Simple Health Cures

   What are Super Foods? Science and research have anointed them as anti-stress, life expanding and disease preventig foods. They are legumes, fruits and vegetables that have been around forever. The super foods listed below can be quite beneficial to a diabetic.

Almonds and Walnuts- Almonds and walnuts are rich in monosaturated good fat that contains many micro nutrients, vitamin E and fiber. They are known to lower the risk of heart disease. In addition walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids which are known for their health benefits.

Blueberries and strawberries- Besides being delicious, they are loaded with properties such as low in calories, rich in iron, fiber and vitamin C and high in antioxidants.

Beans- They are rich in protein, fiber slow metabolizing complex carbohydrates and folic acid.

Dark greens- They are delicious, satisfying and rich in nutrients. If looking for calcium, folate, vitamin C, potassium, carotenoids and fiber, your mantra should be GO GREEN. The choice is plenty , broccoli, spinach, kale etc to name a few.

Garlic- This spice lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and retards growth of harmful bacteria.

Yellow fruits- Apricots, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, carrots, peaches and butternut squash. They are loaded with carotenoids, the powerful heart protectors. In addition they contain fiber, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and potassium.

Fish- Wild salmon and other fatty fish caught in wild contain the beneficial omaga-3 fatty acids that lower cardiac risks.

Olive Oil- This monosaturated fat is beneficial in lowering cholesterol and fighting heart disease.

Dark Chocolate- Contains flavonols and antioxidants that improve the flow of blood throughtout the body and reduce blood pressure.

Green tea- Low in caffeine, and if drunk on regular basis it is known to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

   If included in the daily diet these super foods can improve one’s life phenomenally and help fight diseases.

   Diabetes and its complications can be life altering. It can become very strenuous and taxing to live with health problems caused by diabetes. Short term complications can happen quickly such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis and hyper-osmolar syndrome.

   Long term complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, disease of the eyes, peripheral vascular disease and more can seriously compromise the diabetic person.

   Some of the complications arising due to diabetes are as follows:

   Atherosclerosis: In simple words it translates to hardening of arteries, which can lead to coronary arterial disease, peripheral arterial disease, a stroke or a heart attack.

   Diabetic Retinopathy: It is an eye disease without any early symptoms and warning and can lead to loss of vision.

   Diabetic Nephropathy: It is a kidney disease again without any early symptoms and can lead to kidney failure.

   Diabetic Neuropathy: It is a nerve disease, which affect internal organs and cause loss of sensation especially in the feet.

   Sexual Dysfunction: and yeast infections in the genital areas, which may lead to a loss in sexual intercourse.

   Risk of Tuberculosis: It is increased due to uncontrolled hyperglycemia and since tuberculosis is an airborne disease it is difficult to protect a diabetic from contracting it.

   Adhesive Capsulitis: Also known as “Frozen Shoulder” it is a condition in which the individual loses mobility in the shoulder joint over a period of time and it is a very painful condition to live with.

   Depression: And diabetes go hand in hand to make the individual’s life miserable.

   Loss of Limbs is another complication of Diabetes.

   Although the above mentioned complications arising due to diabetes are overwhelming, there is a lot that one can do to protect oneself through blood glucose control, exercise and diet.

   What an individual eats is closely connected to the amount of sugar in the blood stream. Hence it seems only natural that the food choices one makes will be helpful in regulating the blood glucose levels. There isn’t a specific diabetes diet, what helps one is a designed meal plan.

   A meal plan tells an individual how much food and what kind of food one can eat. For most people who have diabetes a healthy diet consists of 40% to 60% of calories from carbohydrate’s, 20% from protein and 30% or less from fat. It should be low in cholesterol, low in salt and low in added sugar.

   Eating right is a key step to preventing and controlling diabetes. The key to a diabetes diet is eating in moderation, sticking to regular mealtime and eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Although diabetes is on rise, most cases through good nutrition diabetes can be reversed too.

   Here are a few guidelines for eating right:

1- What one eats makes a large difference to one’s health. It means including maximum plant food in one’s diet, cutting back on refined carbohydrates and choosing healthy fats over unhealthy ones.

2- Eating on time is also very important part of nutrition because sticking to regular meal times can affect blood sugar levels and can help in keeping them more constant.

3- How much one eats also matters. Portion sizes should be taken care of because overeating can increase weight which can have adverse effect on body since eight gain and diabetes are related.

   A diabetic diet is simply a healthy eating plan that is high in nutrients, low in fat, and moderate in calories. It is a healthy diet for anyone.

    Exercise is beneficial for both diabetics and non-diabetic. According to researchers, people on the brink of developing diabetes who follow exercise and diet regime can turn things around and avoid the disease. Type 2 diabetes is linked to poor exercise and lack of diet.

   Through exercise people can lose weight and this weight is generally accompanied by a lowering of their rate of diabetes. Diabetes can be avoided or delayed through intensive effort and this intensive effort translate into exercise. Exercise has the potential to control diabetes through non-medical means.

   It also has the ability to reduce its severity and in the process long term complications associated with diabetes. It helps control diabetes by:

1- Improving body’s insulin usage

2- Improving insulin sensitivity by burning excess body fat

3- Improving muscle strength

4- Increasing strength and bone density

5- Reducing stress and anxiety

   Along with proper nutrition, aerobic exercise can increase insulin sensitivity and can help restore normal glucose metabolism by reducing body fat. Strength training is also known to decrease fat by increasing metabolism. It also increases glucose uptake by muscle and enhances their ability to store glucose.

   Medication alone cannot make a diabetic feel good and enjoy a full life. A combination of exercise and nutrition can not only control diabetes but can prolong an individuals life and improve its quality, which really matters in the long run. It’s not the quantity of life that matters if not combined with great quality.

   Since diabetics after exercising can see a twenty percent decrease in their blood glucose levels, measuring one’s blood glucose before exercising can be a good motivator. One must remember regardless of diabetes and weight problems that exercise is a lifetime commitment and should be done at least three to four times a week.

   Relaxation therapy is an alternative medicine, which is capable of taking many forms. Diabetics through the changing face of diabetes management are learning that to manage stress and relax body and mind can be one of the effective ways of managing diabetes.

   Guided imagery or visualization can affect the state of person mind. People with an optimistic approach towards life enjoy better health as compared to others. Guided imagery teaches how to create a mental image which helps relax and distress the person.

   In diabetics, this mental image reflects the person’s preception of this diabetes. These reactions of the diabetic are recorded, explored and discussed with the therapist. The therapist then helps the diabetic to change the image of disease for better. It is also considered a kind of meditation technique since it releases stress.

   Since it produces a trance state it can be considered as a form of hypnosis therapy. Since it uses relaxation and stress reduction to treat a diabetic, it can also reduce and sometimes eliminate conventional medicines making it safe and a natural cure. The best part about guided imagery is that it empowers a diabetic by giving him the control to help relax and heal his body.

   Type 2 diabetes which generally appears after 40, is associated with obesity. The development of type 2 diabetes is based on genetic and environmental factors, food being one of them. Thus, the diet plays a pivotal role to help manage and control diabetes.

   This means opting for olive ol and shunning simple sugars and fats. Not only is olive oil offering a natural cure against diabetes, but also preventing diabetes since it reduces glucose levels, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood.

   Diabetics need to constantly watch what they eat to avoid rise in blood sugar levels. They are also at an elevated risk of developing heart disease, due to which diabetics are advised to limit their diet. Some research suggests that a diet high in monosaturated fat is better for a diabetic than a low fat and low carbohydrate diet.

   Not only does mono saturated fat diet checks glucose levels in blood but also reduces bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Olive oil is to a diabetic’s delight, rich in monosaturated fats. Another factor that works in favor of olive oil in case of a diabetic is that it tastes good and is satisfying too which eliminates cravings.

   Medical experts call diabetes a fast growing epidemic. Many people can prevent diabetes through simple lifestyle changes. We all have heard of the adage “Prevention Is Better Than Cure”. It is time to implement it now as an alternative medicine to keep diabetes as bay.

   The diabetes prevention protocol is for those people who are willing to take full responsibility of their health and went to stay away from diabetes. This involves making lifestyle changes by implementing healthy diet, body cleansing exercise and different natural therapies. When it comes to food it is important to stick to natural and healthy foods and avoid processed and preservatives laden foods.

   Body cleansing which is an important part of diabetes prevention involves cleansing of bowels: kidney, liver and a thorough dental clean up. Physical activity also helps in cleaning process. It brings balance to the body and relieves stress. Meditational exercise like Tai Chi, yoga etc. also helps relieve accumulated stress and helps fight the onset of diabetes by increasing immunity of the body.

   Rather than looking for a cure to treat diabetes and live with it and its complications it is better to prevent it from attacking your body. To achieve that we need to take charge of our bodies and adopt a diabetes prevention program today.

   The benefits of exercise in terms of fitness and staying healthy are well known to diabetic as well as normal people. In case of a diabetic exercise plays an important role in regulating the insulin within the body. When a diabetic person works out, his body doesn’t readily insulin from the pancreas due to a drop in glucose levels.

   This self regulation of insulin due to exercising reduces a diabetics dependency on insulin injections. Thus the right combination of exercise and nutrition can e an alternative medicine to cure diabetes.

   Regular exercise over a substantial period of time is known to reduce overall insulin requirements in a diabetic. Besides this, as muscles become trained due to regular exercise they improve their internal storage of glucose, which feeds back into the amount of glucose demand exercise and thus controls the entire cycle and reduces insulin dependency in a diabetic.

   Insulin is also known to maintain glucose levels within circulatory systems. Unregulated glucose levels are known to cause serious life threatening situations in case of diabetics suffering from diabetes mellitus. These insulin levels can be controlled through exercise and as a natural cure they can be beneficial in managing diabetes.

   Also known as “Mushroom of Immortality” in China, it has been used as a strengthening medicine for thousands of years. Research suggests that reishi may help diabetics as an alternative medicine since it can help manage diabetes. Research also suggests that the result on diabetics after using reishi have been similiar to insulin therapies.

   These muschrooms offer natural cure for a diabetic, since they have medicinal properties which dramatically lowers blood sugar. Reishi mushroom thus helps a diabetic manage his/ her diabetes through a natural way and without being insulin dependent.

   They are also known to aid detoxification of kidneys and liver and thus help them function in a more regulated manner. It is also known to strengthen immune system so that it protects the body much before the damage is done. Since they help body to adapt to different types of stress, they are known to keep adrenaline flowing evenly due to their low fight response.

   It helps diabetes because it is useful in building strong immune system. It also is an alternative medicine that helps maintain ans restore balance to body’s various systems. It is safe because it is not known to possess any unfavorable side effects and thus can be used on a long term basis.

   Detoxifing the body is important to get rid of unnecessary chemical overload in our bodies. However emotional detoxification or mind detox is also nescessary to have a healthy mind and soul. This is important because presence of negative emotions like stress, tension can produce toxic chemicals in our body.

   It has been observed that stress is one of the main causes of most illnesses, one of them diabetes. On a physical level detoxification is known a to alleviate physical pain, illness and diseases in the body. It helps on a mental level too by eliminating negative thoughts and beliefs.

   It improves emotional well being by getting mind rid of deep rooted feelings like anger, anxiety and resentment. These feelings cause unnecessary grief and stress. Mental detox helps a person feel lighter and have a healthier outlook toward life. Detox is also known to increase vitality and energy levels in a person.

   Mental detoxification can be practiced through meditation. Another good way of detoxifying mentally is by listening to soothing music that calms mind. For diabetics, detoxifying the body on mental level and physical level ensures that you lead a balanced and healthy life by eliminating abusive mental energy. Undoubtedly this alternative medicine approach towards diabetes provides natural cure and is safe.