About Political Nutrition

Some say that Gluten-free, Grain-free, Paleo, low-carb, high-fat diets are just radical, extreme and unnecessary. I grew up, well, rather, out, on a low-calorie, low-fat eating plan. I'm a classic example of being raised in a home where some were thin, others not so much. So the thin ones ate whatever they wanted and the fat ones were constantly told to watch it. My sister got the baked potato, removed the potato and handed me back a potato skin, which I was then allowed to smear with that healthiest of all butter substitutes, margarine.

When they got snack cakes in their lunch, I got licorice. Low-fat. Never mind all that high fructose corn syrup, which I'm fairly certain had mega amounts to do with my current Type 2 diabetes.

Truthfully, I could have changed my diet whenever I wanted to. But when you are bombarded by the media hype... the government standards... and doctors who simply did not know any better, some still don't... you just keep trying.

For several years I've been following the accepted nutrition plans for diabetics. Taking medications, following all the rules. Sure my sugar levels have been ok. Don't worry about the weight I'm told, obviously you're doing things right. It's your age. Everyone gains weight at your age. Really? I don't think so. I think there's something amiss.

So one day, I stumbled accidentally across some references to The Wheat Belly Blog.

At first, I thought it was some sort of spam ad and I was misdirected. I'd been searching for how to lose weight and reduce chances of diabetic outcomes. But, cheezy graphics and all, I started reading.

I'm not saying this is the perfect plan. I'm saying it started me thinking about wheat. Whole grains. Corn. Starch. Calorie counting. And most of all... fat avoidance.

Here's a few more sites I found that were remarkably helpful. These are all science-based, medically sound sites. Not fitness gurus or marathon runner blogs. Respected Endicronologists, Osteopaths,  and their colleagues. Doctors who treat diseases by changing diet. Some of these guys do have things for sale, but that doesn't preclude their having very good advice.

The Rosedale Diet
Dr. Joseph Mercola

Sure there are detractors. Because for years the medical community has preached low-fat! Low fat! Don't eat the fat! And I was very very skeptical too.

But I was hungry. I ate whole grains and veggies and low sugar and still I was hungry. I limited my meats and still I was hungry. And I just kept gaining weight. Low calorie, low fat, low carb, hell I wasn't eating anything and gaining weight.

So, and this is just my radical liberal political side rearing it's head, I began to think about who owns the food chain. Who benefits from my eating, nay, being addicted, to triscuits? That wholesome whole grain cracker. Pretzels. Eat pretzels not chips. Ok. Wow, those are addicting too. Eat low fat sugar free pudding or sugar free jello. OK. Very tasty. But I'm still hungry. And I'm still buying food off a shelf in a box. The label says there's nothing that should make me fat. Hmm. And yet I am. My own doctor whom I adore suggested perhaps whole natural farm-to-table is an idea taking hold. So I started down that path, but at a pretty slow jog. I didn't research much, figured I'm intelligent enough to figure this out. I kept reading labels. Just didn't understand them. I'm smart, yeah. But science and nutrition are just not my thing. But the idea that the food on the shelves somehow wasn't really food kept gnawing at me, along with my stomach.

So I change tactics. Did some research. Admitted I don't know it all. Went back to those websites I mentioned. Out went the low-fat. Out went the whole grain. Out went all the grain. And starch. And boxes off shelves. And meats and poultry fattened with the same stuff I couldn't stop stuffing my face with. Is it possible that these foods are addicting and unhealthy? Is someone profiting from my misery? Just what is soy lecithin anyway?

The food and recipes on my blog are delicious or I wouldn't post them.They are as natural as I can get them, in the desert. Has it helped? Without question. My blood sugar stays between 90 and 110 almost all the time. If you use insulin DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT MEDICAL SUPERVISION I can't stress enough that this is a serious diet change for anyone. So even if you are fairly healthy I recommend checking in with your doc before doing this. It may not be suitable for you.

So, again, diabetics will understand poor circulation, especially in the summer, leads to swelling in the ankles and other joints. Gone. No, really. Gone.

The mid afternoon crash? Oh, about 3:30 when I MUST have a nap, or a snack? Nope. No crash. No hunger. No oh my god I need something to eat. Actually, I'm never really experiencing that kind of hunger anymore.

Now, haven't been for the semi-annual check up to know for sure about my cholesterol or A1C. But the needle on the scale keeps going to the left. It's been 2 years since I got that damn scale to cooperate. And everything tastes good. So. For me, this is how I am meant to eat. My genetic make-up requires it. Whole, real foods, without the grains. And without the middle-man manufacturer doctoring it up with ingredients you can't pronounce. I suppose it's just like they told us years ago. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it.

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