Oklahoma Carb Counter News

I have definitely found that I can lose weight on a low-carb diet and improve my blood lipid profiles at the same time. However, it can be very restrictive and remaining on a diet that focuses on eliminating carbohydrates often excludes many natural nutrient and antioxidant rich foods. These are vital for wellness and may aid in disease and cancer prevention, also sandwiches with no bread are not sandwiches. Low Carb diets are tough, but helpful.

For me, raising my level of physical activity was also key. These days I try to spend more time kayaking, bowling and training my dogs. In addition to the exercise, I have found that spending more time outdoors keeps me in a better attitude for pursuing my dieting strategies.

Labels: Exercise, Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 8:43 AM   7 comments

It is really getting tough to choose how to sweeten my coffee these days. There are so many choices for sweeteners these days: Splenda, Stevia products like Sweat Leaf, Aspartame...which is the healthiest choice?

In Splenda® Is It Safe Or Not?, By Dr. Janet Starr Hull, she examines in detail, the entire process of manufacture of Splenda® , one of the new artificial sweeteners being hailed as a safe alternatives to natural sugar. Studying details of lesser known investigations conducted to establish safety of this product, the author comes to the conclusion that Splenda® is not the perfect substitute for sugar.

In The Stevia Story: Cooking with Nature's Calorie-Free Sweetener , we learn about a noncaloric solution to the sweetener problem using an ancient herb. Stevia Concentrate, Travel-Size, 6ml Bottles (Pack of 6).

Have you tried Stevia, yet?

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 9:11 AM   2 comments

After reading Todd's recent post about low GI foods and their impacts. I had to read up on the subject a little more. Having no close relatives suffering through diabetes, I never thought about such things as considering the Glycemic Index (GI) of foods when planning a meal.

I was surprised to learn that BEANS are not just cheap they are also one of nature’s lowest GI foods. Adding legumes (fancy word for beans - latin for booty breeze) to your diet, may place nearby smokers at risk, but it will also reduce the overall GI of your diet. This is due to elements of the bean that cause slower digestion. It would appear that the belly song the infamous 'musical fruit' plays is a fairly slow song!

In fact, a study from Vanderbilt University Medical Centre and the Shanghai Cancer Institute found that Chinese women who ate legumes reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by huge amounts. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition January 2008)

Beans and Cornbread are now health food for Low GI diets. Can you beat that?

Speculators looking for a 'pure play' in this emerging market might want to try Ceiling Fan Futures... I think I smell a boom!

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 2:21 PM   2 comments

Interesting Article:

Eating foods the body quickly converts into blood glucose - such as highly processed breakfast cereals and most white breads - leads to a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
In the world's first study of its kind, University of Sydney researchers have found conclusive evidence that diets with a high GI (Glycemic Index - a measure of how different foods affect your blood glucose levels) leads to a higher risk of common lifestyle diseases.
The study, conducted by Alan Barclay, Joanna McMillan Price, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller and colleagues, found high blood glucose led to high risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and is also linked to gall stones and some types of cancer.
In the study, published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Barclay and his colleagues looked at the diets of nearly two million (1,950,198) healthy men and women worldwide in a systematic analysis of 37 key studies.
"The key message from this study," says lead author Alan Barclay, "is that the GI of your diet is a powerful predictor of disease risk. Grandma was right, you are what you eat."
Because GI ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose (sugar) levels, Barclay said it's not surprising to find a link between high GI diet and diabetes. "If you have constantly high blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels due to a high GI diet, you may literally 'wear out' your pancreas over time. Eventually it may lead to type 2 diabetes in older age."
He was more surprised by the "strong relationship" between GI and some of the other common diseases. "There's good evidence from the studies that have been done that high GI diets are linked to cancer as well. This is because constant spikes in blood glucose that cause the body to release more insulin also increase a related substance called 'insulin like growth factor one' (IGF-1).
"Both these hormones increase cell growth and decrease cell death, and have been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer.

Full Article:

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=36017

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Anonymous
PermaLink @ 1:13 PM   1 comments

As I stated before, following my throat surgery, my Hypoglycemic symptoms were greatly reduced, one symptom trigger still remains, Aspartame still gives me the low sugar shakes and headaches.

My body reacts to Aspartame like it has been poisoned, I get weak, shaky, have headaches and sometimes I even get sick to my stomach.

I can still use Saccharin “Sweet and Low” and I also can use Sucralose “Splenda” without getting these symptoms, however I am concerned that these sweeteners are also very bad for my health.


Articles I found:

Splenda is an artificial sweetener made from a chemical compound that includes chlorine. Splenda is not natural. Get the facts about Splenda ...
www.truthaboutsplenda.com

Now, people think Johnson & Johnson’s Splenda, made from sucralose, has come to the rescue as the newest chemical sugar replacement “made from real sugar. ...
www.splendaexposed.com

Pink packets of "Sweet 'n Low" that sit on restaurant tables that we may have put ... Here are some of the side effects, and diseases that can be caused by, ...
www.something-fishy.org/dangers/sugarfat.php

The multitude of aspartame side effects are indicative to your genetic individuality and physical ... aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) severe PMS ...
www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Anonymous
PermaLink @ 1:33 PM   0 comments

About four years ago I started on the low carb diet and what I found was that my weight dropped from 230 pounds to 204 pounds as long as I maintained the strict low carb diet.

Since my surgery, I’ve found that I could eat high carb foods such as desserts and not have the plummeting blood sugar issue. This makes maintaining the diet difficult.

My weight still benefits from low carb dieting, but no more than regular exercise. My normal wait now is around 215 pounds.

As for my blood sugar, I still find that high carb binges still affect my blood sugar and overall strength and endurance.

I believe a low carb diet mixed with low starch fresh vegetables is good for my health.

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Anonymous
PermaLink @ 11:54 AM   0 comments

Two years ago I had several surgeries to help with snoring. One of the surgeries removed my tonsils, which were completely full of bacteria.

Many friends and family were praying for my quick healing from the surgery and since the surgery my hypoglycemia symptoms have been greatly reduced.

From a spiritual point of view, God healed me. If you want a physical reason, it is possible that the reduced amount of bacteria in my body, reduced stress on my immune system, which could reduce the stress on the rest of my body.

I’m fine with “God healed me”.

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Anonymous
PermaLink @ 11:44 AM   1 comments

One of Tulsa's most fancy places to eat out has added some great low carb items to their gourmet menu. The award winning Michael Fusco's Flavors Restaurant offers such unlikely diet aids as: Grilled Delmonico Rib Eye with Garden Vegetable Saute, Grilled Atlantic Salmon Jardiniére, Dry Aged Beef Tenderloin, even a 'Flavors Low Carb Club Wrap'.

Everyone is getting onboard because this diet isn't about suffering, it is about living better!

Michael Fusco's Flavors Restaurant

Technorati Tags: Food & Drink, Tulsa, Low Carb, Oklahoma

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 3:14 PM   1 comments

New Crunchy Low Carb Snack Food!

Soybeans are nothing new, of course. They’ve been a staple food throughout Asia for thousands of years.

Soy is packed with protein, amino acids and fiber, and it is believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. But, a decade ago in the United States, few soy-based products were sold outside ethnic or health food stores.

Enter: Mighty Mo Munchies - crunchy roasted soybeans snacks made with organic soybeans and a blend of all-natural seasonings.

Sales are now in six figures. The four Munchies varieties come in 8-ounce and 1.5-ounce sizes: original, unsalted, a Cajun flavor with just a prick of cayenne pepper and cumin and a ranch flavor with an herby buttermilk tang.

Locally available at Akin's Natural Foods Mkt.

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 4:12 PM   1 comments

According to the long-term San Antonio Heart Study - Diet Soda may lead to weight gain rather than weight loss. The findings were presented Monday at a meeting of the American Diabetic Association in San Diego.

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio analyzed patient information spanning 26 years. They found that those who drink diet sodas were more likely to become overweight. The risk of being overweight or obese increased 65 percent more with each diet drink per day.

It looks like excercise may be a better option than aspartame for keeping trim. One option is to visit one of Oklahoma's scenic rivers soon for a fun day of paddle sports - see OkahomaRoadTrips.com for float trip planning resources.

ChannelOklahoma.com - Diet And Fitness - Study: Diet Soda Doesn't Keep People Skinny

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 6:13 AM   1 comments

New Diabetes Research Findings
Eating low-fat dairy products may help slightly lower the risk of developing diabetes, a new study of more than 40,000 middle-aged men suggests.

Each additional serving of low-fat dairy per day resulted in a 9 percent drop in risk. The link could be due to whey proteins or magnesium, ingredients thought to enhance the action of insulin in regulating blood sugar. But those ingredients are contained in high-fat dairy products, too, so researchers said they don't really know what caused the drop in risk. They cautioned against making major changes in diet based on the study.

See the full article at: The Daily Ardmoreite

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 9:32 AM   1 comments

New research is shedding light as to why people lose weight so quickly on low-carb diets. A team at Temple University School of Medicine now reports on a study of ten overweight volunteers on a low carb diet for two weeks. Confirming the beliefs of the late Dr. Adkins, the researchers now believe that a high carb intake might stimulate the appetite.

In a study appearing in yesterday's Annals of Internal Medicine, Temple researchers found that people on low-carb regimens such as the Atkins diet spontaneously reduced their calories by 30 per cent despite being offered unlimited helpings of protein-rich, high-fat foods such as red meat.

On average, they cut out 1000 calories a day when restricted to bird-like portions of carbs. This study was funded by the American Diabetes Association and the National Institutes of Health. It is the only trial of The Atkins Diet ever done in a hospital setting where every calorie could be measured.

03/14/2005 - Researchers: Low-carb diets work because people eat less

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 11:13 AM   1 comments

The Govt. experts agree that high fiber, whole grain breads are the most healthy choices for those who still eat bread. To help spread the word, the
Fleischmann Yeast company has published the Goodfibes webpage. The site contains a collection of over 100 high-fiber bread recipes for both bread machines and conventional ovens. By using a Low-Carb Bread Mix you can prepare easy-to-make homemade breads that are healthy, delicious, a good source of dietary fiber abd contain only 5 net grams of carbs.

Goodfibes High Fiber Bread Recipes page from Fleischmann's Yeast

Bob's Red Mill Low-Carb Bread Mix

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 7:34 AM   1 comments

Who else thinks low carb tortillas are great? I may bring them to my local Mexican restaurant, and ask the chef to use them when he prepares my meal.

Low-carb tortillas are becoming more widely available. You can grab some at your local supermarket or you can order your low carb wrappers online.
La Tortilla Factory makes excellent low carbohydrate tortillas with 11 grams of total carbohydrate and 8 grams of fiber in a 6-inch tortilla. Net Carbs: 3g per Tortilla. Bring on the Burritos, Quesadillas and Low Carb Wraps!

A word of warning though, low-carb tortilla can be deceptive, so always read the label. Some tortillas have objectionable ingredients, others keep their net carb count low by defining a serving as half a tortilla!

Here's a link to a selection of low carb tortillas. Enjoy!

Labels: Low GI Diets

posted by Unknown
PermaLink @ 3:38 PM   0 comments