KTK-Nutrition

Everyone with diabetes or prediabetes knows that control of blood sugar levels is important.   But did you know that just walking for 2 minutes after meals is helpful in lowering blood sugar?   Yes, just 2 minutes.   And walking has so many other health benefits.   A relative with prediabetes was at the doctor’s this week for a checkup.   The doctor was impressed with how well the relative was controlling her blood sugar.   The relative said she tries to stay active.   The doctor said too many of his patients with prediabetes aren’t active which raises their blood glucose levels.   How does walking help lower blood sugar levels?   After you eat a meal, your body digests the meal and turns the carbs you eat like starches, fruit, and desserts into sugar.   This sugar enters your blood raising blood sugar levels.   Exercising after one eats a meal or snack helps your body get that sugar into cells to be used for energy.  ...

According to CDC , about 34-36 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.   Although type 2 diabetes develops more often in people over 45, more and more children, teens and young adults are developing type 2 diabetes.   In addition to type 2 diabetes, as of 2021 an estimated 97.6 million Americans aged 18 and older had prediabetes or about 1 in 3 adults.   Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with some lifestyle changes.   Are there foods you can eat that would lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes? Yes.   Foods high in a substance called flavonoids can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.   What are flavonoids? Flavonoids are compounds found in certain foods and beverages including some fruits, vegetables, teas and some other plant-based foods.   These flavonoids help give “fruits and vegetables their deep, rich colors”.     Studies have found that consuming a diet rich in flavono...

Yogurt was in the news this week.   Why?   Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will let yogurt companies put a new health claim on yogurt.   One company, Danone North America requested the FDA let them put a health claim on yogurt that eating yogurt reduces one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.     What evidence did the Danone North America company submit to FDA related to yogurt and type 2 diabetes? Amanda Blechman, a registered dietitian with the company, stated that Danone filed a petition with the FDA reviewing 32 research studies on yogurt and type 2 diabetes.   These studies show that eating some yogurt may help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.   A Harvard study “found that a daily serving of yogurt was linked to an 18% lower risk of type 2 diabetes”.       What did FDA decide? FDA noted “there is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of...

Many people love spicy foods.   Did you know that adding some spices to your foods is actually good for your health?   Not only do spices have almost no calories, they add lots of health benefits.   A class activity I did with students was to modify a lasagna recipe to make it healthier.   One group of students took out all the spices thinking this somehow made the lasagna healthier.   A good learning opportunity as we then discussed how you want to ADD SPICES to your day for good health.    Why are spices healthy? Think antioxidants , those healthy chemicals in plant foods.   There are over 100 different spices and these not only are a source of antioxidants but a concentrated source of antioxidants.   Different spices provide a varying array of antioxidants.   Health benefits of spices can include being anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, helping to lower glucose and cholesterol levels, and even boost your mood and brain function. Jo...