| Look to Your Left, Look to Your Right.
We are in the midst of a world-wide diabetes epidemic. About 1/3 of the U.S. population is diabetic or pre-diabetic and the numbers are quickly rising in the rest of the world as well. Wow.
Diabetes is serious and can lead to heart/coronary disease, high blood pressure, stroke, fatty liver disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
How did this happen? And more importantly, what do we do about it? We can start right now to prevent diabetes or to reverse its effects. Every one of us can take a stand.
 I know this newsletter includes a lot of the science of diabetes. If you want the condensed version...eat more real food and less processed food. However, if you or someone close to you is dealing with diabetes, this more detailed information may be motivating to make strategic diet and lifestyle changes.
Live with radiant intention and be well. Rhonda
|
|
Want to Know What Is Really Going on? Here's the Science of Diabetes
When It Is Working Right
In the small intestine, glucose is released from food into the blood and travels throughout the body causing the glucose level in the blood to rise. The pancreas makes insulin to match up with the glucose level and sends it into the blood.
Tiny blood vessels take insulin and glucose close to each cell in the body. When insulin is present it acts like a key that unlocks the door to each cell. When the cell door is open glucose can enter. Once inside the cell, glucose provides energy to recharge the cell's battery and allow the cell to work.
Type 1 Diabetes
The pancreas is unable to make insulin. Only 5% of diabetes diagnoses are for type 1 and onset is usually in childhood.  Type 2 Diabetes
The pancreas can make insulin [blue circle and key] at first. But when the insulin arrives at the cell door, it cannot unlock the cell door. So  glucose [green hexagon] and respondent insulin levels rise. Eventually the pancreas gets depleted from working so hard and becomes dysfunctional. We get fatigued and a host of other issues can emerge because the cells are not getting their needed energy.
Pre-Diabetes
This is a state of progressing insulin resistance which is leading to higher than normal blood glucose levels, but not yet at the marker for diabetes. It is easier to reverse this condition than to reverse diabetes later.
|
What Causes Diabetes?
Diabetes has increased 300% in the last 15 years. What the heck is happening? Our diets have become metabolically deranged with processed foods and in particular the introduction of high fructose corn syrup which is particularly hard on the hormone leptin.
Let's keep tracing this back. First, we eat processed foods containing HFCS and other non-real food ingredients that disrupt leptin. Leptin is a hormone that regulates your appetite, satiety response, and body weight. When leptin becomes disrupted, we crave food and overeat as we have lost our ability to feel satiated.
When we eat large volumes of food, we often eat the wrong kind -- such as processed carbs and sugary foods--that burdens our pancreas and its ability to produce sufficient insulin. Leptin and insulin disruption go hand-in-hand and over time this disruption can lead to unbalanced blood sugar levels which is diabetes.
 In 2008, the USDA reported that the use of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. diet increased a staggering 10,673 percent between 1970 and 2005. High Fructose Corn Syrup is cheap to make and makes foods addictive so it is added to almost every processed food. They are also starting to call HFCS by other names as we wise up to the problems with consuming it. Bottom line. Eat more real food.
|
Tips to Prevent and Treat Diabetes
Here's your checklist:
- Limit processed foods and eat more real foods (whole, organic, local, vegetables)
- Exercise regularly -- even 20 minutes 3 times weekly helps immensely.
- Get at least 20 minutes of outdoor sunshine daily or if you cannot, consider a quality liquid D3 supplement.
- Reduce the volume of food intake; maintain a healthy body weight.
|
|
Classes
Rhonda Egidio, Ph.D., R.A.P., Registered Ayurveda Practitioner, feels great passion for sharing the wisdom of Ayurveda and the simple yet effective practices that can make important upgrades to our digestion and overall radiant health.
Ayurveda for Radiant Skin
and Healthy Teeth
January 13 and 20, 2016
A core philosophy of Ayurveda is that beauty is an essential aspect of our being and that it radiates from within. Even though skin is an outer shell, it reflects the inner workings of our body. We need to protect, cleanse, nourish and hydrate our skin both from within and from the outside. Learn effective, time-tested diet, lifestyle and natural treatments to nourish your skin and your teeth. In this workshop, you will make skin and dental treatments to take with you.
$45 by January 9, 2016; $55 thereafter. Register
- - - - -
Diabetes is Preventable and Reversible
February 10 and 17, 2016
Diabetes is an epidemic. It is important to understand how we got here and what we can do in our lives to prevent or reverse diabetes. The key is to make a few strategic changes in diet and lifestyle to turn things around. You will leave with a plan of action.
$45 by February 6, 2016; $55 thereafter. Register
- - - - -
Strengthen Your Immune System with Probiotics for a Healthy Spring
March 16 and 23, 2016
Prevent cold and flu viruses from catching you by using natural, Ayurvedic remedies from your kitchen cupboard and self-care practices to feel your best. You will learn how your immune system works and how to strengthen it with probiotics and herbal/spice combinations. We will make some probiotic-rich fermented foods in the kitchen for you to take home!
$45 by March 12; $55 thereafter. Register
|
Rhond a Egidio Ph.D., R.A.P, [Registered Ayurveda Professional] provides Ayurvedic assessments of primary health concerns, diet, sleep and lifestyle and offers Ayurvedic recommendations. It's a good idea to get a baseline assessment to help you to apply Ayurveda knowledge in a customized way to your particular needs. Check out assessment and session options.
Rhonda Egidio, 269-345-2991
|
|
Free "Very Informative" Guides from Banyan Botanicals
Need herbs?
Banyan Botanicals is offering
on all orders over $75 until 12/31/2015. Give the code AF1215 at checkout.
|
|
Free eBook on Diabetes
This eBook is awesome --- a really thorough and current study of diabetes with natural advice for changing the course of this condition. Highly recommended.
|
Herbs to Support Healthy Blood Sugar
Turmeric
Cinnamon
Tulsi
Fenugreek Seed
Triphala
Triphala Guggulu
Many herbs noted above are available at
Here's the science---Turmeric's anti-diabetic properties are related to its well known anti-inflammatory properties.
Read the article, "The Cure for Diabetes May Be a Humble Root" here.
|
Tina Turner sings a beautiful Peace Mantra with children like only she can....full immersion. 
|
A High Fiber Diet can Curb Type 2 Diabetes
Check out the full
|
Kidshealth.org has some very clear videos to help you understand diabetes---I love their clear, visual and simple descriptions.
|
|
Ayurveda information shared here is for general educational purposes and is not intended to substitute for medical or psychological advice. Please consult with a qualified medical professional in these matters.
|
Full Disclosure
In the spirit of full disclosure, I would like you to know that I do receive some financial compensation when you click through a newsletter link to Banyan Botanicals and order a product
Cheers, Rhonda
|
|
Ayurveda thermos for your daily spice water. (regular price $200)