I honestly can't think of a better slogan than Nike's "Just Do It." It eludes to many things, but simplifies the action for one to get up and go - run, sign up for a race, try something new, enjoy an active lifestyle, etc.
When you make a decision to open the refrigerator and stare longingly at the shelves filled with food…or possibly empty with only a few options to choose from, and not all of them healthy, do you think with your mind, your stomach, or your blood glucose meter?
Let’s pretend for a moment that the refrigerator has a giant pad lock on it. The key to unlock that deadbolt is insulin. When insulin (and enough of it) is present, the door becomes unlocked and food can be placed in the fridge to be used later for energy. Now if that insulin key is not available, or in not enough of a quantity, it becomes more and more difficult to fit the food in the fridge and the fridge becomes empty and in turn starts growling at you.
Just a few weeks ago we experienced Super Bowl 2015, but in Chicago, we had Super Bowl on-top of a hefty snow storm. Record breaking actually, and somehow my insane (awesome) friends still made it to our party.
Anyone who has lived with diabetes for any length of time knows that every day is a teachable moment when inquisitive strangers, co-workers or family members ask questions (or make assumptions) about what we can and cannot eat. A lot of the misunderstandings come from the fact that most people only know very little about diabetes from either the news media or from a friend/famil
The new year welcomes an opportunity for a new start. This January I implore you to not make a New Year’s resolution (they don’t last long enough), but to strive to build habits that help you gain on your health. Here are a few ideas:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s also a time of year that is littered with obstacles to good health: parties, dinners, travel, LOTS of shopping to do, and stress! So this holiday season, give yourself a break and aim to maintain: maintain your weight, maintain your blood sugar, and maintain your sanity. Here are a few ways you can do just that!
Have a Plan
Anyone can relate with this topic, and blood sugar control does not pertain to only those with diabetes. Stable blood sugar is something we should all aim for when striving to eat a healthy diet and living a mindful lifestyle. Stable blood sugar offers optimal digestion, sleep, energy, mental clarity and more.
It's easy to quickly come up with dozens of paleo, real food breakfast ideas, but when asked to list 10 clean breakfast options sans eggs, it can take some thought. Indeed I got creative hence I want to suggest meals that are higher in protein, which is my bottom-line recommendation for anyone to start off their day.
Have you ever walked into the grocery store, planning to get the basic items you will need for your weeks meal plan, and find yourself with bags packed full of items not on your list? Clever marketing strategies and sneaky layouts make it almost inevitable you will end up buying something you were not planning on and most likely that ‘something’ is not exactly healthy.
Grocery stores are designed to make you linger longer, and the longer you linger, the more you are likely to buy. A lot of people will run to the grocery store because they need milk or maybe some eggs. So why is it that the dairy section is in the very back of the store? You may say, because that’s where the refrigerators are. Yes, but the main reason is that for those people only coming into the store to buy milk will have to walk through the entire store (and in turn say no to numerous marketing ploys to get them to buy the latest new cookie, chip, bar or whatever it is) to get their milk. And most of the time, because they did have to say no to so many temptations on their way, they will end up giving in and eventually saying yes to something and leaving the store with more than just the milk
So what can you do to avoid the traps of the supermarket? Below are some tips to shop well and eat well and ensure you are leaving the store with exactly what you came for.
You may not be a nutritionist or a dietitian, but I can guess you have an idea of what to eat, or at least you know it's a good thing to eat real food, that has not been processed (high quality meat/seafood, vegetables (lots!!), fruit, nuts/seeds and healthy fats). Yes? Then what may be holding you back on reaching your current health goal?
Consistently I see a need with my patient population for advice on how to execute the best steps to eating well. In today's post, I have listed some of my tips to get over this hurdle.