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Did You Know….. Allergens and Eating Right
Posted by: | CommentsAs we all know, there are many food allergens out there that can cause severe damage and effects to the function of the body. The most common allergens are wheat, gluten, corn, peanuts and dairy. Usually, when you go the grocery store and you are picking out products to buy that are allergy free, you look under the ingredients list and there you will see what allergy is contained in the product. One particular allergen that I want to talk about is corn.
Little did we know that just because it did list corn in the allergens list, that means nothing. There are tons and tons of products that contain corn that we eat everyday without even knowing. For example, brown sugar and caramel contain corn, fruit juice concentrate, golden syrup, grits, honey, even iodized salt! Powdered sugar, starch, vanilla (pure of extract), vitamins and of course popcorn! Who would have thought?
So when it comes to going grocery shopping, we need to be very careful and aware of everything we are buying to put in to our bodies. Educate yourself on each of the main allergens and be aware. This will help you feed your body with good food which in turn will help you feel happy and healthy. The food that you put into your body directly affects your energy levels, happiness and overall wellness. Fuel your body with food that will give you energy for each and everyday!
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information on food allergies, a healthy diet, and Type 2 Diabetes in the Denver, Colorado area
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional
Healthy Tips to ALWAYS Remember…
Posted by: | CommentsIf you knew that there was just a few things that you could follow to start making a significant difference in the way that your body functions, would you follow it? Well it’s as easy as 1-2-3!!!
I know that you have all heard this before but DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST! Always have a nice, lean high protein based breakfast. Turkey, eggs, nuts, veggies, almond butter, celery and seeds. Just a few ideas. Doing this will get your day going the right way!
A big mistake that we all make is waiting to eat again until we are hungry when actually that is false. We all need to eat every 2-3 hours. This will keep our metabolism going and keep us feeling alert and energized. When you are eating every 2-3 hours, there are certain things that you need to eat. Snacking on things that are full of sugar and additives will slow your body down and pump your body with the wrong kind of energy. Consider low glycemic foods such as raw veggies, raw nuts, proteins such as turkey, almond butter, and whole grains for your snacks.
Important! Try to stay away from carrot juices and fruit juices. They are both full of sugar. However, if you are going to drink them, always find the “no sugar added” juice and never drink them after noon. All juice is going to have sugar in them but the difference between sugar added and no sugar added is it will be natural sugars. Fruit juices and some fruits are higher on the glycemic index so if you are consuming these items, ALWAYS CONSUME WITH A PROTEIN. Reason being your blood sugar will not have as a significant spike. All of these things are a step in the right direction towards a healthy lifestyle and wonderful diet.
Adrenal Glands are a very important organ in controlling blood sugar. Having a poor diet can stress the adrenal glands which you want to avoid. Other stimulants which stress the adrenals can include infections, prescription drugs, physical and emotional trauma, pregnancy, chemical toxins, lack of sleep, and depression/anxiety. Balanced diet mostly consisting of organic veggies is the best way to go. Eating 50% raw veggies and quality grains is very beneficial. Lots of beans, fishes and white meats such as turkey, lamb and chicken are not as harsh or inflammatory on your body as red meats are.
Following a nice, lean meal most want to follow that meal with a rich desert! Most of us grew up with the tradition of if you finish your whole entire meal you will get a desert! This is actually something you should NEVER do. As I said earlier, Following a few easy tips just like these will make a huge significance in the way your body fuctions.
Put it to the test now! Why wait! Try it for a couple weeks and make notes about how you are feeling and if you are noticing any differences in your energy levels. I think you will find a big difference and will become very happy with the results.
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional
Diabetes and The Brain
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you think of the effects of diabetes, most people usually think that it will just affect them physically and that is it. Well actually there can be a lot damage done to your brain also because of having high blood sugar for so long.
Diabetes effects your circulation which in turn effects the brain. High blood sugar, also known as Hyperglycemia, can slow down your brain function and reduce your cognitive skills. When the brain function slows down, your verbal skills may also become impaired along with the ability to converse. When it comes to performing simple everyday tasks, they start to become harder and harder the longer you consistently have hyperglycemia. Hardening of the arteries can also occur which can result in stroke.
Keep in mind that there are always ways to prevent a consistent high blood sugar. Routine, Routine, Routine. As I wrote before, daily log of a morning fasting blood sugar and before you go to bed, healthy foods and go for a nice walk. Something as simple as that routine will help prevent the effects of high blood sugar. Take charge of your health, Do it for you!
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional
Diabetes & Depression
Posted by: | CommentsI know you have all learned about the damage that diabetes can cause physically, but along with that it can make a huge impact on your state of mind. Studies have shown that having diabetes can possibly double the risk of depression. On the other hand, people with depression are more likely to develop diabetes. When individuals are depressed they may not function to their full potential mentally or physically. This makes you less likely to eat properly, exercise and keep a healthy routine going.
With a disease like diabetes, it is very important to keep a healthy routine. Don’t give up! Always make sure to keep a log of your blood sugars so you know exactly where your blood sugars are. One in the morning before breakfast and one before bed. Knowing that they are consistent will help you keep them under control or start to understand a pattern with them.
Along with the daily log, always enjoy a yummy breakfast! Take some time for yourself to nourish your tummy! Go and enjoy the sun and take a nice walk…enjoy the day! Exercise is one of the greatest things for depression. Having a daily routine will help you focus mentally and stabilize the diabetes. Instead of the diabetes having control over you, you will learn to have control over diabetes and it is as simple as keeping your routine!
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional
What is Hemoglobin A1C?
Posted by: | CommentsA hemoglobin A1C test is a test that indicates a patients average blood glucose level over approximately a 3 month period. In many Type II Diabetes cases the goal or objective is to keep the A1C below 7%. Although the A1C is really important, it is also really important for a patient to check their blood sugar daily. Checking your blood sugar daily will help you manage your Type II Diabetes and will help you maintain your blood sugar. A normal fasting blood sugar (first thing in the morning before eating) is between 85-100. Most Type II Diabetes patients will have fasting blood sugars over this range.
Although the A1C is really important, it’s our opinion that it’s also important for us to find the possible driving force of what is causing the diabetes. If we just maintain a patient’s blood sugar by monitoring fasting sugars or by A1C, the disease can still progress. We feel that to make real changes and progress we must look at what is causing the problem. What physiological or chemical imbalances are driving the disease. When we can address if from this stand point we can see some real changes.
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional
Why Do You Have Diabetes?
Posted by: | CommentsAt one point, way back when, you were told you have Type II diabetes. You probably remember it very clearly. Were you expecting the diagnosis, or were you blind-sided? What happened next? I can bet it was one of those two things. You were either put on oral medication at that point or you were told you have approximately three months to bring your sugars down or you will have to start with meds, from there the rest is history. But was there ever a time where you took a step back and thought … what’s going on here…why do I have diabetes…what part of my “system” is failing me…why am I no longer able to control my blood sugar? If you have asked yourself these questions, that’s great. If you haven’t, why not? You see, high blood sugar is only a symptom of the disease process; it’s not the disease. There was a point in your life when your body regulated your blood sugar without any problems, what changed? What’s gone wrong? What is no longer functioning properly? Aren’t these the questions we should be asking? I bring up this because traditionally when patients are diagnosed by a simple blood test then they are put on meds to manage their sugar, or they are told to diet and exercise, which only helps manage sugars. Managing sugars is important, but the disease can and will progress with this approach. That’s why the typical patient I see has been on oral meds, has had them increased, has tried new ones, has had a statin drug or BP medication added. They are managing sugars, but the disease is progressing. At this point you should be wondering, “Well what can be driving my diabetes, my high sugar?” The answer is many things but there are four main organs that play a role in regulating blood sugar and therefore play a role in diabetes: your liver, pancrease, adrenal glands, and thyroid. So the big question is when was the last time your doctor evaluated these organs or ran the appropriate tests to find out if they are impacting your disease? Well, until next time.
Dr. Anderson, DC
Thank you, and I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. And please fill out the form to the right for more information
Article by Dr. Dean Anderson, DC. Denver, Colorado’s Type 2 Diabetes Professional