Make Pizza Your Friend, Not Your Foe

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Thursday February 10, 2011
In This Issue: Make Pizza Your Friend, Not Your Foe Surprising Switch for How to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Make Pizza Your Friend, Not Your Foe Is Your Morning Coffee a SECRET WEAPON Against Disease? Featured Recipe: Mediterranean Salad with Edamame Function Over Fashion Sunglasses can be glamorous, expressive, and even iconic, as Jacqueline Kennedy taught us. They tell the world a lot about our sense of style and personal taste—so much so that we often forget they're not just a fashion accessory, but also a very important utility that we need to protect our eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. The sun gives off ultraviolet radiation in UVA and UVB forms that are absorbed through the pupils of our eyes. Just as these rays can be damaging to our skin, they can also do the same to our eyes. Macular degeneration and cataracts are both forms of such eye damage. In fact, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55 in the United States, and cataracts affect about half of all people over the age of 80. People with diabetes have a 40% increased risk of developing cataracts—plus, their cataracts develop earlier and more quickly than in people who don't have the disease. Thankfully, sunglasses with UV protection can block all of the ultraviolet radiation from both UVA and UVB rays. The problem is, most people choose fashion over function. Nowadays, you can buy sunglasses everywhere—from drug stores to fancy department stores—but don't let price be your guide. Not all expensive, designer shades have UV protection. Look for shades that are certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology to block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation. Glasses should fit tightly but comfortably on your face. They shouldn't slide down your nose, or fall off if you move briskly or shake your head from side to side. Wear them every time you go outside, even if it's cloudy, because ultraviolet radiation filters through the clouds. You should abide by the same rule that you apply to sunscreen: Just because you can't see the sun doesn't mean its radiation can't harm you. Sunglasses that have UVA and UVB protection do not have to be expensive. There are many affordable pairs to choose from—and some are downright cheap! Opt for protection first, then fashion. SPECIAL OFFER Surprising Switch for How to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Starting today you no longer have to struggle to "manage" or "control" your diabetes -- you can actually throw it into reverse.  And maybe, even make it go away for good.  In fact you could drop your blood sugar 25% in as little as 12 weeks while reducing your medications and simplifying your treatment.  Picture it.  Three months from today your doctor could look at your numbers and say, "Let's start to taper off those meds...." Here's how... Make Pizza Your Friend, Not Foe Pizza doesn't have to be bad for you. You can enjoy a slice or two if you do it the diabetes-friendly way. Here's how: 1.    Opt for thin crust. The thicker the crust—especially Sicilian—the higher the Glycemic Load of the meal. Even better is whole-wheat crust, which is becoming more widely available. 2.    Swap peppers for pepperoni. That spicy, greasy meat really sabotages you with extra calories and saturated fat, both of which contribute to insulin resistance. Instead, try sautéed peppers and onions, mushrooms, broccoli, or olives. 3.    Get a salad on the side, and eat it before your pizza. The fiber of the salad will fill you up, and the vinegar in the dressing will lower the Glycemic Load of the meal. 4.    Make it yourself. Buy whole-wheat pita breads, and use them to make individual pizzas at home. Add lots of tomato sauce (bypass spaghetti sauce though, since it is loaded with extra sugar), a mix of vegetables, plenty of herbs and spices, a drizzle of olive oil, and a nice coating of grated cheese. Bake in an oven at 400°F for seven to ten minutes. It'll be yummy, unique, and a fraction of the calories in a few slices of pizzeria pie.    SPECIAL OFFER Is Your Morning Coffee a SECRET WEAPON Against Disease? YES! Breakthrough research has found there's phenomenal healing power in every cup – especially when it comes to lowering the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's, depression AND high cholesterol. What's more, you can now unlock the incredible healing power of everyday food to treat everything from colds to cancer in the most natural, most safe and delicious way possible! Get all the answers, the research-validated treatments and successful remedies you need to live pain free, disease free and worry free right now... Mediterranean Salad with Edamame We LOVE this salad. It has a marvelous mix of ingredients—among them olives, lemon, garlic, and mint—that transports you immediately to Italy or Greece. And the addition of edamame beans is a marvelous surprise—and so healthy! Ingredients 1 cup frozen shelled edamame beans 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon sugar Freshly ground pepper to taste 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce (1/2 small head) 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup sliced English cucumber 2/3 cup chopped scallions 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, washed, dried, and torn into 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, washed, dried, and torn into 1/2-inch pieces 1 cup crumbled feta cheese Serves 8 Preparation 1    Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the edamame beans and cook, covered, over medium heat until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. 2    Combine the oil, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, and pepper in a screw-top jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake to blend. 3    Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, olives, mint, parsley, and cooked edamame beans in a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle the lemon dressing over the salad, and toss to coat well. Sprinkle each serving with feta.  Per serving (1 1/4 cup): 220 cal, 17 g fat (5 g sat), 10 g carbs, 7 g protein, 3 g fiber, 15 mg chol, 500 mg sodium Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes In the Next Issue: Making Your Doctor Work for YOU The Secret to Shrinking Your Insulin Resistance is in Your Fridge—and Not a Pharmacy! Why (and How) You Should Eat Peanut Butter 5 Times a Week When it Comes to Your Health, Grandma Knows Best Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Trail Bars
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