Type 2 Diabetes and a Raw Food Diet

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A friend of mine has to said to me at least one time before:

“One of my greatest fears of being over-weight and unhealthy is following in my father’s footsteps and developing type 2 diabetes.”

We all know the main facts about this disease and the side effects it eventually has on our bodies, especially if left untreated. Dependency upon medication has always been considered a natural “step” in managing this disease; but not anymore! More and more research and personal testimonies are showing that following a raw food diet can indeed not only help manage but even reverse type 2 diabetes.

What is Type 2 Diabetes? According to the Canadian Diabetes Association;

“Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or your body does not properly use the insulin it makes. As a result, glucose (sugar) builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. Your body gets glucose from foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, milk and fruit. To use this glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body to control the level of glucose in your blood.”

Our standard diet in North American, today, is far too high in both natural and processed foods that are high in glucose. This is bad news particularly for those whose body has a problem with insulin.

What can we do about this?

Well, we change what we eat on a daily basis. One option that is gaining media attention and popularity is following a “raw food” diet.

70-80% of your daily intake is from either completely raw plant-based food sources or choices that are not heated past 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people decide to also become vegan when adopting this way of eating but some do continue to consume animal-based products within the “raw” guidelines. This might include unpasteurized milk, cheese made from raw milk and some raw fish or certain meats.

Now you may be thinking, “What is left for me to eat then!?” There is a whole world of raw foods including raw nuts and seeds, raw almond butter (I do love my nut butters!) and legumes such as chickpeas and lentils. Anything that is plant-based and unprocessed is fair game essentially.

Many foods are now available at major grocery stores while others you can easily make at home. Juicing is a common staple that is easily done in the comfort of your own home once a good quality juicer is purchased. This lifestyle takes time to get used to and a high degree of commitment, but it is possible. Even if you are a person who is on the road a lot with your job, eating raw is possible.

Raw food inspiration

If you need motivation and assistance in changing to this way of eating, an easy search of the web will give you numerous personal stories to read. One such story directly speaks to how following a raw food diet changed the status of his Type 2 Diabetes. The Dave “The Raw Food Trucker” story is one of the most inspirational stories I have read on this subject in a long time. Dave used to be a truck driver who suffered from many medical ailments including type 2 diabetes. Even while on the road he was able to follow this style of eating and dramatically changed his life! He now helps people adapt to this amazing way of eating on a full-time basis.

I encourage you to read his story and take it to heart. Raw foods are the best medicine to not only prevent but reverse many of the medical issues we are experiencing today.

Sources:
http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/living/just-diagnosed/type2/
http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/raw-food-diet
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vegan

Antonia
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. (http://www.rawfoodhealthwatch.com/)