of the egg contains 45% of the protein, along with many vitamins and a good deal of minerals as well. Look for Omega-3 enriched eggs at your local grocery store, because these specially enhanced eggs provide nearly 200 mg of cholesterol-lowering omega 3s concentrated in the yolk. The egg yolk can also be an excellent source of the infection-fighting vitamin A, and also contains an important nutrient called phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine is part of a nutrient called lecithin and helps prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, which ends up protecting both your liver and your arteries. Numerous studies have re-visited the egg yolk and its benefits. The most recent studies have shown that adults can healthily consume up to two eggs per day without increasing serum cholesterol levels. Two substantial Harvard studies, published in April of 1999 in The Journal of The American Medical Association, examined egg consumption. They monitored approximately 40,000 men and 80,000 women over an eight - fourteen year period. After taking into consideration other dietary patterns, and risk factors, the researchers found that the people in their study who ate one egg a day or more were no more likely to experience a stroke or develop heart disease than those who consumed one egg a week or less. Thus, when it comes to breakfast food, you can count on eggs for a nutritious meal - poached, scrambled, hard cooked, or soft boiled.
Getting Protein as a Vegan
Since animal proteins play such an important role in the average person's diet vegans, are often challenged to find equivalent sources that provide the quality of amino acids that are only found in fish, meat, eggs and poultry. "The five most critical amino acids lacking in most vegan diets, according to biochemist Don Tyson, who ran the Aatron Medical Services Laboratory in Torrance, California, "are lysine, methionine, carnitine, taurine and tryptophan".
A start in the right direction for vegans might be taking a nutritional supplement containing methionine, lysine, taurine, and carnitine, with meals to make sure they are well-balanced in amino acids. There is also protein powders available that are made from peas that would be appropriate for vegans, because it is enhanced to contain the four amino acids. If you are vegetarians, rather then vegan, you have the opportunity of increasing whey protein shakes during your days while including the same amino acid supplement I advised above. Balanced amino acids are key for your body to repair and rebuild.
Beans can be a source of protein, but they also contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. For example, 8 ounces of chickpeas contain 120 grams of carbohydrates. Because of this beans can be tough to consume a lot of without gaining weight. Beans are really considered a carbohydrate. Furthermore, nuts are not a viable source of protein considering the amount of fat they contain in proportion to protein.
I have tried being vegan and vegetarian both. I gained weight. It is difficult for me and my body type (apparently) to function on a low protein high carb diet without gaining excess weight. I will continue to experiment, however, because I don't like eating animals. There has to be a better option, I just haven't found it yet.
Fat Flush Plan may Be Difficult for Vegetarians
So, I don't know if I can technically call my self a vegetarian cause I do eat fish occasionally, but The Fat Flush Plan takes the consumption of protien to a whole new level. Pretty much the diet calls for protien at every meal, but beans and nuts are not permitted for the first two weeks. I have committed to eating meat for the next two weeks to see if that is why I am gaining weight. All my personal trainers have always admonished me about not getting enough protien as a vegetarian. I have even heard that increasing protien consumption can boost your metabolism by 25%.
I have been eating more meat and two eggs per day (like the diet recommends) and I have felt so ill! I hate meat. I can tough it out for two weeks, but I am going right back to as little meat as possible after this. How much protein is needed? Anne Louise Gittleman addresses some of my most basic questions in her book. She says: In the past, 1 gram of protien for ever 2.2 punds of body weight was the standard, but now that has been changed. New research suggests that certain individuals may need much more than that. Some examples of people who may need more protien are; weight lifters, individuals having a larger more muscular frame, immunosuppressed individuals, and those suffering from protien defficiency. In case you are wondering the symptoms you may experience if you are not gettting enough protien they are water retention, saggy muscles, loss of muscle, expanding waistlines, fatigue, anemia, slow wound healing, and hair loss. The recommendation for protien has nearly doubled to 1 - 1.5 grams of protien per pound of body weight.
So far as exact amounts are concerned, the jury is still out. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Reasearch Council, recommends adult women get a MINIMUM of 58 grams, and adult men get 70 grams. The best way to find out what works best for you is by trial and error. You can add a couple of ounces of protien for lunch and dinner or include some high protein shakes for snacks.
Fat Flush Plan: Not Just another Diet
So, I was trying the "eating and listening to my body plan" and I gained 10 pounds. Is gaining weight one way to listen to my body? I think so. I did The Fat Flush Plan a long time ago and although there are no quick fixes, The Fat Flush Plan comes close. Written by Anne Louise Gittleman, she details how she researched high and low, and beyond the conventional answers to uncover the root cause of unexplained weight gain.
I have been following The Fat Flush Plan closely for the past five days and lost 7 pounds. Yesterday evening was my husband's birthday and I ate A LITTLE cake, ice cream, a hamburgurger bun, cheese, and croutons. I gained 6 pounds back immediately. Since there is no way the extra food I consumed weighed anywhere near six pounds, it brings me to one conclusion. Some foods make my body retain tons of water. So.....weight gain needs to be a way we listen to our bodies. The only way to know what is irritating my body is to do the Fat Flush Plan, which eliminates many offending foods from your diet for a certain amount of time, then allows you to add them back in slowly....to see which ones are irritiating you.
I thought all this time it was only about too many sweets over a period of time, or junk food. But for many, it could really be about how our bodies are reacting to the foods we eat. I am going to read the book this weekend and write an in depth analysis of what I read, and also what I observe in my own body for the next two weeks.
Aspartame is a Strain of E-Coli
Stop eating or drinking foods and drinks that contain aspartame!!!!!!!
a very harmful substance. Someone told me the other day that aspartame is a genetically modified form of E-coli. I was like "yeah right". Then I looked it up and they were right! Did you know E-coli is poop? I am not being crass. When you ingest asparatame you are literally ingesting poo. I cannot believe this substance is on the market....and I can't belive that many of us drink at least one Diet Coke per day; A can of poo. The list of items containing aspartame includes many things such as; diet sodas and sugar free foods containing Equal, NutraSweet or SweetnLow. A little history of how this "ingredient" made its way onto our supermarket shelves. When aspartame was put before the FDA for approval in 1973, it was denied eight times. G.D. Searle, who was the founder of aspartame, tried repeatedly despite reports from neuroscientist Dr. John Olney and researcher Ann Reynolds, hired by Searle himself, that aspartame was dangerous. Dr. Martha Freeman, a scientist from the FDA Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Products, declared, “the information submitted for review is inadequate to permit a scientific evaluation of clinical safety.” Dr. Martha Freeman further recommended that "until the safety of aspartame was proven, marketing the product should not be permitted." Her recommendations were clearly ignored (since it is everywhere now). Somehow in 1974, Searle managed to get approval to use aspartame in dry foods. Then in 1975, the FDA put together a special group to review Searle’s testing methods. Task force team leader Phillip Brodsky said he “had never seen anything as bad as Searle’s testing and actually called test results, “manipulated.” In 1977, the FDA asked the U.S. attorney’s office to start grand jury proceedings against Searle for “knowingly misrepresenting findings and concealing material facts and making false statements in aspartame safety tests”.
In short, aspartame has been on the market with no regard to our safety and health. It is proven harmful. It becomes increasingly obvious that we must do our own research when it comes to taking care of our bodies. We cannot count on the FDA to protect us.
Steps to Inquiry
Today I am posting a link to a great article outlining the steps to inquiry....a method encouraged by Geneen Roth, to finding the root of your problems....whether it is eating, drinking, drugs, or working. Below are some good questions that might open you up to getting to know your self better. Perhaps by answering these questions below, it might uncover some hidden beliefs that you could "inquire" about.
Some good questions to ask your self before an Inquiry might be:
1) How much effort am I making to learn and grow from each experience in life, both easy and difficult?
2) What are my beliefs about:
My body - Do I believe I am too fat, too skinny or just right? Do I believe my body serves me or do I serve my body?
My relationships - Do they nourish me? What purpose do they serve for growth in my life? Do I believe I am treated well?
My work - Is it fulfilling?
My spirituality - Do I trust in a higher power? Does a higher power exist?
Sex - What role does it play in my life? Do I experience shame or joy around it? Do I misuse it? Do I see it as a vehicle for spiritual and emotional expression?
My Money? (Do I believe it is the root of all evil or does it simply give me the freedom to do what I want in life? Do I have a lot of fear around making it or keeping it?
3) When in my life am I fully present? In my job? With my partner and kids? When I am working? When I am playing? When I am alone?
4) Where in my life am I hiding? In other words, where do I privately know that I need to take more responsibility and/or become fully present?
5) Where in my life am I flirting with disaster?
Oprah Winfrey and Geneen Roth “Women Food and God”
I am watching Oprah today, and it is a repeat. The author for "Women Food and God, " Geneen Roth discusses her book. I appreciate seeing the show again, because the first time I saw the concepts such as; "you owe it to yourself to care for yourself," and you must learn to find the kindness and love within yourself seemed new. I have now read her book and tried to apply the principles so I have some experience to work with. Geneen maintains that Shame and self loathing do not lead to change. We must learn to look at ourselves with different eyes. I have been struggling with my weight or keeping weight since I was a young girl. Looking in the mirror is a struggle, currently, because all I see is my flabby arms and my chubby cheeks and thighs. Geneen Roth says "kindness is the only answer." Its never too late to change.
Well, since I saw the show last time, I have tried more conscious eating. I have tried not to overeat or undereat. I have tried not to compulsively cut out all sweets, and become a food nazi. I have quickly gained 10 pounds. I feel shame. Ok. Genenn Says you will never stop the yo yo until you address the underlying pain, we will never be able to give up the struggle. Have I ever addressed my core beliefs? Why can't I trust myself to care for myself? Why did I eat ice cream or cake every night last week? I am making some progress (I credit myself), because I did stop when I experienced fullness.....sometimes even throwing the rest away rather then forcing it down." I just don't understand where the line is? Where does treating yourself become abusing yourself. I guess I mostly related with the last woman who talked. She had imagined her life differently and feeling differently once she got to her goal weight. When she reached the goal weight and didn't feel any different inside, she would start to gain weight again. She said she had to learn to care for her emotions separately then her body. She realized, if she listened to her body and what it needed, she could trust it to communicate effectively. It was when she mixed up her emotions with what she was choosing to eat that she crossed the line.
More on this subject tomorrow.
Nutrition During Pregnancy
Nutrition during pregnancy can be a chance to evaluate and rethink your bodies nutrtitional needs. I really enjoyed a basic article outlining simple facts about nutrition during pregnancy. Today we will write one more blog about how much weight you should be gaining while pregnant. Since many women reading this blog may be pregnant for the first time, it is a very common question to have. How much weight should I be gaining during my pregnancy? What is healthy? As an expecting mother, you want to be sure your baby is getting all the nutrients it needs, without giving in to emotional cravings. Of course it is hard to know what is best! For starters, nearly 30% of American Women today are obese when they begin their pregnancies. This statistic is determined by body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (5 foot 4 inch woman who weighs 175 pounds). How much weight should be gained while pregnant is constantly being debated. The federal governement updated its pregnancy guidelines in 2009, concluding that gaining 11 to 20 pounds is ideal. Some still argue that this is too much. For an obese pregnant women a nutritious diet of 2000 - 2500 calories per day would lead to weight gain of roughly 10 pounds..... and in some cases weight loss. Nearly 75% of obese women put on more than 15 pounds during pregnancy. More and more studies are linking excess weight gain with health problems with moms and babies. Unfortunately most previous attempts to limit weight gain for pregnant woman have failed because it is not all under the mother's control. During pregnancy the placenta secretes all kinds of hormones that, along with genetic makeup of the fetus, may affect appetite, or metabolism. The most important thing to remember if you are expecting, is to eat healthfully and moderately, while maintaining a low impact exercise program.
