Tidbits of Information for Your Health; for Diabetics and Others as Well

The following are small "tidbits" of information that are important to our health.  Take a few minutes to read these.  You will probably learn something regarding your health you didn't already know.  If not, a reminder once in a while is a good thing!

YOUR MOTHER WAS RIGHT!  Eat your fruits and vegetables.  Study after study confirms that fruits and vegetables are vitally important to our diet.  For one thing, that is where most of the natural cancer fighters are found.  That should be enough reason to be sure your plate contains plenty of veggies and fresh fruits!

A 1 1/4-inch cube of cheese equals a serving.

Potassium helps to control water balance in the body.  It helps with regulating nerve impulses, muscle contractions, and this is very important--heart rhythm.  It is very important to keep your potassium level regulated to prevent heart rhythm problems that can be very serious.  Potassium is found in fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, milk and milk products.  Potatoes and bananas are two excellent sources of potassium.

Replace whole milk and cream in your diet with fat-free milk and fat-free or skim evaporated milk.  You will still get the benefits of milk without all the fat.  If it is too hard to make the change suddenly, start by combining fat-free milk with whole milk and gradually reducing the amount of whole while increasing the amount of fat-free.

 When driving to a picnic, put the picnic basket in the car; not in the trunk.  Temperatures inside the trunk will quickly jump to over 150 degrees on a typically hot day.

For a healthier diet, switch from white bread to whole-grain breads, from regular pasta products to whole-grain pastas, eat whole-grain cereals and mix whole-wheat flour with all-purpose flour.  This is especially important for the diabetic.

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, women with diabetes are one-and-one-half times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than women who do not have diabetes.

San Francisco diabetes specialist Dr. Gary Arsham, co-author of the book Diabetes:  A Guide to Living Well, says he finds that for many of his patients a diagnosis of diabetes makes their lives better.  "What?", you might say.  Once many patients absorb the lifestyle changes that come with a diagnosis of diabetes, they actually admit to being slimmer, happier, and healthier than they were.  "It's inspiring," says Dr. Arsham.  "Although diabetes is still a challenge, I see people with the disease becoming so much more alive, energetic, and vibrant than ever before.  They feel better and are motivated to keep on taking good care of themselves."

Your blood glucose levels before meals should be between 90 and 130.  Two hours after a meal your number should be under 160.

 Here are three ways to lower your risk of getting diabetes.  And believe me, you don't want it!  1) Watch your weight and keep it within the healthy range.  Around 90% of diabetics are overweight.  2)  Eat less fat.  3) Increase your amount of exercise.  Even a small increase in exercise is beneficial.  Exercise helps your muscles better absorb the sugar in your blood.