What could possibly be outrageous about eating food? Food is problematic.
We need it. It’s our fuel for survival.
But eating too much of it, to many times a day can cause problems, illnesses like diabetes.
Here are some statistics from the CDC (Center for Disease Control)
Key findings from the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014 (based on health data from 2012), include:
- 29 million people in the United States (9.3 percent) have diabetes.
- 1.7 million people aged 20 years or older were newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2012.
- Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults are about twice as likely to have diagnosed diabetes as non-Hispanic white adults.
- 208,000 people younger than 20 years have been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2).
- 86 million adults aged 20 years and older have prediabetes.
- The percentage of U.S. adults with prediabetes is similar for non-Hispanic whites (35 percent), non-Hispanic blacks (39 percent), and Hispanics (38 percent).
And WHAT you eat these days is also a challenge for some because most fast food for sue is unhealthy. The best meals are the ones you make yourself actually. I know, restaurant food is yummy .. I do have my favorites.
There’s been a lot of buzz about Keto diets recently. I’m here to tell you briefly, it works. Here’s a great article in Discover Magazine on the topic and why eating to many meals in a day, every day, actually interferes with the body’s ability to heal itself.
To simplify why Keto works is this – its choosing foods that are high in fat and very little or NO carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates break down in the body as glucose (sugar). And sugar, as you may know – too much of it can lead to Type 2 diabetes which is an epidemic.
What Keto does is change the fuel the body uses from glucose to fats for energy. Weight loss occurs fast.
The concept I want to share with you is this: Decrease the amount of times you eat in a day and decrease the amount of carbohydrates you eat. Here’s why ….
It takes 6 to 8 hours for food to digest in your stomach. What happens is you eat one meal (food is being digested). 2 or 3 hours later another meal is eaten (food is still being digested). Then lunch, snacks, dinner – and your body is still digesting food. Your body doesn’t get a break to fully digest the all the food. If you’re eating lots of carbohydrates (sugar) the glucose is piling up and your body starts to spill sugar into the blood stream because the cells can’t uptake it and leads to diabetes.
Now this can be challenging because it means changing routines and eating habits. I recommend doing one change at a time – the first being decreasing or stop using and eating anything with sugar in it.
It takes about a month for your body to adjust – and it will. You’ll experience a “withdrawal” which will pass and your body will appreciate the change. You’ll be able to taste the natural sweetness in fruit (sugar masks it somewhat).
So here’s a fantastic website I recommend with toms of education videos on Keto and low carb meal plans to help you make the change.
What may seem outrageous and crazy to do is going on a Keto meal plan. The health benefits are many – reversing diabetes for one.
Let’s discuss …
Keto seems to work really well for some people. I found it appalling. I got such bad cramp that I felt really frightened. It’s just too scary for me. It seems to be a great way for some people to lose weight though. If I’m feeling a bit bloated, I put it right with a spot of intermittent fasting and that does me fine.
I’ve been doing some form of intermittent fasting for many years now, and it does seem to be beneficial. I also generally restrict carbs during the day, but do eat them in the evenings. There are a number of dietary approaches that work, though, as long as you mostly eat natural, whole foods. I know several people who have done well with the keto diet for relatively short periods of time.
Hello David,
Thank you for your visit and comment. Yes, some of the things you mention are helpful. But when it comes to digestion and sugar, time is needed to digest food, and sugar. Intermittan fasting is a good way to go.
Yes, most people don’t realise how long it takes to digest food. And they spend far too much time in the fed state. Your digestive system needs a rest at times.
Hi Lesly,
an interesting post! I am interested in nutrition but not a great lover of particular diets as such though I do agree that cutting out sugar on a daily basis is a good thing!
But, when it comes to health conditions and diabetes especially, then following whichever diet works to keep you healthy and active must be done. We all have to do what works for us, like I’m finding out now! 😍
Going back to basics and cooking at home with fresh produce and good quality meat, fish and healthier carbs is really the best way, (with small treats sometimes!) as you suggested right at the start 😊
~ Jacs
I do think it’s the small changes to your diet that make a lot of difference to your overall wellness and health. Yet everyone seems to want to jump into a diet and expects results in 10 days. Diets are a long term thing as well as a method of losing weight and the long term changes are the more important for health and longevity.
Hi Lesly,
I am trying my own modification of eating within a smaller window of time as it does make sense. I reduce carbs as much as I can but my grand-daughters have just left and the house is full of kiddy food – LOL
Joy Healey – Blogging After Dark
Hi Joy,
LOL. That’s life for ya… it makes sense to give your body time to heal … wonderful to see you visiting 🙂
A very helpful post Lesly, i’ve bookmarked it for later. With not having much knowledge on the Keto diet I found your post intriguing.
Hi Davida,
How very true! Thank you for visiting and your comment 🙂
I\’ve heard so much about Keto and it is good to hear from people who are doing it and experiencing positive results. I have experienced positive benefits with intermittent fasting; the more I stop eating after 7pm at night and don\’t eat again till late morning, I feel so much better. Protein drinks are difficult for me, but eating fewer carbs and sugars means I don\’t feel so bad. It is about learning the right balance, and not a heavy leaning on sugar and carbs. ~ Johanna
Fascinating to read your perspective on the Keto diet, Lesly. I’ve read articles – pro and con – about it and have to admit it sounds interesting. I was an emotional eater when I was in school and as a result pretty chunky (okay, fat) by the time I was 18. From that point, I spend the next decade on one diet after another, losing and gaining weight like the proverbial yo-yo. Eventually, I learned what works best for me is simple portion control combined with sensible eating. Like anything in life, I think we each have to find our own way, so I’m glad this nutrition plan is working so well for you.
Hi Marquita,
Wonderful to see you again. Yes, everyone must find their own way when it comes to dieting and making life changes. It’s important for me to share the “mechanics” of how Keto works and how excessive consumption of carbohydrates can lead to health issues such as diabetes. Thank you for the comment and your visit 🙂