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| Time to disengage. |
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Polite requests, Part 2.
Having had a polite request from someone with T2DM, I hereby disengage from trading insults.
Sometimes, when a lot of mud gets flung, some of it can stick to the wrong people.
Lifestyle-induced metabolic inflexibility and accelerated ageing syndrome: insulin resistance, friend or foe?
Serendipity strikes again!
The picture that I used for the last post came from Lifestyle-induced metabolic inflexibility and accelerated ageing syndrome: insulin resistance, friend or foe?
Fascinating stuff!
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| The tipping point and the metabolic syndrome. |
Fascinating stuff!
Gfreely Subscription Service Review!
I've reviewed other subscription services on here before and, in general, think that they're a great gift. I know I'd never complain about getting a gift of healthy, yummy snacks that keep coming
Every.
Single.
Month.
It's a great gift, because there's a new gift every month. It's literally the gift that keeps giving!
I know my birthday is already a national holiday and all, but I still don't mind having a mini-birthday every month.
I'm a total martyr like that. You're welcome.
And gifts? The more the merrier! Teehee.
Anyway, there's a subscription service just for people who eat gluten-free, too! I have a few friends with Celiac's Disease, one of whom is really into healthy eating, and I'd seriously consider giving her a subscription as a birthday gift one of these years!
The service is called gfreely and they pride themselves on finding and delivering the "best gluten free snacks & foods" every month. It's a great way to discover new favorites!
With services starting at $19/month, it's not a bad option as an extra special gift (like best friend, unless you're Daddy Warbucks) or as a gift to yourself. $19/mth isn't too hard to allocate in your grocery budget for tasty snacks and foods!
There's a nice assortment of treats, both for snackage and for proper meals.
It got a whole grain pizza kit (with pizza sauce mix and a whole grain, gluten-free crust mix - made of buckwheat, among others!) as well as both sweet and savory snacks.
I like sweet snacks the best and the Justin's All-Natural Dark Chocolate Peanut Candy bar was beyond delicious and a perfect study snack last night! There's also a mini Bumble Bar, which I've stashed in my bag for on-the-go snacking tomorrow, and Kay's Naturals Cinnamon Pretzel Sticks (they were goners within thirty minutes of opening the box).
The savory snacks were pretty great, too - I liked the Sheffa Zesty Snack Mix the best, but the Super Seedz mixes were both real treats and the PopCorners was a fun twist on popcorn and corn chips.
If you really love anything, you can buy it in a bigger size/package from their store online! That's super convenient and I think it would be great if some of the other subscription services would follow suit!
You can also find great gluten-free recipes on their website, so it's a great place to spend a little web time.
Have you tried gfreely?
Do you know anyone with Celiac's disease?
What's the last recipe you've tried out?
Every.
Single.
Month.
It's a great gift, because there's a new gift every month. It's literally the gift that keeps giving!
I know my birthday is already a national holiday and all, but I still don't mind having a mini-birthday every month.
I'm a total martyr like that. You're welcome.
And gifts? The more the merrier! Teehee.
Anyway, there's a subscription service just for people who eat gluten-free, too! I have a few friends with Celiac's Disease, one of whom is really into healthy eating, and I'd seriously consider giving her a subscription as a birthday gift one of these years!
With services starting at $19/month, it's not a bad option as an extra special gift (like best friend, unless you're Daddy Warbucks) or as a gift to yourself. $19/mth isn't too hard to allocate in your grocery budget for tasty snacks and foods!
There's a nice assortment of treats, both for snackage and for proper meals.
It got a whole grain pizza kit (with pizza sauce mix and a whole grain, gluten-free crust mix - made of buckwheat, among others!) as well as both sweet and savory snacks.
I like sweet snacks the best and the Justin's All-Natural Dark Chocolate Peanut Candy bar was beyond delicious and a perfect study snack last night! There's also a mini Bumble Bar, which I've stashed in my bag for on-the-go snacking tomorrow, and Kay's Naturals Cinnamon Pretzel Sticks (they were goners within thirty minutes of opening the box).
The savory snacks were pretty great, too - I liked the Sheffa Zesty Snack Mix the best, but the Super Seedz mixes were both real treats and the PopCorners was a fun twist on popcorn and corn chips.
If you really love anything, you can buy it in a bigger size/package from their store online! That's super convenient and I think it would be great if some of the other subscription services would follow suit!
You can also find great gluten-free recipes on their website, so it's a great place to spend a little web time.
Have you tried gfreely?
Do you know anyone with Celiac's disease?
What's the last recipe you've tried out?
Metabolic flexibility - do you have it?
I'm not quite sure what the picture below means (I need to do a spot of reading!).
While replying to Kade Storm this morning, it suddenly occurred to me that the Eskimos have an unusual ability. RER (a.k.a. RQ) normally varies from 0.7 (100% fat-burning) to 1.0 (100% carb-burning aerobically) to >1.0 (100% carb-burning, some anaerobically). Eskimos manage to get an RER of 0.600 *Mind blown.*
One theory that comes to mind is BAT. As Eskimos live in a very cold environment, it's possible that this has resulted in them having a large amount of BAT. BAT is very metabolically-active and turns ATP into heat via UCPs.
Nowadays, first-world people don't live in a cold environment (unless they're old and/or poor), so we don't have much BAT after infancy. Naturally-skinny people may be that way due to having more BAT. They seem to be able to eat whatever and as much as they want without getting fat. I would like to scratch their eyes out!
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| Metabolic flexibility "bowl" and "Adaptability envelope" |
One theory that comes to mind is BAT. As Eskimos live in a very cold environment, it's possible that this has resulted in them having a large amount of BAT. BAT is very metabolically-active and turns ATP into heat via UCPs.
Nowadays, first-world people don't live in a cold environment (unless they're old and/or poor), so we don't have much BAT after infancy. Naturally-skinny people may be that way due to having more BAT. They seem to be able to eat whatever and as much as they want without getting fat. I would like to scratch their eyes out!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Not exactly rocket science, is it? Part 2
If there's a deficiency in "X", taking supplement "X" will correct the deficiency in "X".
If problem "Y" is caused by a deficiency in "X", then taking supplement "X" will fix problem "Y".
If there's no deficiency in "X", taking supplement "X" won't do anything.
If problem "Y" isn't caused by a deficiency in "X", then taking supplement "X" won't fix problem "Y".
If a person spends a lot of time outdoors in skimpy clothing in sun that's higher than 45deg in the sky, it's highly probable that they will not be deficient in Vitamin D3. Therefore, supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3 will highly probably do nothing.
If the above person has type 2 diabetes, supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3 won't fix their type 2 diabetes.
Not exactly...
There will be some people for whom all of the supplements & exercise that I recommend don't help their type 2 diabetes. Sorry about that. A low-carb (but not very-low-carb) diet will minimise your serum glucose level fluctuations without increasing your serum NEFA level excessively. See The problem with Diabetes.
If problem "Y" is caused by a deficiency in "X", then taking supplement "X" will fix problem "Y".
If there's no deficiency in "X", taking supplement "X" won't do anything.
If problem "Y" isn't caused by a deficiency in "X", then taking supplement "X" won't fix problem "Y".
If a person spends a lot of time outdoors in skimpy clothing in sun that's higher than 45deg in the sky, it's highly probable that they will not be deficient in Vitamin D3. Therefore, supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3 will highly probably do nothing.
If the above person has type 2 diabetes, supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3 won't fix their type 2 diabetes.
Not exactly...
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| Rocket Science! |
I'm Disqus'ted!
It's been 4 days and my Comments Import Status progress is still 0.0%.
Yes, I'm trying to migrate my comments over to Disqus. It works well at
http://carbsanity.blogspot.co.uk/. I can see who's replied to my comments and I can also edit my comments.
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| It's so unfair! |
http://carbsanity.blogspot.co.uk/. I can see who's replied to my comments and I can also edit my comments.
Can supplements & exercise cure Type 2 diabetes?
Definitely, maybe!
According to Hyppönen and Power, in a large sample of the white British population born in 1958, 60.9% of subjects had serum 25(OH)D (the active metabolite of Vitamin D) of less than 75nmol/L in Summer & Autumn, and 87.1% had serum 25(OH)D of less than 75nmol/L in Winter & Spring. 75nmol/L ≡ 30ng/mL.
From Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and β cell dysfunction, 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has a negative correlation with 25(OH)D concentration (Fig 1C). 25(OH)D concentration has a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity (Fig 2A). Therefore, 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in a OGTT has a negative correlation with insulin sensitivity.
"Extrapolation from the observations in the current study suggests that increasing 25(OH)D from 10 to 30 ng/mL can improve insulin sensitivity by 60%, from 3.8128 to 6.1176 (umol/L)·m-2·min-1·(pmol/L)-1. This improvement in insulin resistance could potentially eliminate the burden on cells and reverse abnormal glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity that results from vitamin D treatment indicates that that treatment is more potent than either troglitazone or metformin treatment (54% and 13% improvement in insulin sensitivity, respectively). The modest effect of vitamin D on insulin sensitivity in individual persons may translate into a dramatic effect in the population as a whole because of the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, which, in a large population, carries an attributable risk for type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Although a review of the literature suggests non-calcium-mediated effects, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated."
As my 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in a OGTT became low (3.7mmol/L, from 8.7mmol/L in 2003) after supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3, this means that my insulin sensitivity became high. Therefore, I cured my pre-type 2 diabetes using supplements.
My fasting blood glucose level also fell from 6.8 mmol/L (> 7.0mmol/L = type 2 diabetes diagnosis) to 5.0mmol/L. I achieved this without taking any drugs for type 2 diabetes - not even Metformin, which I consider to be a safe & effective insulin-sensitiser, though it can cause gastric distress and B12 absorption issues, long-term. The supplements that I took had zero side-effects and merely corrected deficiencies.
Diabetes drugs cannot cure type 2 diabetes. However, supplements & exercise can cure type 2 diabetes, if the type 2 diabetes is caused by nutrient deficiencies and/or sedentary behaviour and if all pancreatic beta cells haven't been destroyed. Insulin injections can preserve pancreatic beta cells, while insulin resistance is being tackled. See Dr. Richard K Bernstein on insulin for type 2 diabetics, and some definitions.
Sadly, if there are no nutrient deficiencies and/or all pancreatic beta cells have been destroyed, supplements & exercise will not help.
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| From http://health-in-hand.co.uk/2013/03/24/supplements-for-the-non-supplement-takers/ |
From Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and β cell dysfunction, 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has a negative correlation with 25(OH)D concentration (Fig 1C). 25(OH)D concentration has a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity (Fig 2A). Therefore, 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in a OGTT has a negative correlation with insulin sensitivity.
"Extrapolation from the observations in the current study suggests that increasing 25(OH)D from 10 to 30 ng/mL can improve insulin sensitivity by 60%, from 3.8128 to 6.1176 (umol/L)·m-2·min-1·(pmol/L)-1. This improvement in insulin resistance could potentially eliminate the burden on cells and reverse abnormal glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity that results from vitamin D treatment indicates that that treatment is more potent than either troglitazone or metformin treatment (54% and 13% improvement in insulin sensitivity, respectively). The modest effect of vitamin D on insulin sensitivity in individual persons may translate into a dramatic effect in the population as a whole because of the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, which, in a large population, carries an attributable risk for type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Although a review of the literature suggests non-calcium-mediated effects, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated."
As my 2-hour post-load blood glucose level in a OGTT became low (3.7mmol/L, from 8.7mmol/L in 2003) after supplementing with 5,000iu/day of Vitamin D3, this means that my insulin sensitivity became high. Therefore, I cured my pre-type 2 diabetes using supplements.
My fasting blood glucose level also fell from 6.8 mmol/L (> 7.0mmol/L = type 2 diabetes diagnosis) to 5.0mmol/L. I achieved this without taking any drugs for type 2 diabetes - not even Metformin, which I consider to be a safe & effective insulin-sensitiser, though it can cause gastric distress and B12 absorption issues, long-term. The supplements that I took had zero side-effects and merely corrected deficiencies.
Diabetes drugs cannot cure type 2 diabetes. However, supplements & exercise can cure type 2 diabetes, if the type 2 diabetes is caused by nutrient deficiencies and/or sedentary behaviour and if all pancreatic beta cells haven't been destroyed. Insulin injections can preserve pancreatic beta cells, while insulin resistance is being tackled. See Dr. Richard K Bernstein on insulin for type 2 diabetics, and some definitions.
Sadly, if there are no nutrient deficiencies and/or all pancreatic beta cells have been destroyed, supplements & exercise will not help.
Ketogenic diets - when they're not ketogenic.
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| High in the Arctic, Eskimo! |
The Ketogenic Ratio (KR) = K/AK, where K = Ketogenic stuff and AK = Anti-ketogenic stuff.
K/AK = (0.9*Fat + 0.46*Protein)/(1.0*Carbohydrate + 0.1*Fat + 0.58*Protein) where Fat, Protein & Carbohydrate are in grams.
For the treatment of epilepsy (very strongly ketogenic), K/AK must be greater than 1.5. For people who want to get into benign dietary ketosis, K/AK can be lower.
Eskimos eat a diet containing virtually zero dietary carbohydrate (~50g/day as muscle & liver glycogen). However, they are not in ketosis. See STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF ESKIMOS.
Eskimos eat so much protein that the Anti-ketogenic effect of Protein offsets the Ketogenic effect of Fat + Protein. Table IV is interesting, as it shows how much energy is lost as ketones on the third day of successive fasts in non-Eskimos (Subject #1 fasted once only). Note:- Beta-hydroxybutyric acid produces 5kcals/g.
Subject #1:- 10.5kcals. ?kcals, ?kcals.
Subject #2:- 100.5kcals, 7.0kcals, 2.75kcals.
Subject #3:- 9.75kcals, 0.0kcals, 0.0kcals.
The answer is "not a lot" (except for Subject #2 on the first fast).
ProBar Core: 29g Protein Bar Review
I have a new bar to share with you guys!
I know what you're thinking. With all the bars I eat, how is there a new one to share?
But there is.
ProBar Core is a new line of plant-based protein bars from ProBar. With 20g of protein per bar, as well as heart-healthy chia seeds, this bar is perfect for athletes. And busy college students like me!
Seriously, sometimes hoofing it to lab after waking up late makes me feel like a pro athlete, too. I've shaved off 2 minutes and 47 seconds since the beginning of the semester.
I know what you're thinking. With all the bars I eat, how is there a new one to share?
But there is.
ProBar Core is a new line of plant-based protein bars from ProBar. With 20g of protein per bar, as well as heart-healthy chia seeds, this bar is perfect for athletes. And busy college students like me!
Seriously, sometimes hoofing it to lab after waking up late makes me feel like a pro athlete, too. I've shaved off 2 minutes and 47 seconds since the beginning of the semester.
*Shameless bragging, followed by conceited cabbage patching*
There are four flavors of ProBar Core bars. And it's like they're made for me - and all other chocoholics out there! There's Brownie Crisp, Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. They're all winning flavors, especially because they actually taste like those flavors and don't have that icky, chalky taste that some bars can have.
You won't believe that these are healthy for you, but there are about 300mg of Omega 3 fatty acids per bar and about 500mg of Omega 6 fatty acids.
The bars aren't exactly light on sugar (there's around 15g of sugar per bar) but they also have a good amount of fiber (and all that plant protein!) so you don't have to be too concerned about that sugar hitting your bloodstream too fast and leaving you sugar whacked-out after an hour. Further, the sugars are all pretty healthy and minimally refined, with nothing like corn syrup appearing in the bars.
They also have around (slightly less than) 300 calories per bar, so they're substantial enough to pair with just a yogurt and banana for a quickie lunch if you're crazy busy. They're also pretty big bars, and quite dense, so they are nice and satisfying.
Overall, I quite like them!
How often do you eat bars?
What do you look for in a bar?
Do you know of any bars that I haven't tried yet?
Men taking statins have an 11% increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer
This study was published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases 2013 Apr 9
Study title and authors:
Statin use and risk of prostate cancer and high-grade prostate cancer: results from the REDUCE study.
Study title and authors:
Statin use and risk of prostate cancer and high-grade prostate cancer: results from the REDUCE study.
Freedland SJ, Hamilton RJ, Gerber L, Banez LL, Moreira DM, Andriole GL, Rittmaster RS.
Surgery Section, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23567655
Surgery Section, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23567655
This study examined the association between statins and prostate cancer and low-grade and high-grade prostate cancer. The study included 6,729 men, aged 50-75 years, who were followed for four years. (low-grade cancer is likely to develop more slowly than high-grade cancer).
The study found:
(a) Men taking statins had a 5% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men not taking statins.
(b) Men taking statins had a 3% increased risk of low-grade prostate cancer compared to men not taking statins.
(c) Men taking statins had an 11% increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer compared to men not taking statins.
Men taking statins developed prostate cancer more frequently than men not taking statins.
Food Variety, Calorie Intake, and Weight Gain
Let's kick off this post with a quote from a 2001 review paper (1):
Read more »
Increased variety in the food supply may contribute to the development and maintenance of obesity. Thirty-nine studies examining dietary variety, energy intake, and body composition are reviewed. Animal and human studies show that food consumption increases when there is more variety in a meal or diet and that greater dietary variety is associated with increased body weight and fat.This may seem counterintuitive, since variety in the diet is generally seen as a good thing. In some ways, it is a good thing, however in this post we'll see that it can have a downside.
Read more »
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Crunchy Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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| Crunchy almond butter cookies. |
Crunchy Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Our latest variation on a theme- crunchy almond butter chocolate chip cookies. Why another gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe? There are so many reasons, Darling. In fact, where do I begin? First. The obvious. The duh. One can never have too many cookie recipes. Especially in our polite, don't want to make a fuss, look-don't-taste universe when one has to live gluten and dairy free, shunning wheat flour, cream and butter. Declining pink birthday party cupcakes and adorable custard tartlets and cream cheese on bagels and examining every ingredient label ad infinitum.
How do we survive in a culture that promotes our poison everywhere we turn?
Pep in My Step: A Giveaway
When the folks at QVC reached out to me a while ago to review their Re-Body with Svetol supplement, I hesitated a little.
1) I don't generally take supplements.
2) Diet fads, like green bean coffee extract and raspberry ketones, tend to be overrated and about as useful as snake oil.
3) I'm not in about the middle of the healthy weight range for my height, so there's no pressing need for me to lose weight.
Then again, I had put on an extra ten or so pounds above my normal weight during the ultra-busy semester, full of convenience foods and maybe a processed snack too many (not to mention that nightly ice cream habit). So why not? At worst, it would do nothing (or so I figured) since the supplements they offer don't have weird fillers or extra chemicals - just green bean coffee extract and rice bran.
So, er, caffeine?
I'm sure there's supposed to be more to the supplements than that, but you'll have to check Dr. Oz out if you want more info.
Here's what I think of it: a 30 day supply (60 capsules, you take one twice per day before meals) is about $30 dollars, so that averages out to about a dollar a day. Not obscene, but not it's not dirt cheap, either.
I didn't lose any weight on it, which I can't say I'm surprised about. I didn't change my diet at all or do exercise, I was just testing the effect of the pills, and there wasn't any in terms of weight. They actually caused me to bloat a little bit, which is sort of counterproductive for someone who's actually trying to lose.
On the upside, I did feel like I had more energy when I took them. The mid-afternoon slump didn't hit as hard and sometimes it didn't hit at all. I wasn't tired at all in the evening, so much so that I even had a bit of trouble with getting to sleep.
If you're already an insomniac, you might want to be careful about that.
If I were a big coffee drinker, I think these would have absolutely no point for me. The only effect that I saw was the increased energy, which I would attribute to the caffeine. Since I can't stand the aftertaste of coffee (though I love the smell and coffee-flavored treats are a definite go in my book) they were a bit useful in giving me that extra bit of caffeinated energy to pull through a never-ending midterm period.
If you want to try the supplements yourself, they're offering one bottle of 60 capsules (just like I reviewed) to a lucky LLE reader. You have two weeks to enter through Rafflecopter (below) for your chance to win!
Do you take any supplements? When I was little I used to take fish oil and I still take multivitamins now and then, but no supplements regularly.
Have you tried Green Bean Coffee Extract?
Do you drink coffee?
1) I don't generally take supplements.
2) Diet fads, like green bean coffee extract and raspberry ketones, tend to be overrated and about as useful as snake oil.
3) I'm not in about the middle of the healthy weight range for my height, so there's no pressing need for me to lose weight.
Then again, I had put on an extra ten or so pounds above my normal weight during the ultra-busy semester, full of convenience foods and maybe a processed snack too many (not to mention that nightly ice cream habit). So why not? At worst, it would do nothing (or so I figured) since the supplements they offer don't have weird fillers or extra chemicals - just green bean coffee extract and rice bran.
I'm sure there's supposed to be more to the supplements than that, but you'll have to check Dr. Oz out if you want more info.
Here's what I think of it: a 30 day supply (60 capsules, you take one twice per day before meals) is about $30 dollars, so that averages out to about a dollar a day. Not obscene, but not it's not dirt cheap, either.
I didn't lose any weight on it, which I can't say I'm surprised about. I didn't change my diet at all or do exercise, I was just testing the effect of the pills, and there wasn't any in terms of weight. They actually caused me to bloat a little bit, which is sort of counterproductive for someone who's actually trying to lose.
On the upside, I did feel like I had more energy when I took them. The mid-afternoon slump didn't hit as hard and sometimes it didn't hit at all. I wasn't tired at all in the evening, so much so that I even had a bit of trouble with getting to sleep.
If you're already an insomniac, you might want to be careful about that.
If I were a big coffee drinker, I think these would have absolutely no point for me. The only effect that I saw was the increased energy, which I would attribute to the caffeine. Since I can't stand the aftertaste of coffee (though I love the smell and coffee-flavored treats are a definite go in my book) they were a bit useful in giving me that extra bit of caffeinated energy to pull through a never-ending midterm period.
If you want to try the supplements yourself, they're offering one bottle of 60 capsules (just like I reviewed) to a lucky LLE reader. You have two weeks to enter through Rafflecopter (below) for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also, a call for guest bloggers: does anyone want to help me out over these next few weeks? I'm super busy with exams and would really appreciate some guest blog posts! Either comment on this post or email me at livinglearningeating AT gmail DOT com
Do you take any supplements? When I was little I used to take fish oil and I still take multivitamins now and then, but no supplements regularly.
Have you tried Green Bean Coffee Extract?
Do you drink coffee?
New treatment might put Type 2 diabetes in remission.
From:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/new-treatment-might-put-type-2-diabetes-in-remission-1.806064
"A new study by Toronto researchers on a new way to treat type 2 diabetes shows it may cause temporary remission of the disease in up to 75 per cent of patients.
The new treatment involves taking four shots of insulin -- the medication required by some diabetics to control blood sugar levels -- per day for just one month. This is a change from the usual treatment, which involves daily insulin shots over an extended period of time.
Patients develop diabetes when their pancreas can't produce enough insulin to lower blood sugar levels after meals. While medications can temporarily boost insulin production, many type 2 diabetics face a lifetime of daily insulin shots. Over time, patients with the disease can go on to suffer from a range of complications including blindness, heart disease, kidney problems and nerve damage.
Dr. Bernard Zinman, the director of the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes and lead researcher of the study, explained how the new treatment works to CTV News. According to Zinman, by giving type 2 diabetics concentrated levels of insulin for a month early on in their disease, their pancreas, in effect, gets a "a break."
"The diabetes in essence goes away because their own pancreas now can make enough insulin," he said.
After the month on concentrated doses, patients are required to take another type of medication to "maintain" the remission, said Zinman.
Zinman said that the period of remission may eventually wear off, and so he sees the possibility of a future "top-up" treatment, which would last another month.
While the remission period can vary in patients, the prospect of improving pancreatic function is an exciting development in diabetes research, said Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, co-researcher of the study.
"This is a very novel and exiting way of treating diabetes that could have important implications," said Retnakaran.
For patients involved in the study, the treatment has had a major impact on their quality of life. Francoise Hebert was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November 2010. Seven months ago she enrolled in the study, and while she found the four daily insulin doses challenging, her blood sugar levels are now normal.
Hebert now happily tells people she "no longer has the disease," and enjoys knowing she's delayed any progression of diabetes-related complications.
"It feels fabulous," she said with a laugh. "It feels absolutely wonderful."
In addition to having her diabetes go into remission, Hebert says she's also learned how to eat better and hopes to eventually be able to get her weight under control.
Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
The research team at Mount Sinai Hospital hopes to have study results in a year or two, as well as more safety data on the medication."
http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/new-treatment-might-put-type-2-diabetes-in-remission-1.806064
"A new study by Toronto researchers on a new way to treat type 2 diabetes shows it may cause temporary remission of the disease in up to 75 per cent of patients.
The new treatment involves taking four shots of insulin -- the medication required by some diabetics to control blood sugar levels -- per day for just one month. This is a change from the usual treatment, which involves daily insulin shots over an extended period of time.
Patients develop diabetes when their pancreas can't produce enough insulin to lower blood sugar levels after meals. While medications can temporarily boost insulin production, many type 2 diabetics face a lifetime of daily insulin shots. Over time, patients with the disease can go on to suffer from a range of complications including blindness, heart disease, kidney problems and nerve damage.
Dr. Bernard Zinman, the director of the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes and lead researcher of the study, explained how the new treatment works to CTV News. According to Zinman, by giving type 2 diabetics concentrated levels of insulin for a month early on in their disease, their pancreas, in effect, gets a "a break."
"The diabetes in essence goes away because their own pancreas now can make enough insulin," he said.
After the month on concentrated doses, patients are required to take another type of medication to "maintain" the remission, said Zinman.
Zinman said that the period of remission may eventually wear off, and so he sees the possibility of a future "top-up" treatment, which would last another month.
While the remission period can vary in patients, the prospect of improving pancreatic function is an exciting development in diabetes research, said Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, co-researcher of the study.
"This is a very novel and exiting way of treating diabetes that could have important implications," said Retnakaran.
For patients involved in the study, the treatment has had a major impact on their quality of life. Francoise Hebert was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November 2010. Seven months ago she enrolled in the study, and while she found the four daily insulin doses challenging, her blood sugar levels are now normal.
Hebert now happily tells people she "no longer has the disease," and enjoys knowing she's delayed any progression of diabetes-related complications.
"It feels fabulous," she said with a laugh. "It feels absolutely wonderful."
In addition to having her diabetes go into remission, Hebert says she's also learned how to eat better and hopes to eventually be able to get her weight under control.
Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
The research team at Mount Sinai Hospital hopes to have study results in a year or two, as well as more safety data on the medication."
Saturday, April 27, 2013
What the world eats -- a week's worth of groceries.
I saw http://imgur.com/a/mN8Zs on Twitter.
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| Britain |
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| USA |
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| Chad |
6 Must-See Television Shows
I used to be more of a movie than a television person.
CORRECTION: I'm still more of a movie than a television person.
Thanks to Hulu and Cable, however, there are a few shows that I've been getting into lately!
Mainly Hulu.
Oh, Hulu. Why, oh why, are you such an enjoyable form of procrastination?
I seriously am NOT allowed to go on that site during finals period, that's just a disaster waiting to happen.
Anywho, here (in no particular order) are six shows that you'll need to check out ASAP. That is, if you're not addicted already!
The Mindy Project - Mindy (Mindy Kaling) is a skilled OB/GYN navigating the tricky waters of both her personal and professional life in this new comedy.
That's the Hulu description. It sounds a little dry, but this show is hilarious. Mindy Kaling is a comedic GENIUS, her delivery is as great and she's as much of a character as The New Normal's Nene Leakes! Which brings me to the next show!
The New Normal - These days, families come in all forms – single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors, one-night-stand donors… It's 2012 and anything goes. Bryan (Andrew Rannells, "Girls," "The Book of Mormon") and David (Justin Bartha, "The Hangover") are a Los Angeles couple and they have it all. Well, almost. With successful careers and a committed, loving partnership, there is one thing that this couple is missing: a baby. And just when they think the stars will never align, enter Goldie (Georgia King, "One Day"), an extraordinary young woman with a checkered past. A midwestern waitress and single mother looking to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother (Emmy and Tony Award-winner Ellen Barkin), Goldie decides to change everything and move to L.A. with her precocious eight year-old daughter. Desperate and broke – but also fertile – Goldie quickly becomes the guys' surrogate and quite possibly the girl of their dreams. Surrogate mother, surrogate family.
Which family isn't a little weird? Sofia Vergara and Eric Stonestreet carry the show and, while there have been one or two episodes that were more or less duds, the show puts a funny spin on the (sometimes irksome) things families have to deal with every day. It's (97% of the time) a riot!
The Neighbors - Marty Weaver buys a new home, only to discover, to his wife’s horror that the neighbors are aliens masquerading as suburbanites. From Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love, the writer of Cars, and Tangled) comes this new comedy about close encounters of the 3rd kind, in New Jersey.
Lots of firsts. Angsty teens. Awkward kids. British accents. The suburbs. Aliens (and not the green card-carrying kind). New Jersey. Need I say more?
Suburgatory - Tessa (Jane Levy) and George (Jeremy Sisto) have been on their own ever since Tessa's mom pulled a "Kramer vs. Kramer" before she was even potty trained. So far, George has done a pretty good job of raising Tessa without a maternal figure in their lives, but suddenly he's feeling a little out of his league. So it's goodbye New York City and hello suburbs. At first Tessa is horrified by the big-haired, fake-boobed mothers and their sugar-free Red Bull-chugging kids. But little by little she and her dad begin finding a way to survive on the clean streets of the 'burbs. Sure, the neighbors might smother you with love while their kids stare daggers at your back, but underneath all that plastic and caffeine, they're really not half bad. And they do make a tasty pot roast.
Jane Levy is definitely a favorite in this show, but so far it has never failed to amuse!
Well, except that one episode, where some poorly timed comedic choices and overwritten dialogue resulted in a little chuckle rather than the usual gasping-for-breath chortle...
But it's a great show!
What is with all the suburban focus in these shows? Maybe, as a suburbanite (at least, for most of my life) I'm just more attracted to these sorts of shows and appreciate the humor in them more? Maybe it's funny to look back and laugh, now that I live (80% of the time) in the city? Who knows. Maybe the suburbs are just funny!
The Middle - Frankie Heck is a superhero. Well, no, not an actual superhero - not unless you count getting her kids out the door for school every morning as a superfeat. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country, this harried wife and working mother of three uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. Frankie has a job selling cars at the town's only surviving car dealer; her husband, Mike, is a manager at the local quarry. Together, they're putting THE MIDDLE on the map.
What are your favorite television shows?
How do you watch shows most often? I like the big television screen, but Hulu is so convenient!
Do you prefer movies or television shows?
CORRECTION: I'm still more of a movie than a television person.
Thanks to Hulu and Cable, however, there are a few shows that I've been getting into lately!
Mainly Hulu.
Oh, Hulu. Why, oh why, are you such an enjoyable form of procrastination?
I seriously am NOT allowed to go on that site during finals period, that's just a disaster waiting to happen.
Anywho, here (in no particular order) are six shows that you'll need to check out ASAP. That is, if you're not addicted already!
The Mindy Project - Mindy (Mindy Kaling) is a skilled OB/GYN navigating the tricky waters of both her personal and professional life in this new comedy.
That's the Hulu description. It sounds a little dry, but this show is hilarious. Mindy Kaling is a comedic GENIUS, her delivery is as great and she's as much of a character as The New Normal's Nene Leakes! Which brings me to the next show!
The New Normal - These days, families come in all forms – single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors, one-night-stand donors… It's 2012 and anything goes. Bryan (Andrew Rannells, "Girls," "The Book of Mormon") and David (Justin Bartha, "The Hangover") are a Los Angeles couple and they have it all. Well, almost. With successful careers and a committed, loving partnership, there is one thing that this couple is missing: a baby. And just when they think the stars will never align, enter Goldie (Georgia King, "One Day"), an extraordinary young woman with a checkered past. A midwestern waitress and single mother looking to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother (Emmy and Tony Award-winner Ellen Barkin), Goldie decides to change everything and move to L.A. with her precocious eight year-old daughter. Desperate and broke – but also fertile – Goldie quickly becomes the guys' surrogate and quite possibly the girl of their dreams. Surrogate mother, surrogate family.
The cast is great, there isn't a weak character in the bunch, and it's just so funny to see this interesting band of eccentrics interact. The plots are all interesting and so far not a single show has dropped the ball!
Modern Family - Today's American families come in all shapes and sizes. The cookie cutter mold of man + wife + 2.5 kids is a thing of the past, as it becomes quickly apparent in the bird's eye view of ABC's new half-hour comedy, "Modern Family," which takes an honest and often hilarious look at the composition and complexity of modern family life.
Which family isn't a little weird? Sofia Vergara and Eric Stonestreet carry the show and, while there have been one or two episodes that were more or less duds, the show puts a funny spin on the (sometimes irksome) things families have to deal with every day. It's (97% of the time) a riot!
The Neighbors - Marty Weaver buys a new home, only to discover, to his wife’s horror that the neighbors are aliens masquerading as suburbanites. From Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love, the writer of Cars, and Tangled) comes this new comedy about close encounters of the 3rd kind, in New Jersey.
Suburgatory - Tessa (Jane Levy) and George (Jeremy Sisto) have been on their own ever since Tessa's mom pulled a "Kramer vs. Kramer" before she was even potty trained. So far, George has done a pretty good job of raising Tessa without a maternal figure in their lives, but suddenly he's feeling a little out of his league. So it's goodbye New York City and hello suburbs. At first Tessa is horrified by the big-haired, fake-boobed mothers and their sugar-free Red Bull-chugging kids. But little by little she and her dad begin finding a way to survive on the clean streets of the 'burbs. Sure, the neighbors might smother you with love while their kids stare daggers at your back, but underneath all that plastic and caffeine, they're really not half bad. And they do make a tasty pot roast.
Jane Levy is definitely a favorite in this show, but so far it has never failed to amuse!
Well, except that one episode, where some poorly timed comedic choices and overwritten dialogue resulted in a little chuckle rather than the usual gasping-for-breath chortle...
But it's a great show!
What is with all the suburban focus in these shows? Maybe, as a suburbanite (at least, for most of my life) I'm just more attracted to these sorts of shows and appreciate the humor in them more? Maybe it's funny to look back and laugh, now that I live (80% of the time) in the city? Who knows. Maybe the suburbs are just funny!
The Middle - Frankie Heck is a superhero. Well, no, not an actual superhero - not unless you count getting her kids out the door for school every morning as a superfeat. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country, this harried wife and working mother of three uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. Frankie has a job selling cars at the town's only surviving car dealer; her husband, Mike, is a manager at the local quarry. Together, they're putting THE MIDDLE on the map.
What are your favorite television shows?
How do you watch shows most often? I like the big television screen, but Hulu is so convenient!
Do you prefer movies or television shows?
My missions.
I was once asked:- "That is my cause, that is my mission, what is your cause Nigel ? What is your mission ?"
My reply was "Anyway, my mission is to disseminate (hopefully accurate) information about Diet, Nutrition, Fitness & Random stuff in a way that’s interesting to the lay public – hence the videos and pictures."
Information. We want information...
My primary mission is, as stated above, to provide free information of high quality in a form that you can easily understand and to support that information with high quality evidence.
I believe that you don't want to read too much techy stuff, no matter how fascinating it may be to me!
My secondary mission is to expose misinformation. I am like The Terminator. I vill not stop. Eva!
My reply was "Anyway, my mission is to disseminate (hopefully accurate) information about Diet, Nutrition, Fitness & Random stuff in a way that’s interesting to the lay public – hence the videos and pictures."
Information. We want information...
 |
| I am not a number. I am a free man! |
I believe that you don't want to read too much techy stuff, no matter how fascinating it may be to me!
My secondary mission is to expose misinformation. I am like The Terminator. I vill not stop. Eva!
 |
| Hasta la vista, baby! |
Friday, April 26, 2013
Diogenes: High protein + low GI = Weight-loss maintenance WIN.
See Diets with High or Low Protein Content and Glycemic Index for Weight-Loss Maintenance.
"In conclusion, in this large, randomized study, a diet that was moderately high in protein content and slightly reduced in glycemic index improved the rate of completion of the intervention and maintenance of weight loss and therefore appears to be ideal for the prevention of weight regain."
Note that Low GI isn't the same as Low carb. The Low GI diets had ~43% of total energy from carbohydrate. The Low GI diets were not Low carb diets. They weren't as High carb as Healthy Eating Guidelines (55% of total energy from carbohydrate).
 |
| LP = Low Protein. HP = High Protein. LGI = Low GI. HGI = High GI. |
Note that Low GI isn't the same as Low carb. The Low GI diets had ~43% of total energy from carbohydrate. The Low GI diets were not Low carb diets. They weren't as High carb as Healthy Eating Guidelines (55% of total energy from carbohydrate).
Polite requests, Part 2.
Having had a polite request from someone with T2DM, I hereby disengage from trading insults.
Sometimes, when a lot of mud gets flung, some of it can stick to the wrong people.
|
| Time to disengage. |
The most simple tip to lose weight EVER is “Eat less and move more”.
Said Gaz at Cycle Of Life - Fix You.
He went from this...
To this...
Now tell me that ELMM doesn't work!
He went from this...
 |
| Not a happy bunny. |
 |
| A happy bunny. |
Fit Friday #1
That's a bit of a controversial title, isn't it?
Fit means different things to different people. Extremism in popular culture (including Instagram accounts, Pinterest boards, blogs, etc.) sometimes make it sound like being fit is a synonym for being skinny, or for eating a 'clean' diet (um, don't know about you buuuuuut I generally try not to eat dirty food, the 5 second rule excepted), or working out 30 minutes five times per week.
My thoughts? FALSE.
Being fit is about not letting you health limit your life - so you're just as not-fit if you give up socializing to fit in a workout or give up eating out with friends to eat your carefully prepared, nutritionally balanced meal as you are if you eat a nutritionally void diet/never leave your couch and end up getting health issues.
In both cases, your life is compromised by your health decisions.
Being fit is whatever lets you go through life feeling like this:
If you drive to your mailbox and eat more colors (red #2, purple #3) than foods, you probably won't feel like that long-term.
If you workout everyday for over an hour and never eat ice cream or one too many cookies, you probably won't feel like that long-term.
Again, it's all about the blasted b word - balance.
Okay, rant: over. Anywho, the reason for this is because I want to start a new series for my blog. I've done Friday Foodie Finds, but wanted something new.
So I'm doing Fit Friday, where I'll post about something related to health, instead!
You're all welcome to join me, if you have blogs of your own :) You can post about anything from mental health, to a healthy recipe, to your own definition of health, to fun ways to be active, to fun facts about nutrients, etc.!
Just grab the button and let's have some fun!
Okay, moving on - so if carbs are important, what kind of carbs do you want to have more of in your diet?
While there's no harm in the occasional bowl of Frosted Flakes, there are definitely some carbs that you want more of in your diet. There are differences between different types of carbs.
Carbs to emphasize in your diet include:
* Whole grains like oats, quinoa, whole wheat, millet, brown rice, etc.
* Beans
* Fruits
* Starchy vegetables (potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, winter squash, etc.)
For ideas of some ways to enjoy those healthy carbs, here are a few healthy carb-centric recipes to check out!
Fit means different things to different people. Extremism in popular culture (including Instagram accounts, Pinterest boards, blogs, etc.) sometimes make it sound like being fit is a synonym for being skinny, or for eating a 'clean' diet (um, don't know about you buuuuuut I generally try not to eat dirty food, the 5 second rule excepted), or working out 30 minutes five times per week.
My thoughts? FALSE.
Being fit is about not letting you health limit your life - so you're just as not-fit if you give up socializing to fit in a workout or give up eating out with friends to eat your carefully prepared, nutritionally balanced meal as you are if you eat a nutritionally void diet/never leave your couch and end up getting health issues.
In both cases, your life is compromised by your health decisions.
Being fit is whatever lets you go through life feeling like this:
If you drive to your mailbox and eat more colors (red #2, purple #3) than foods, you probably won't feel like that long-term.
If you workout everyday for over an hour and never eat ice cream or one too many cookies, you probably won't feel like that long-term.
Again, it's all about the blasted b word - balance.
Okay, rant: over. Anywho, the reason for this is because I want to start a new series for my blog. I've done Friday Foodie Finds, but wanted something new.
So I'm doing Fit Friday, where I'll post about something related to health, instead!
You're all welcome to join me, if you have blogs of your own :) You can post about anything from mental health, to a healthy recipe, to your own definition of health, to fun ways to be active, to fun facts about nutrients, etc.!
Just grab the button and let's have some fun!
Today's topic is carbs. Why? Because I love 'em and they get an awful rep (which dates back to Atkins/South Beach diet days, but the recent gluten-free craze only serves to fuel the carb-hating).
Carbs are important fuel for proper organ function and physical activity.
I'd also like to point out, once more, that gluten isn't unhealthy or inflammatory unless you have Celiac's disease or intolerances (much, much more rare in reality than the number of gluten-free people out there would make you think). Gluten-free treats these days are so good that even those of us without gluten-intolerances love to partake, but that doesn't mean that we need to shun wheat.
Okay, moving on - so if carbs are important, what kind of carbs do you want to have more of in your diet?
While there's no harm in the occasional bowl of Frosted Flakes, there are definitely some carbs that you want more of in your diet. There are differences between different types of carbs.
Carbs to emphasize in your diet include:
* Whole grains like oats, quinoa, whole wheat, millet, brown rice, etc.
* Beans
* Fruits
* Starchy vegetables (potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, winter squash, etc.)
For ideas of some ways to enjoy those healthy carbs, here are a few healthy carb-centric recipes to check out!
Sally's 30 Minute Soft Pretzels
Made with a mix of whole wheat and all purpose flour, these are a great snack (or side to a soup lunch)! I'm really not much of a hard pretzel fan, but soft ones are delicious.
Melissa's Baked Sweet Potato Fries (V)
They're not vegan if you top them with parmesan (as pictured) but if you leave that off, they are! This is probably one of my favorite ways to eat sweet potatoes, though it's even better with nut butter (instead of ketchup) as the dip...
Kelly's Ancient Grains Granola Cups
I love granola in pretty much any form, so I have a hard time imagining not loving these. They're also much more convenient than loose granola if you need a quick breakfast on the go!
Marion's Spelt & Rye Bread (V)
Wow. Does that look amazing, or what? I like to consider myself the queen of bread in my house and so I *need* to try this recipe next weekend - don't let me forget!!
How has your definition of fit changed over the years?
What would you like me to write about in the next Fit Friday post?
Have you ever demonized carbs?
Hypoglycaemic counter-regulation at normal blood glucose concentrations in patients with well controlled type-2 diabetes.
Hat tip to Graham of the Lowcarb Team. See Hypoglycaemic counter-regulation at normal blood glucose concentrations in patients with well controlled type-2 diabetes.
What the above study shows is that, in people with "well controlled" T2DM (mean HbA1c 7·4%, SD 1·0 is poor control. Less than 6% is good control), there is counter-regulatory release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, growth hormone and cortisol at normal blood glucose levels. This is bad, as it's unhealthy to have release of counter-regulatory hormones under normal living conditions.
EDIT: Graham posted this study in support of his belief that there is low/no cortisol etc secretion due to blood glucose not falling low enough. This study actually counters his belief, as blood glucose doesn't fall low enough due to excessive cortisol etc secretion!
"Background
Intensive treatment to achieve good glycaemic control in diabetic patients is limited by a high frequency of hypoglycaemia. The glucose concentrations at which symptoms and release of counter-regulatory hormones takes place have not been studied in patients with well controlled type-2 diabetes.Methods
We studied seven well controlled, non-insulin treated, type-2 diabetic patients (mean HbA1 [corrected according to Diabetes Control and Complications Trial] 7·4%, SD 1·0) and seven healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index with a stepped hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemic glucose clamp. Symptoms, cognitive function, and counter-regulatory hormone concentrations were measured at each glucose plateau, and the glucose value at which there was a significant change from baseline was calculated.Findings
Symptom response took place at higher whole-blood glucose concentrations in diabetic patients than in controls. Counter-regulatory release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol showed a similar pattern—eg, at blood glucose concentrations of 3·8 mmol/L [SD 0·4] vs 2·6 [0·3] for epinephrine.Interpretation
Glucose thresholds for counter-regulatory hormone secretion are altered in well controlled type-2 diabetic patients, so that both symptoms and counter-regulatory hormone release can take place at normal glucose values. This effect might protect type-2 diabetic patients against episodes of profound hypoglycaemia and make the achievement of normoglycaemia more challenging in clinical practice."What the above study shows is that, in people with "well controlled" T2DM (mean HbA1c 7·4%, SD 1·0 is poor control. Less than 6% is good control), there is counter-regulatory release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, growth hormone and cortisol at normal blood glucose levels. This is bad, as it's unhealthy to have release of counter-regulatory hormones under normal living conditions.
EDIT: Graham posted this study in support of his belief that there is low/no cortisol etc secretion due to blood glucose not falling low enough. This study actually counters his belief, as blood glucose doesn't fall low enough due to excessive cortisol etc secretion!
L-carnitine reduces the risk of death by 27% in heart attack victims
This paper was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2013 Apr 15. pii: S0025-6196(13)00127-4
Study title and authors:
L-Carnitine in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Dinicolantonio JJ, Lavie CJ, Fares H, Menezes AR, O'Keefe JH.
Wegmans Pharmacy, Ithaca, NY. Electronic address: jjdinicol@gmail.com.
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23597877
This paper evaluated the effects of L-carnitine compared with placebo or control subjects on heart health and death rates in patients who had had a heart attack. The paper was a meta-analysis of 13 controlled trials which included 3,629 subjects.
The analysis found:
(a) Compared with placebo or control subjects, L-carnitine was associated with a 27% reduction in all-cause death rates.
(b) Compared with placebo or control subjects, L-carnitine was associated with a 65% reduction in ventricular arrhythmias (life threatening abnormal rapid heart rhythms).
(c) Compared with placebo or control subjects, L-carnitine was associated with a 40% reduction in the development of angina.
(d) Compared with placebo or control subjects, L-carnitine was associated with a 15% reduction in heart failure.
(e) Compared with placebo or control subjects, L-carnitine was associated with a 22% reduction in myocardial reinfarction (recurrence of heart attack).
This study reveals that L-carnitine is associated with a reduction in death rates in heart attack victims.
The richest food sources of L-carnitine are beef, lamb and pork (beef contains 81 mg per serving). Foods of plant origin have little or no L-carnitine, (avocados are one of the highest at 2 mg per serving).
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Cheesy Roasted Vegetables (C3)
Cheesy Roasted Vegetables (C3)
Click HERE for the complete recipe and instructions on making these.
Do these look great or what?
These are C3 due to the zucchini and also due to the amount of cheese being used.
When making this recipe, be sure to choose lowfat cheeses.
Caramel Time!
I have a raging sweet tooth.
No joke, a sweets-deprived me isn't a happy camper. I tend to prefer satisfying my sweet tooth with chocolate, ice cream, dried fruits, fruits, baked goods, and the like. I'm really not, and never have been, hugely into hard candies.
My dad, on the other hand, can make a bag of lemon hard candies or Werther's Originals disappear in a day or two. But he completely snubs chocolate, ice cream, cookies, and most other treats.
Weird, right?
Anyway, even though I tend to go for other types of sweet treats, I do occasionally enjoy a hard candy. I'm more selective with candy, though, since I'm usually not as wild about it. While I'll eat most types of chocolate or ice cream, a candy has to be pretty tasty for me to even bother.
Like Werther's smooth, sweet caramel candies. Ever since I've been little, they've been one of my favorite non-chocolate candies. They're creamy, sweet, and melt in my mouth.
But I know several diabetics (some friends, some family, and even some bloggers). There are now diabetic-friendly chocolates and ice creams, but what about when that taste for something sweet to suck on strikes?
Werther's Original now makes Werther's Original Sugar Free Candies that provide the same rich, velvety caramel flavor and creamy mouthfeel of the classic caramel candies in a diabetic-friendly treat.
There are seven ingredients in the candies and they're sweetened with acesulfame-k. I can't give much of an opinion on that sweetener, unfortunately, as I don't know very much about it.
The sugar-free candies come in the Classic Caramel flavor, as well as three swirled flavors - Caramel Apple, Caramel Cinnamon, and Caramel Coffee.
I'd tried the regular sugar versions of the Caramel Coffee and Classic Caramel candies, but the Caramel Apple and Caramel Cinnamon flavors were both new to me and I enjoyed both. The Caramel Apple is reminiscent of fall harvest festivals and the Caramel Cinnamon is probably my new favorite.
I love cinnamon and it's delightfully cinnamon-y!
Especially if you have diabetes, I'd recommend trying the candies - you'll probably be pleasantly surprised! They're definitely way better than I thought a diabetic-friendly candy would be. And they come with Werther's Original's Taste Guarantee, so if you don't like them you can get your money back. There's nothing to lose!
Do you know anyone with diabetes?
What's your go-to sweet treat?
Do you know anything about acesulfame-k?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
No joke, a sweets-deprived me isn't a happy camper. I tend to prefer satisfying my sweet tooth with chocolate, ice cream, dried fruits, fruits, baked goods, and the like. I'm really not, and never have been, hugely into hard candies.
My dad, on the other hand, can make a bag of lemon hard candies or Werther's Originals disappear in a day or two. But he completely snubs chocolate, ice cream, cookies, and most other treats.
Weird, right?
Anyway, even though I tend to go for other types of sweet treats, I do occasionally enjoy a hard candy. I'm more selective with candy, though, since I'm usually not as wild about it. While I'll eat most types of chocolate or ice cream, a candy has to be pretty tasty for me to even bother.
Like Werther's smooth, sweet caramel candies. Ever since I've been little, they've been one of my favorite non-chocolate candies. They're creamy, sweet, and melt in my mouth.
But I know several diabetics (some friends, some family, and even some bloggers). There are now diabetic-friendly chocolates and ice creams, but what about when that taste for something sweet to suck on strikes?
Werther's Original now makes Werther's Original Sugar Free Candies that provide the same rich, velvety caramel flavor and creamy mouthfeel of the classic caramel candies in a diabetic-friendly treat.
There are seven ingredients in the candies and they're sweetened with acesulfame-k. I can't give much of an opinion on that sweetener, unfortunately, as I don't know very much about it.
The sugar-free candies come in the Classic Caramel flavor, as well as three swirled flavors - Caramel Apple, Caramel Cinnamon, and Caramel Coffee.
I'd tried the regular sugar versions of the Caramel Coffee and Classic Caramel candies, but the Caramel Apple and Caramel Cinnamon flavors were both new to me and I enjoyed both. The Caramel Apple is reminiscent of fall harvest festivals and the Caramel Cinnamon is probably my new favorite.
I love cinnamon and it's delightfully cinnamon-y!
Especially if you have diabetes, I'd recommend trying the candies - you'll probably be pleasantly surprised! They're definitely way better than I thought a diabetic-friendly candy would be. And they come with Werther's Original's Taste Guarantee, so if you don't like them you can get your money back. There's nothing to lose!
Do you know anyone with diabetes?
What's your go-to sweet treat?
Do you know anything about acesulfame-k?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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