Health

Type 2 Diabetes

Person drowning in high-fat diet and being rescued

Question: What causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Answer: Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is caused by an accumulation of saturated fats and excessive glucose or sugar in our bloodstream and specific cells in our bodies. Most people automatically assume it is caused by eating too much sugar. That is only part of the problem.

Foods high in sugar and simple carbs do impact your blood sugar but equally to blame is consuming foods high in saturated and fats. Both simple carbohydrates and saturated fats contribute to insulin resistance. Let me break this down.

  1. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas to control blood sugar levels
  2. Insulin moves glucose from your blood into the cells of your muscles to be used as energy
  3. Insulin resistance is when insulin is not responding properly to move glucose to the cells of your body, which causes a rise in blood sugar.
  4. Increased consumption of saturated fats delays the process of blood sugar going into the cells.
  5. The result is blood sugar hangs around longer in the bloodstream.
  6. The combination of saturated fat and excessive sugar cause hyperglycemia (overactive glucose levels)
  7. Hyperglycemia leads to Type 2 diabetes
  8. Animal products (meat and dairy) are high in saturated fats.
  9. If you are overweight or obese you are at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Controlling your blood sugar is important because the longer you have a high amount of glucose or sugar in your bloodstream it can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and tissue which can lead to organ disfunction, difficulty with wound healing, extensive circulatory complications. Long term complications of Type 2 diabetes can cause death. Medication does not cure type 2 diabetes. Even when you are taking your medications, type 2 diabetes continues to raise havoc in your body. The only cure for type 2 diabetes is eating a balanced diet of plenty of fruits and veggies and well as eliminating excess sugar, saturate fats, processed foods, and alcohol from your diet. Only you can cure yourself of type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can not cure your diabetes. Doctors only treat symptoms by prescribing medications that are used to try to regulate your glucose however at that point the damage is done, and you are a diabetic.

Often my clients assume because they are on medication, they no longer have diabetes. NOT TRUE! If there is not a dramatic change in lifestyle and diet the diabetes will continue to damage a diabetic’s cells, tissue and organs leading to a multitude of complications and a plethora of additional prescription medications and a major decrease in quality of life.

Unfortunately, my sister and I know all too well the devasting effects of this dangerous disease. We lost our brother at 52 years of age to complications of type 2 diabetes. It is astounding how the foods we choose to put in our mouths can literally kill us.
Choose to take back your life and your health! Choose healthy nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Remember, be good to your body and your body will be good to you!

Fire Fighters fighting a fire
Health, Nutrition

Turning Down the Heat on Inflammatory Diseases

I speak often about this subject with my clients! Inflammation is the root of all evil when it comes to cellular health. There are more than 80 autoimmune disorders associated with acute and chronic inflammation. Some of the most common are:

  • Asthma,
  • Dermatitis,
  • Crohn’s Disease,
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease,
  • Psoriasis,
  • Ulcerative Colitis,
  • Arthritis,
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis,
  • Hepatitis,
  • Sinusitis,
  • Periodontal Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis,
  • Obesity,
  • Lupus,
  • Gout,
  • Type 1 Diabetes,
  • Cardiovascular Disease,
  • Cancer,
  • Fibromyalgia,
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Neurological Diseases.

Quote - Inflammation is the root of evil... Inflammation can be too much of a good thing becoming an awfully bad thing. Acute inflammation is beneficial when you have a cut or injury that needs an inflammatory response to jump start the healing process. When inflammation becomes dangerous is when it becomes a chronic inflammatory response in the body and starts damaging cells and tissue. Harvard University scientific research shows that even low-grade chronic inflammation contributes to cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several other life-threatening diseases. Harvard Medical School published Fighting Inflammation a special health report explaining the threat of chronic inflammation on your health. Interesting reading, I would recommend taking time to check it out.

Major lifestyle contributors to chronic inflammation are eating saturated fats found in animal products, dairy products, sugar, gluten, and highly processed food, obesity, smoking, not getting enough sleep, regular alcohol consumption, and stress.

Ways to reduce chronic inflammation are eating a diet rich in antioxidants such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, broccoli, avocados, bell peppers, mushrooms, grapes, cherries, turmeric, goji berries, foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids, green tea, extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate (70% cocoa). Consuming these foodsimproves your chances of reducing chronic inflammation as does getting eight hours of sleep, reducing your alcohol intake, reducing stress, and moving your body regularly. These are all ways to improve your cellular health and reduce inflammation.

Please note that eating fruits and vegetables laced with pesticides can sabotage the antioxidant benefit and nutritional value of your plant-based foods. If I offered you a tablespoon full of liquid pesticides and asked you to drink it, you would think I was crazy! So why would you eat food covered in pesticides? Go organic when you can.

Understanding chronic inflammation is critical to your health and quality of life. When you understand the cause, you can literally turn down the heat on inflammatory disease! My favorite resource for this is The Autoimmune Fix by Dr. Tom OBryan. This is an excellent read that will really help you understand the impact chronic inflammation has on your body and how to fix it. I am a huge fan of this book—I keep it close and refer to it often. I am overly impressed with Dr. Tom OBryan—he has authored several books in my library.

Quote - be kind to your body and your body will be kind to you.And finally, remember this: be kind to your body and your body will be kind to you!

You Deserve 2 Be Healthy, my proven holistic nutrition program will be available soon! Subscribe to LAWL’s newsletter to be the first to know.

the lungs connection with nature featured
Health

The Lungs Connection with Nature

This quote comes from one of my favorite books called Holistic Anatomy authored by Pip Waller.

“In a wonderfully neat example of the symbiotic relationship between plants and ourselves, green plants breathe in carbon dioxide and use it for their metabolism, during which they make oxygen, which they breathe out. This is why trees are known as the ‘lungs of the earth’…The bronchial tree of the lungs looks just like the trunk and branches of a tree.”

                                                                                  ~Holistic Anatomy

Health, Nutrition

Understanding Inflammation – The Good and the Bad

Inflammation serves a critical purpose. It helps fight off serious threats and illnesses in your body. Inflammation activates an immune response and a healing response. If you have ever cut your finger and noticed it got red that is the inflammatory response triggering the immune system to start the healing process. That is good inflammation. 

vegan-vs-plant-based-diet-feat
Health, Nutrition

Plant Based Diet vs. Vegan Diet

I prefer plant-based nutrition for myself however my best friend is a hard-core vegan. What is the difference? Not like there isn’t enough confusing and conflicting nutritional information out there, trying to understand the difference between a Plant Based Diet and Vegan diet can be very confusing so here is the answer in a way that makes it easier to understand for those of you who are curious or wanting to make a healthier choice in your nutritional habits.

moringa tea a drink from the fountain of youth
Health, Nutrition

Moringa Tea – A Drink From the Fountain of Youth

If you could put water from the fountain of youth into a pleasant drink, would you drink it? Heck yea! I want to share one of my favorite teas with you. I talk a lot about the super powers that nature has in so many forms of foods, plants, and herbs but here is one that I literally will not do without. I drink this tea every day and I truly reap the benefits. So much so that I recommend this to all my clients.

the super powers of oregano
Health, Nutrition

Oh Oregano! The Super Powers of Oregano

Organum Vulgare, the scientific name for Oregano. This impressive herb is truly a super weapon used not only for its ability to enhance the flavor of your food, but it has hidden powers that most people are unaware of. Oregano can protect the immune system, detoxify, prevent the onset of chronic disease, boost energy, strengthen bones and help prevent diabetes just to name a few.

Beauty, Health, Lifestyle, Weight Loss

Resistance Band Training for Busy Moms

I have to say I am a lover of using resistance bands during my work out. They are a great tool to have at home for a quick and effective workout. There are often days I would love to be in the gym but that is not an option because with 2 kiddos’ demanding my attention, a career, school, a dog, being my kids taxi driver, and trying to balance life in general, going to the gym everyday is not going to happen. However, having resistance bands handy at home does allow me to have a quick 20-30-minute workout and stretching session that does help put some pep in my step as well as I no longer feel the guilt about not working out.