Can Optimism Lower Blood Sugar?

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Tuesday December 14, 2010
In This Issue: Can Optimism Lower Blood Sugar? "How Could Your Blood Sugar Drop 25% After All That Pizza and Pasta?" 3 Reasons to Eat Wheat Berries "Why Are You Rubbing CHOCOLATE on Your Face?" Featured Recipe: Homemade Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Can Optimism Lower Blood Sugar? It's easy to feel happy on a Saturday morning in the summer, when the sun is shining and you haven't a care in the world. It's quite another to remain steadfastly upbeat on a slushy winter day when your car's broken down, and your blood sugar is too high. The trait that allows you to remain positive and hopeful during trying times is resiliency, and research shows that it has a great deal of influence on your physical health. In fact, some doctors believe that resilience is the most important mental trait when it comes to health and longevity. It's also a trait anyone can cultivate—and one that helps people with diabetes to thrive. Recently, a study of people with type 2 diabetes found that those who took weekly resilience training classes for just one month saw improvements in their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and fasting blood-sugar levels—and they felt less stressed. Think about that: Here is incredible validation that improved mental fortitude can lead to significant physical changes in the body. The obvious question that follows is: Where do I get some of that? Start by understanding the four common traits of resilient people: • Seeing a challenge as an opportunity, not a threat • Having a strong value system to guide decisions and actions • Being genuinely committed to the people in their lives, and the activities in which they're involved • Feeling a sense of control, and believing they have the power to make things better So how do you develop these traits? That's the subject of long books, but boiled down, it comes to just two steps. If you can accomplish these, you are well on your way toward having a resilient attitude and a healthier life. Step 1: Cultivate a positive attitude. Resilient people meet challenges by drawing on the strengths in their lives to build a positive attitude. No example is better than having diabetes. Don't view it as a hindrance; view it as a blessing in disguise that has helped you change how you live in lots of positive ways. Many people who've managed their diabetes well say they are healthier and happier now than they were before their diagnosis. The disease helped them get their priorities in order. They have better habits, happier lives, and enjoying brighter moods, greater energy, and a stronger sense of personal control. Step 2: Maintain your sense of humor. Laughter is good for us physically, as well as mentally. It makes us move (ever try to sit perfectly still while you laugh? Impossible!), and muscle cells absorb more blood sugar when they're active. It also stimulates hormones that play a role in blood-sugar absorption. And of course, having a sense of humor makes it far easier to sail through the ups and downs of daily life. It vaporizes fear, relaxes your mind and body, and helps you keep things in perspective, giving you an outlet for negative emotions. So next time your boss, child, spouse, or mother makes a ridiculous request or comment to you, react with amusement rather than anger. And know that by doing so, you are reversing diabetes and extending your life. SPECIAL OFFER "How Could Your Blood Sugar Drop 25% After All That Pizza and Pasta?" My doctor was blown away when I told him what food I'd been eating. He couldn't believe that my blood sugar could be so low – especially since I'd happily been going to all my favorite Italian, Chinese and Mexican restaurants and enjoying all the foods I love. "The proof is in the pudding!" I chuckled. You see I've found solid proof that good blood sugar control actually begins with eating MORE of your favorite foods. Now I'm reversing my Type 2 diabetes and still enjoying all the food I thought I'd have to give up! What's more, you can too ... find out how... 3 Reasons to Eat Wheat Berries In case you haven't noticed, here at Reverse Diabetes, we preach the merits of whole grains. Well, you can't get anymore whole grain than wheat berries, which are the entire grain (or fruit) of the wheat plant. What can wheat berries do for you? They'll make you skinny! Wheat berries are firm and require some chewing, so they keep you from wolfing down your food too quickly, which leads to overeating. They give your immune system a boost! They supply tons of minerals and other compounds that help optimize your health. These nutrients are lost when the grains are milled into "white" flour. They protect you from heart disease! The germ portion of wheat—found in wheat berries—is a rich source of cholesterol-lowering sterols. Wheat berries are increasingly available at grocery stores, wherever whole grains are shelved. You might ask a clerk for help: Some stores put them with the rice, others in the baking aisle; others in a special "whole grains" section. Just follow the package directions for a wonderfully simple, ultra-healthy side dish.    SPECIAL OFFER "Why Are You Rubbing CHOCOLATE on Your Face?" As you can imagine my sister was shocked to see me rubbing chocolate on my face recently – and you can't blame her really! You see, my poor sister was still under the impression that you need a lot of expensive, store-bought products to keep your home, your yard and your life in tip-top shape. She didn't yet know that chocolate just happens to be one of the best skin softeners around... that you can restore scratched furniture with coffee... catch garden pests with beer... and save yourself hundreds of dollars with all these extraordinary uses for everyday things... Homemade Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Don't think of pumpkin as just Thanksgiving food. Canned pumpkin is always available, and it's always delicious. Like many pumpkin-based recipes, this ice cream includes diabetes-friendly spices like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Ingredients 1 1/4 cups evaporated low-fat (2%) milk 1 large egg 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar 2/3 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Large pinch ground nutmeg Pinch salt Serves 6 Preparation 1    In a medium saucepan, bring milk to a boil. 2    In a large bowl, whisk together egg and sugar. Gradually whisk in boiling milk. Stir in pumpkin, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. 3    Freeze in an ice cream maker, following manufacturer's directions. Soften slightly before serving.  Per serving (1/2 cup): 141 cal, 1 g fat (1 g sat), 26 g carbs, 5 g protein, 1 g fiber, 40 mg chol, 102 mg sodium Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes In the Next Issue: What You Need to Know About the Glycemic Index Control Your Blood Sugar Without Lifting a Finger! De-Stress with Citrus The Secret to Shrinking Your Insulin Resistance is in Your Fridge—and Not a Pharmacy! Featured Recipe: Turkey Piccata
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