Scrumptious Non-GMO Corn & Diabetic Food Fallacies

Yum! I just polished off two ears of the sweetest yellow corn I've ever had! It was so good I literally sucked the juice from the cob until is was so dry and clean you could have made one of those corn cob pipes from it! It is truly one of the joys I always look forward to every year. As I relished the last piece, I realized I should share this with my readers on my "Reverse Diabetes Naturally" blog and I'll explain why below.

There are so many food fallacies out there that diabetics get drawn into. A good example is that "carbs are the enemy." While it is true that the modern American diet and the modern diet of other industrialized nations consists of far too many LOW QUALITY carbs, the food group of carbs is NOT what has caused the type 2 diabetes. It is very important in fact for those who want to cure their diabetes to eat plenty of fresh vegetables. It's best to eat a lot of green leafy vegetables (especially those in the kale family like all forms of kale, collards, mustard greens, and cabbages) and a wide variety of other veggies in every color: yellow, orange, red, purple, and white.

All the attention shown on suggesting low-carb diets for diabetics has taken the attention away from other food topics that diabetes should be far more concerned about: topics that concern what actually causes diabetes and what foods can cure it.

This is what I mean by diabetic food fallacies.

If you are serious about curing diabetes for good and/or avoiding it to begin with, there is information about food you definitely need. Lowering your intake of carbs and making sure your carbs have high nutrient density is important but it is actually less important than other food topics that I seldom see discussed in diabetes education circles. Sometimes I find myself shaking my head in disgust when I read through such literature.

So, let me get back to my scrumptious corn and tell you why I want to talk about it.

First, I want to talk about the importance of avoiding genetically modified foods (GMO foods). As a diabetic, this is most definitely one of the most important changes you can make to your diet. You need to get REALLY serious about avoiding ALL genetically modified foods. There is research that shows GMO foods play havoc with all your internal organs, cause metabolic problems, and they increase insulin resistance.

This means avoiding processed food, fast food, and even certain "fresh vegetables" if they are conventionally grown -- and definitely conventionally grown corn because it is almost all genetically modified corn if you purchase it in the United States! The only way to avoid this in the U.S. is buy CERTIFIED ORGANIC corn or corn from a trusted local farmer who verifies he or she uses non-GMO seed (this is almost alway organic seed but the land they grow it in may not be certified so they can't label it "organic"). A good source is farmers markets and local food co-ops that purchase from small local farmers.

One of the most commonly eaten GMO foods is corn and it is very toxic, especially for the diabetic. GMO corn is used to make high fructose corn syrup and various forms of it serves as fillers in many processed foods (and pet food too by the way) and fast food. In fact, more than 80% of all corn grown in the US is GMO corn, some say as much as 90%. In other words, it is grown using patent protected Monsanto seed that has been genetically altered with genes from a bacterium to resist herbicides (so they can spray the heck out of it with Monsanto's Round Up without killing the commercial crop of GMO corn) and to make it less tasty to bugs.

Yep, that's right.... when you're eating GMO corn, you're eating corn that even the bugs won't eat and has an herbicide built right into the corn itself, i.e. you are essentially eating herbicide!! That should tell you something. Sometimes I wonder just how smart we humans really are :-)

This means if you go to the store and buy some "farm fresh corn" or "locally grown corn" (food marketers really know how to make this toxic GMO stuff sound great), odds are very high that you are purchasing GMO corn!! It may look natural and healthy but don't be fooled! It is toxic. And please... don't be lured into buying it because of ridiculously low prices!! You need to stay away from it, especially if you have diabetes or have any propensity for developing it. In fact, everyone should stay away from this stuff as it causes all sorts of health issues.

Remember: the only sure fire way to avoid buying GMO corn is to buy certified ORGANIC corn. For produce to be labeled "organic" one of the rules is that it can not be GMO. And.. you can talk to small farmers directly at farmers markets and ask them if they use GMO corn seed.

The corn I just ate was non-GMO, i.e. non-Monsanto corn, i.e. it was NOT genetically modified corn!  How do I know? Well, it was ORGANIC corn from a trusted organic farm in the region where I live. Knowing this makes me savor each delicious juicy sweet bite all the more!!

Please understand that I do not recommend non-GMO corn as a frequent staple in a diabetic diet but there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying some on occasion. Don't let those low-carb diet claims for diabetics take away all the joy of summer veggies! In fact, I get a craving for good ol' corn on the cob a couple of times a year and I do indulge and my blood sugar doesn't suffer for it, thank you very much! Yellow corn that is non-GMO corn does have nutritious value, maybe not as much as a big helping of kale, but it adds to the diversity of your diet with antioxidants and other micronutrients, and it is healthy for you in moderation as long as it isn't GMO.

I also love corn bread on occasion with some yummy bean soup. I always use organic corn meal to make it so I know for sure I'm not eating GMO corn. There's nothing wrong with someone who has cured their diabetes through natural means to partake of organic corn mill occasionally. In fact, this can be healthy.

AND... to drive my point home more clearly:

Staying completely away from GMO food is far more important to the diabetic than indulging in non-processed fresh organic veggies that have carb. In fact, unless you have a corn allergy, I'd say those carby veggies are part of a healthy diet. By the way, most people (and pets) who have a corn allergy find that non-GMO corn doesn't bother them!

AND... one more important point:

The locally grown non-GMO corn that I ate today was also drenched in melted butter -- no, not "pretend" butter-like spread or the industrialized (i.e. full of trans fat) "food" known as margarine but REAL organic butter made from milk from pasture raised cows, i.e. cows that graze on organic green grass and ingest a few bugs in the process. Real butter made with milk from pasture raised cows contains a descent amount of omega-3 because pastured cows get their omega-3 from the green grass and bugs they eat and this is passed along in their milk.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you should eat tons of organic butter from pasture raised cows either but it is one of the healthier fats you can eat as long as you don't overdo it. It is far better for you than the so called "heart healthy" artificial stuff I see lined up on most grocery shelves which is always very sad to see!!! It's certainly better than canola oil, another GMO food to stay completely away from.

And remember, omega-3 is one of the most important things you can eat if you are trying to cure diabetes.... in fact, it is lesson #1 in my opinion in "how to cure diabetes" (click on the red button at the top for more info!). Eating plenty of omega-3 is also very important in preventing diabetes and in making sure type 2 diabetes doesn't return. Of course, there are many other food lessons you need to learn to cure diabetes for good and one of the best resources I've found for teaching you how to do so quickly is this one.

Can Picking a Rose Cure Diabetes?

Can picking a rose cure diabetes? Ok, that's a provocative title for a post, right? Well, I don't mean of course that simply picking a rose all by itself can cure diabetes but I use this example as a way to say that "little things" like picking a rose matter because they all add up.

I have an heirloom rose bush in my yard which for the last several weeks has been producing the most beautiful dark pink, almost red, roses. I've been enjoying them every day from the deck. Yesterday, I finally decided to take the time to pick one to bring inside to enjoy. I put it in a bud vase on the desk by my computer. The fragrance of this rose was so sublime I found myself taking long deep sniffs of it all day as I worked on the computer and while I did some household chores. This one little rose gave me an immense amount of joy which translated into my day being less stressful and more filled with inner peace.

Take time to smell the roses!

Trite but soooo true!

I'm sure you've heard that expression but I bet you never considered how important it really is to take the time to do those little things that give you pure joy. This is important for everyone as it is part of having good mental health. Research is showing more examples all the time where good mental health translates to good physical health... or perhaps more accurate, bad mental health can cause a whole cascade of physical problems, including type 2 diabetes.

For diabetics who are trying to cure their diabetes naturally, reducing stress is a KEY factor. I really can't stress this enough (hey, that was a pun but I didn't realize it at first!). STRESS causes cortisol levels to go up in your body and this causes weight gain, resistance to weight loss, higher insulin levels, slower to react endocrine system, and a whole host of other health hazards we are only beginning to understand.

This much we know for absolute sure: the less stress you have the better! The less stress the easier it will be to cure diabetes.

Modern society has become so rushed in some ways. We have all these time saving machines like washing machines, dishwashers, and cars. However, we still seem to have less time to enjoy the simple things.... or do we really?

My contention is that we really DO have the time to smell the proverbial roses (and in my case literally so) but we don't understand the importance of doing so anymore. We'd rather rush in to watch our favorite TV show or jump online. I'm not against these things, mind you. However, I just want to urge diabetics to think more about your priorities and make sure you are doing the simple things that give you great joy and lower stress. I can tell you that the beautiful fragrance of that rose I was sniffing all day gave me far more pleasure than any TV show or movie.

Something as simple as a walk in the park to see the flowers blooming or the fall foliage can put you in a better mood for days. Taking time to visit with elderly people, both in your own family and elsewhere can also give you a happier perspective on life.

Lowering stress is very important to reversing diabetes, and in fact, if you have too much stress your body may not be able to repair itself even if you are eating the right things and avoiding the toxins in the modern food supply that are contributing to the skyrocketing diabetes rates.

Get this reverse diabetes report to learn the specific steps you need to take to cure diabetes and while you're at it, take time to smell the roses!

Diabetics - Eat Your Greens, Kale, Spinach, etc...

I'm up early and I just walked outside to check on my garden. I'm growing several different types of greens this year and they are all coming along nicely. In fact, I've been picking off the outer leaves for some time now. If you want to reverse diabetes naturally, then one food item that you should definitely eat lots of is greens. It is highly recommended that you eat as wide a variety of greens as possible: kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, chard, dandelion greens, bok choy,  lambsquarter, etc... All greens are incredibly healthy, especially for anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Greens are well known to reduce blood sugar naturally.

That's right... Popeye did not have diabetes!

Greens like kale and spinach are known to be the most nutrient dense foods on Earth and I do mean this literally. They contain a whole range of micronutrients (antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals). Greens, especially dark leafy greens, contain lots of chlorophyll which turns out to be very similar to hemoglobin in structure and thus can really help with anemia which is common health issue with diabetics. Eating dark leafy greens will ramp up your hemoglobin much faster than red meat in fact.

Eating lots of chlorophyll can help reverse diabetes in another way too. The atom at the center of the chlorophyll molecule is magnesium (in hemoglobin, the central atom is iron but otherwise chlorophyll and hemoglobin are almost identical). Magnesium is one of the main minerals that is known to help reverse diabetes. It lowers blood sugar naturally and helps insulin work more efficiently. However, taking magnesium supplements is not nearly as good as eating greens because of how much better the body absorbs the magnesium in greens versus the form of magnesium put in the pill form of mineral supplements.

Mother nature almost always wins in these contests anyway!

As a person who has reversed her diabetes and someone who plans to keep it that way, I have become a very picky shopper! I buy only ORGANIC greens. I have learned that organic produce has far more nutrients because they are grown in soil that contains far more nutrients. People just don't think about the importance of soil enough but most of the nutrients in vegetables come from the soil! These nutrients include ones that we are only beginning to understand the importance of. Of course, organic greens are also not covered with herbicides and pesticides. Therefore, washing the greens is not as critical -- a quick rinse is all you need -- you don't have to worry about reaching ever crevice where toxic herbicides may be hiding. Keep in mind that you can NEVER really wash off all the chemicals on conventionally grown greens so when you're standing there comparing the prices at the stores, keep this important point mind as well as the higher nutrient density in organic versus non-organic! You may pay a little more for organic but you are also getting "natural medicine" for your diabetes!! Also, I have found that organic just tastes way better!

My favorite green leafy vegetable to cook is dinosaur kale which is a dark green kale that is a bit more tender than green kale, blue green kale, and red kale and thus cooks very easily. Remember that reversing diabetes is made much easier by learning how to make delicious healthy foods using the basic ingredients known to help cure diabetes quickly. If you can prepare foods quick then you'll be more likely to make them. I savor the sweet flavor of dinosaur kale (it seems to be even a little sweeter in the fall and winter). Dinosaur kale is also called Lacinato kale and is actually an heirloom variety from Italy. It turns out that the nutrients in kale are more available to the body for absorption if it is lightly cooked by slightly steaming. You can achieve this in the skillet by putting in a bit of olive oil and then as the skillet gets hot dropping in just enough water to create steam. I usually do this about 3 times and the kale is cooked. Remember you don't want to over cook kale so when it turns bright green it is done. I like to add sea salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Some people also add garlic but I actually prefer it with just lemon even though I do love garlic in lots of other foods and also highly recommend you eat plenty of garlic too!

My favorite green to eat raw is baby spinach. I make all sorts of salads with baby spinach as it is so versatile. This is my "go to" salad when I'm really in a hurry and I want a super healthy meal that is also filling. I get out a big bowl and use the baby spinach as the bulk of the salad but I add lots of other things too like blue cheese, dried cherries, walnuts. For a dressing, I use apple cider vinegar and olive oil (one of my favorite versions) but then I've learned to make a really yummy and creamy cashew dressing which tastes great on baby spinach with lots of other veggies. I also sometimes throw in some berries like blueberries or whatever wild berry happens to be in season to add a bit of sweetness. I try to keep some cashew butter on hand so I don't have to deal with the blender.

Greens of all types have lots of natural fiber too which is also very important to reversing diabetes!

So, I would like to encourage you to start eating organic greens every day. I recommend big piles of organic greens in fact. While you are doing that, I also highly recommend you got to the top of this page and click on the red button. This will show you exactly all the foods and techniques that you can use to not just "control" your diabetes but actually reverse it for good. In other words, you can CURE diabetes if you have the right information. Here's the link here too: how to reverse diabetes naturally!

3 Steps to Incredible Health! With Dr. Joel Fuhrman

I am watching, or rather re-watching, a program on PBS called, "3 Steps to Incredible Health!" It is a program starring Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Although it is not specifically about reversing diabetes, Dr. Fuhrman does address diabetes specifically in his talk. I really like the fact that he specifically says he doesn't want to "control" diabetes but he wants to CURE diabetes. Way to go Dr. Fuhrman! It is so rare to hear a mainstream medical doctor put it in these terms -- but I wanted you guys to know that there ARE medical doctors out there who do believe you can cure diabetes and even know how to do it. Most doctors just want to show you how to control and manage your diabetes through medication. I've been following Dr. Fuhrman for a long time on Huffington Post and I've read many of his articles various other places as well. I respect what he has to say and I agree with him the vast majority of the time. He researches things quite well. However, if your #1 health concern is reversing diabetes, I'd point you to the information that is linked behind the big red button at the top of this page first and foremost as it is specifically aimed directly and precisely at curing type 2 diabetes (and improving type 1 diabetes as well).

Now I must tell you that if you order Dr. Joel Fuhrman's CD's, tapes, books, etc, they are very costly. The resource I link to through the red button is much cheaper and it has far more information regarding curing diabetes. However, it wouldn't hurt to also get  Fuhrman's CD's if you can afford them. By the way, I've checked and ordering them off PBS will not save you any money either but it will support your local PBS station which of course is a good thing. If money is tight, I would suggest starting with the program I have linked behind the red button up top and then later ordering Dr. Fuhrman's program if you can afford it. It is more aimed at improving your health overall and he gives excellent cooking tips.

Also, be aware that PBS re-runs this program (all over the US anyway) all the time so if you missed it today, just check your local listings and type in the name of the program, "3 Steps to Incredible Health!" or type in "Joel Fuhrman." The free TV program offers quite a bit of great information even without ordering the tapes, etc... A friend of mine in New Jersey actually found it playing on a different PBS station in her area. Usually this program runs in association with a pledge drive so be prepared for interruptions throughout asking for you to call in with a donation but of course you don't have to. It's sort of like an infomercial in style with Dr. Fuhrman talking to an audience, BUT unlike most infomercials, there really is some great info in there.

One thing I really like about what Dr. Fuhrman says is his message on the importance of micronutrients. The importance of micronutrients to maintaining health in general and in preventing diseases, including diabetes and other metabolic diseasese, is not stressed anywhere near enough in most health websites and other informational sources for good health. In fact, without micronutrients you'd have a hard time reversing ANY illness. This is something you would definitely learn about (and very specifically to how it applies to reversing diabetes) in the diabetes program I recommend to everyone. Most health experts seem so focused on carbs, fats, and proteins, they hardly ever talk about micronutrients and when they do it seems they only talk about certain minerals (the main ones) and vitamins. However, there are so many more micronutrients out there and they so incredibly important in fixing our damaged cells and our damaged endocrine system once we develop diabetes. It is important to think about food in terms of how micronutrient dense it is. Dr. Fuhrman actually says at one point that a piece of chicken is as lacking in nutrients as a piece of white bread because it has very few micronutrients. Yes -- you do need protein of course but if you just get protein, fat, and carbs but few micronutrients, your body will begin to fall apart. I plan to write more on the topic of micronutrients in the near future so stay tuned. In the meantime, get information I have linked up top and see if you can find Dr. Fuhrman's program on your PBS station.