Look Past the Crap

[Guest guest]

> Message: 20

> Sat, 15 Mar 2003 02:56:51 -0000

> " Mindy " <mindy_lawrence

> New Member -- unsure of group's direction

>

> " But seriously, it is my hope that the meat-eaters

> who are here are here to learn more about vegetarianism

> from those of us who live it currently. I hope they read

> some of the benefits of the diet and lifestyle and perhaps

> will adopt some of it as they feel comfortable. I hope they

> learn most of all that it is good for them, and good for

> our planet. "

>

> This was my hope, too, when I joined this group yesterday. However,

> the first thing I find is the same thing I find on other vegetarian

> sites -- discussions of the morality of vegetarianism and religious

> issues. I had hoped this group would be different, a place to help me

> slowly convert to a diet more centered on vegetables and fruits. As

> a type II diabetic, I need to make this lifestyle change.

 

I'm a type II diabetic also, but I'd made the change to vegetarianism

before being diagnosed. Let's say I had inklings. In any case, you are

painting with a pretty wide brush here. This group will occasionally have

discussions on morality, (gag), ethics, (hooray), and religion, (outright

puke), but these are always side-issues to the main thrust of the club,

which is healthy vegetarian eating, a celebration of the vegetarian

cuisines, and good advice on products, sources, and food preparations.

This is not like any other vegetarian group I've ever seen, anywhere, not

the least because Robin does such an uncanny and superb job. Her recipes

are beautifully checked, entered into a wonderfully useful database, and

are most often kitchen-tested with her own family. What more could anyone

ask?

>

> I see good recipes here and some good discussions. But I also see

> people trying to pontificate on other things.

 

That's human nature. If you don't want that, find a group that excludes

people. Better yet, let the pontificators flap their fingers and ignore

them; there is ALWAYS more to concentrate on than the latest crypto-troll'

s fun & games.

>

> PLEASE...PLEASE be a group where I can learn how to be healthy.

 

Best information on my condition and what to do about it I've yet found is:

The Glucose Revolution Pocket Guide to Diabetes by Kaye Foster-Powell,

Jennie Brand-Miller, Stephen Colagiuri, and Thomas M. S. Wolever, all

doctors and scientists with many letters after their names. It's a

slender paperback book, from Marlowe & Company, costs you six bucks

American, and is invaluable.

 

For more in-depth information about the Glycemic Index, there is a trade

paperback from the same publisher called The New Glucose Revolution. It's

subtitled The Authoritative Guide to the Glycemic Index, the Dietary

Solution to Lifelong Health. And they're not kidding.

 

This is not a fad diet. It's based on science conducted to test foods to

see how they affect actual people. Specifically, how fast any given food

raises the blood glucose level and how long the effect lasts. They made

some surprising findings. Potato was nearly as bad as pure glucose, for

instance. They pegged the scale at 100 for glucose, so all foods are

measured against that. The slower and lower a food's effect on blood

sugar levels, the lower its glycemic index number.

 

A good general rule of thumb is that everyone, not just diabetics, should

eat more foods that are harder to digest. We eat too many overly

processed foods that are digested almost at once, and this spikes our

glucose levels, and this in turn exacerbates our body's ability to

metabolize foods. Type II Diabetics are particularly affected by this,

and badly.

 

The basic conclusion is that we all need to eat mostly carbohydrates.

However, we also need to understand that there are different kinds of

carbohydrates. Some spike your glucose, some allow gradual digestion and

slow, even blood sugar levels. Further, eating fats, especially in

combination with high glycemic foods, not only spikes our glucose levels,

but also the fat blocks insulin's ability to deal with it, so you get a

double whammy. This is why potato chips and french fries are so very bad

for everyone, but especially for Diabetics.

 

Also, solving your Type II appetite problems by increasing proteins and

decreasing carbs is particularly bad as it can lead to renal failure --

your kidneys get clogged and overwhelmed. Far better to realize which

foods are low glycemic carbs, and eat mostly them.

 

Of course you must also keep a food log, so you know exactly how much you

eat, (in amounts, calories, and carbs), and you should exercise at least 5

times a week.

 

In the past two months I've lost 20 lbs doing this. I exercise five

mornings a week, one day of walking for a couple hours, one day of

aerobics, one day of yoga or Pilates, and two days of T'ai Chi. In other

words, there is variety and I'm not killing myself. I also play tennis

every other week or so. I eat under 1800 calories, (often under 1500),

daily, and stay under 250 carbs per day. I am on oral meds to lower

glucose, too, but as I drop weight this may prove unneeded.

 

So there is hope, and help, and very good information here. Stay tuned,

and don't give up hope just because a few of us are opinionated or like to

stir things up a bit. That's just kindergarten life, right?

> I

> can deal with morality and religion somewhere else.

 

Damn, let us know where, eh? lol

 

> I just need a

> comfortable place to learn and grow away from eating as much - or

> maybe any - meat products. It's a health issue for me.

 

Indeed, and the less meat you eat, the more you'll begin to notice how

much better you feel, and how icky meat can make you feel. It's a health

issue for me, but I must admit the ethical considerations do creep in. I'

m a rational science Xaoist magician druid mystic type, by the way. Sort

of. LOL

>

> THANK YOU!

 

No need to shout, we're all right here. You're welcome.

 

--Gene

 

 

 

The orthodox explanation is a crime: whoever made it, should have had his

finger-prints taken. "

--Charles Fort