Since medifast is a low carb / high protein diet based on a low glycemic index and putting your body in ketosis, it’s reasonable to wonder if this diet is appropriate for people with diabetes. The answer is yes. In fact, the plan has a specific program that is just for diabetics, and is backed by a pretty impressive research study from John Hopkins University. This article will give an overview of the program and will discuss why I believe it is a very viable (and much less painful) option than other diabetic diets I have previously tried.
Why Diabetic Diets Often Fail: If there is any good news for people with diabetes, it’s that keeping as close as possible to our ideal weight can drastically improve our condition. Weight loss can even decrease, or in some dramatic cases, cease your need for insulin.
The bad news is that the diabetes diets that will give you these kinds of dramatic results are typically extremely restrictive and very hard to stick with. They basically force you to cut out all desserts, snacks, carbs, and sugars while meticulously calculating and recording every thing you put into your mouth. I know from experience this is a dismal existence which I wanted to abandon pretty quickly.
Medifast For Diabetes Overview: This diet (which is endorsed by celebrities Genie Francis and Kristy Swanson) is a meal replacement program, which in my opinion is a huge plus. Basically, you eat six times per day . You’ll eat five of the company’s meals and one “lean and green meal” that you make yourself. These foods are very glycemic friendly and low in carbs while being high in protein. And, because you’re eating so often, your blood sugar stays stable and strong.
I believe that the best thing about this diet is that the food choices are filled with carb and snack like foods, like shakes, pudding, crackers, bars, oatmeal, and cappuccino, to name only a few. (There are over 70 choices.) But, even though they do not taste like it, these are safe choices which fool you into thinking that you are eating normally. The food tastes pretty decent as well.
In my experience, once you start to see results, this diet is very easy to embrace and stick with. Most of the foods are grab and go, so the company has really done a lot of the work for you. I have enough to worry about without having to meticulously measure and calculate my foods or worry about preparing elaborate meals.
The Medifast John Hopkins Study: There’s a pretty well known John Hopkins study which indicated that people with diabetes on the medifast diet lost twice as much weight and complied with their diets twice as often as people on the ADA (American Diabetes Association) diet. The average weight loss was 45 pounds, and some of the dieters lost as much as 65-80 pounds. I’ve been on both of these diets, have lost almost 80 pounds on Genie Francis’ diet, and found the ADA version pretty dreadful, so these results do not surprise me at all.
By: Lindsey Price
Posts Tagged ‘Diabetes Diet’
Medifast For Diabetes
April 14th, 2010Diabetes – A Good Diet Helps
March 12th, 2010
Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes often ask if a good diet can help the disease in check. Most doctors agree – patients can keep diabetes in check with a good diet, one that’s is low in sugars and carbohydrates. Such a diet may not necessarily help patients totally get rid of the disease, but it helps them avoid complications that are associated with diabetes.
Diabetics have problems breaking down and converting foods like starches and sugars into compounds that are needed by body cells. Instead they remain in the blood and increases sugar levels in the bloodstream. Too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood is an abnormality called glycemia. There are two types of diabetes, namely Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetics of either type suffer from very high blood sugar conditions. Problems in breaking down sugar also take their toll on other vital organs of the body, and often cause dysfunctions of the heart, eyesight, liver, kidneys and blood circulation.
When doctors treat diabetics, they usually apply medication, or insulin, depending on what stage their disease maybe at. The purpose of medication or insulin is to help body systems process blood sugars and break them down, allowing patients to expel excess sugar. But medication and insulin can only do so much; they cannot substitute for a good, healthy diet. Taking insulin or medication does not give patients license to eat as much sugar and carbohydrates as they can. Keeping diabetes in check requires patients not only to take insulin or medication per doctor’s prescription; adhering to healthy diabetic diet is equally important. It is necessary therefore for diabetics to familiarize themselves with foods they must avoid or which foods they may eat sparingly.
This makes the Glycemic Index very useful. Established and adopted in 1981, the Glycemic Index identifies and rates carbohydrates in terms of how they adversely affect diabetics. Foods that top the list, like white bread, are hard to digest and must be avoided. Carbohydrates with low scores, on the other hand, like brown rice, may be eaten sparingly. Since it is almost impossible to do away with carbohydrates completely, it is important for diabetics to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index and adopt a diet on the basis of what the Index suggests.
The Glycemic Index also identifies and rates carbohydrates in the middle of the pack. People may find it surprising, for example, that chocolate bars rate in the middle group of the Glycemic Index list. But by no means this would suggest that diabetics may freely consume chocolate everytime they have opportunities to do so. The Glycemic Index tells people what foods need to be avoided at all cost and which foods can be taken in with moderation.
A good diet is therefore important to keep diabetes in check. A good diet cannot cure diabetes, but it can help diabetics live a healthier and longer life. Diabetics need to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so that they can be guided on what foods to take and thereby help control their affliction.
By: Hermilando Aberia
Natural Cures for Diabetes – Safe way to Control Diabetes
March 10th, 2010
Most physicians will tell you there is no cure for diabetes. However, some people believe there are natural cures for diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce the needed amount of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that naturally turns sugars into energy in your body. Without the production of insulin, your body is not able to turn sugars into the energy that your body needs and these sugars stay in your blood, which makes your kidneys have to work harder than normal. The sugars are then washed from your body in your urine.
One of the most common symptoms of diabetes is frequent urination. Over time, if left untreated, diabetes can put you at a higher risk for disease such as heart disease and stroke. It is important for you to learn to control your diabetes. Many diabetes natural cures can be added to a healthy diet and can help you to control the symptoms of diabetes. Although, many people feel the diabetes has been cured, the changes in your diet must be followed throughout your life in order to prevent the onset of diabetes symptoms.
Healthy Diet in Diabetes
The most important diabetes natural cure is a change in lifestyle. You should begin eating a healthy diet as early in life as possible. This can help you to prevent many illnesses and diseases that are caused by poor diet. Diabetes is one of these diseases. The most important aspect of your healthy diet is learning to eat a variety of foods and eating the correct portions. It is also important to eat your meals on a regular schedule – rather than 1-2 large meals per day, eat 4 small meals. This helps you to better control your portion sizes and helps your body to produce the needed energy. Here are some ways diet can help you prevent or decrease the symptoms of diabetes:
Whole-grain – eating whole-grain foods such as wheat breads, wheat rice, and wheat pasta help you to decrease the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. (Carbohydrates turn to sugar in your body.) Fresh fruits and vegetables – any healthy diet should include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids – eating foods such as cold-water fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids helps to provide your body with “good” fats. Carbohydrates – carbohydrates are needed to help your body produce energy. But if your body is not producing insulin correctly, you will need to decrease the amounts of carbohydrates in your diet. Sweets – desserts with a high content of sugar should be limited or eliminated from your diet. You can get natural sugars by eating fresh fruits. Alcohol – alcohol consumption should be decreased or avoided.
Diabetes Natural Cures
Many physicians will prescribe medications to help you control the symptoms of diabetes. Before you begin a treatment with medication, you should discuss with your physician the side effects of the medication, as well as any interactions with other drugs or food. For those who do not wish to risk the side effects of medication, there are some popular diabetes natural cures:
Ginseng – has been shown to help control blood sugar levels Chromium – helps the body’s cells properly respond to insulin Magnesium – can help regulate blood sugar levels. Magnesium can be found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Low magnesium levels can worsen the symptoms of diabetes. Cinnamon – can help to control blood glucose levels. Zinc – helps in the production and storage of insulin. Zinc can be found naturally in foods such as oysters, ginger root, pecans, egg yolk, beef liver, sardines, almonds, and chicken. Bitter melon – helps to increase the number of beta cells, the cells that produce insulin. Indian Kino – this herb helps to regenerate beta cells Gymnema Sylvestre – helps the pancreas to produce insulin and help insulin to lower blood sugar levels Indian Gooseberry – helps to stimulate the pancreas causing the pancreas to produce more insulin These are some of the many diabetes natural cures that have been shown to be effective in preventing and controlling the symptoms of diabetes. The most effective cure or treatment of diabetes is eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
By: Dr John Anne
