Carbs and Diabetes

Did you know that by being obese you are at significant risk for developing type 2 diabetes? Did you know that populations of people in the world who eat the most carbohydrates have the lowest incidence of diabetes?

Somehow, we have gotten the message all wrong. People who eat a high-fat, high-protein diet are much more likely to become overweight and diabetic. A high carbohydrate, low-fat diet may help prevent diabetes.

What carbs should you be eating? The best way to lose weight and get healthy is to eat complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole oats, white potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes, with added fruits and vegetables. Plant foods are high in carbohydrate and fiber and are low in fat and dietary acids.

What foods are high in fats? All animal foods are made up of large amounts of fat and cholesterol. Animal foods (such as beef, chicken, fish, cheese, and eggs) contain large amounts of protein, fat, cholesterol and dietary acids. Oils (including olive oil) and nondairy butter replacements are just as high in fat as animal foods.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your cells become clogged with fat which keeps the glucose from getting in. This is called insulin resistance and means the glucose is building up in your bloodstream. By switching to a low-fat, plant-based diet your clogged cells can release the fat and allow the insulin to function normally.

Don’t you think it would be worth it to change your diet to prevent (or reverse) type 2 diabetes and all of its complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness or amputation?

©2012 Melinda Coker

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