A Diet for Reversing Diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise everywhere. As our lifestyle becomes less and less healthy, more of us suffer from this condition. This doesn't have to be the case. Since our lifestyle is the main cause of diabetes, we can fix the root of the problem by changing our lifestyle. In many cases, type 2 diabetes can even be reversed in a relatively short period of time.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is for reference purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect you have a medical condition, seek qualified medical help.

The standard medical practices for treating diabetes do not address the root of the condition. Prescribed medication can keep your blood sugar levels under control, but if you keep eating a diet that's causing diabetes, the medication only acts as a quick fix. It fails to address the real problem. If you change the foods you eat, you can remove the root cause of type 2 diabetes. Often it can be reversed completely. Does this sound too good to be true? It isn't. There are wellness programs that consistently have solid results in helping type 2 diabetes patients discontinue their medications.

What's the secret to reversing type 2 diabetes? It's actually quite simple: a minimally processed, whole foods, plant-based diet. You can go into great detail on the subtle points of this diet, but the overall concept isn't complex.

The phrase "minimally processed" means that you eat food that has had the least amount of processing. A good example of this is fresh fruits and vegetables. If you go pick a fruit from the tree, this is coming straight from nature, with no artificial flavors, additives or alterations. Once you take this piece of fruit, then add artificial substances and process it, then you've robbed it of most of its nutritional value. You've also added toxins that will do damage to your body. Food this is originally healthy and natural becomes harmful once it has been heavily processed.

The phrase "whole foods" means that you eat natural foods in their natural state. This concept is similar to that of minimally processed foods. A fresh, raw apple is better than an apple flavored snack that has a laundry list of strange artificial substances added to it. If you look at the ingredients on the box of a snack and see lots of complicated words with lots of syllables, it's better to put it back on the shelf and leave it there. Whole foods provide your body with optimal nutrition and leave out the harmful toxins.

The phrase "plant-based" means that you eat a diet that does not have animal products. This means no meat, no chicken, no fish, no pork, no cheese, no milk, basically nothing that comes from any animal source. This is a very important point that shouldn't be overlooked. Studies show that animal proteins, along with the many other harmful substances found in animal products, contribute significantly to the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes.

The idea of giving up meat seems crazy for many people. If you feel this way about giving up animal products, ask yourself if it's worth it. If you have type 2 diabetes, do you think it might be worth trying out a plant based diet if it could eliminate your diabetes forever? Which is better to live without, animal products or diabetes? Give it a try for 4 weeks and see what happens. Many people who have type 2 diabetes get off their medication in less time than that. If you're willing to give it a try, here are some guidelines to help you out.

The following foods should be avoided:

• All forms of meat: pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and fish
• Egg or egg products
• Dairy products (including yogurt, ice cream, cream, cheese, butter, sherbet, etc.)
• Soft drinks, store bought fruit juice, coffee, alcohol, etc.
• Fried, baked, grilled, boiled, roasted, and microwaved foods
• Cooked grains (including rice, pasta, bread and corn)
• Oatmeal, grits, and processed cereals
• Food with wheat and/or wheat gluten

Foods you should eat:

• Raw vegetables (preferably organic)
• Raw fruits (preferably organic)
• Fresh sprouts
• Blue-green algae supplements (such as E3 Live)

At first glance, this diet probably seems very restrictive. However, if you search around the web for plant-based, raw food recipes you will soon discover that there are a myriad dishes, appetizers, snacks and desserts you can make with these ingredients. If you have a good attitude and determination, you can work a minimally processed, whole foods, plant-based diet into your life. Try it for four weeks and see the amazing changes that come about in your body as a result. There are many people out there who are making this transition to truly healthy eating. Why not be one of them?

To learn more about a diabetes diet plan and see how nutrition can reverse chronic illnesses, visit Montgomery Heart & Wellness, a wellness center in Houston.