A question asked by Jim: Is a Raw Vegan Diet healthful for diabetes and high blood pressure?
Is a raw vegan diet healthful over a long period of time, especially with diabetes and high blood pressure? I am trying to switch to a raw vegan diet, but my dietitian insists it is not healthful. Has anybody here tried it long-term, or know anybody who has? I’m wanting to lose a lot of weight, and I’ve been making a lot of salads, with cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, green bell peppers, celery, onions, carrots … and then I pour on a bunch of vinegar and lemon juice. It’s tasty, nutritious, and very low-calorie. It seems to be working for me, but my dietitian isn’t happy. And I didn’t even tell you what my primary care physician thinks about my decision to quit all my diabetes and blood pressure medications and just rely on a raw vegan diet instead of the meds … except that I’m going to have to find another primary care physician.
No 1 answer:
Answer by Healing Oneself
Hi YoungGruff
DOnt let anyone tell you that a vegan diet isnt healthy. Do your own research and educate oneself. You can heal almost anything (my opinion) by going to a raw (organic) diet. All the doctors know is how to diagnose and prescribe. They dont know how to heal the body. So I can see why he’s upset youve stopped taking drugs. Im very happy you have made that decision and I know you’re on your way to a healthy life. Continue to look for health answers and enjoy the process.
Here are some answers on diet and tips to help the healing process.
Diet: Proper diet is critical for both preventing and treating diabetes, especially Type II diabetes. One of the most important dietary precautions you can take is to eliminate all refined sugars and sugar products from your diet. Such products include refined sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, dextrose, dextrin, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, lactose, malt, maltodextrin, maltose, mannitol, sorbitol, sorghum, sucrose, and xylitol. Honey, Maple syrup, Agaves or Chicory syrup must also be eliminated if you are pre-diabetic or diabetic. Also reduce or eliminate your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Remove fast food, refined foods, processed “junk” foods, soda, fried foods, and all products containing white flour. Choose quality protein snacks between meals, or soaked nuts, and fresh vegetables and vegetable only juices as between meal options.
To help your body better regulate blood glucose levels, also reduce your overall carbohydrate intake, replacing simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrate foods. This means use whole flours and grains, beans, legumes, and fresh fiber-rich vegetables, rather than choosing to eat refined foods. Eating five to six small meals a day, instead of the traditional three larger meals, can also help balance blood sugar levels and prevent excessively high insulin spikes after eating. In addition, a vegetarian diet high in organic vegetables and complex whole grains, along with small intakes of whole fruit that contains seeds or pits, rather than fruit juice, has also been found to be helpful for many people suffering from Type II diabetes. Jerusalem artichoke is another food that can help diabetics control blood sugar levels. A diet rich in healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, extra virgin olive, raw virgin coconut butter and high lignin flax seed oil also supports you in maintaining level and stable blood sugar levels.
Many Type II diabetes patients fare well on a diet that consist of 55 to 60 percent complex carbohydrates, 15 to 20 percent protein (with a minimum of 45 grams of protein per day), and 20 to 25 percent healthy fats. In addition, you should increase your fiber intake to a daily level of 40 to 50 grams of fiber, with 10 to 15 grams of soluble fiber. High-fiber foods like beans and whole grains can be added slowly, perhaps at a rate of one serving per week, along with an increase in your intake of pure, filtered water.
Quick Action Plan for Diabetes
1. Be aware for early signs of blood sugar problems. Have the proper yearly tests performed.
2. Keep in mind that the goal of diabetic treatment and self-care is to restore blood sugar levels close to normal and to correct related metabolic disorders. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by eating small, frequent meals throughout the day that emphasize fresh, organic foods that are low on the glycemic scale, such as raw and lightly steamed vegetables, low sugar whole fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes, yams, wild fish, poultry, lean cuts of beef, bison meal lamb or veal.
3. Minimize or eliminate your intake of simple carbohydrates and all sugars, as well as tobacco and processed “junk foods.” In addition, reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Both alcohol and caffeine could be enjoyed on special occasions, rather than daily or even weekly habits.
4. Remain hydrated; drinking adequate quantities of pure water is essential for all aspects of your health.
5. Engage in regular light exercise and stress reduction because they are keys to maintaining lower levels of blood sugar.
6. Consider supplementing with nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, chromium, magnesium, potassium, essential fatty acids, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, and vanadium. Stabilized rice bran supplements can also be helpful.
7. Herbs such as astragalus, bitter melon, fenugreek, garlic, ginseng, Gymnema sylvestre, and huerque can also provide significant benefits.
8. If you have already developed Type I or Type II diabetes, combine the above self-care natural cures with professional care from a holistically oriented physician or other alternative health care practitioner. Particularly useful professional care therapies for treating and preventing diabetes include chelation therapy, food allergy testing, parasite testing and if necessary, cleansing, oxygen therapy, and professional dietary and nutritional counseling. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine can also be helpful.
9. Prevention, if you are pre-disposed and managing a diabetic condition, is a life-long commitment. By committing to the guidelines above, you can significantly improve your symptoms, and, if you suffer from Type II diabetes, quite possibly reverse them altogether. Implementing diet and lifestyle changes can help improve your energy levels, and your confidence in your ability to experience greater health.
Best of health to you
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