First book review of the year!

I just finished reading "Sugar Nation" by Jeff O'Connell. At first I thought it was just going to be this little book telling me what I already know: everyone eats way too much sugar y'all. And then I thought it was going to be telling me how to not eat so much sugar in a way that would make me want to go along with it.

Well.... it did do that, but in a really unexpected way. Basically this book is about Mr. O'Connell's life after being diagnosed as "prediabetic". It boils down to this: everyone eats way too much sugar y'all and we're all madly careening towards diabetes. And the experts won't tell you that. Nor will they very willingly tell you that diabetes can totally be avoided or reversed if you have it, by.... ready? Lifestyle changes. Diet and exercise. Low CARB not low FAT (which is, crazily, the reverse of what the American Diabetes Association guidelines state). Fat doesn't make you fat, carbs do. This guy basically proved it in that he improved his cardio capacity by eating fats and cutting carbs drastically. No plaque or anything. And, he got his blood sugars totally under control. (he also talks about reactive hypoglycemia which is what was shooting him towards prediabetes and which is something that even experts say millions of people suffer from and don't even know it).

Diabetes "causes", not "is the result of", heart disease, obesity, some cancers,  arthritis, ED, PCOS and a host of other fun fun things (like blindness and amputations). It's even being studied to see if it is the actual cause of Alzheimers (and it's starting to look like it is) And it is completely avoidable.

My own father was diagnosed with diabetes and he implemented lifestyle changes right away. He lost 50 pounds, and started walking 3 miles a day. He eats the right foods. And now he no longer needs his diabetes medication. So, it's totally realistic that diabetes can be reversed.

Read this book, it will change your life. Your pancreas (and eyes, limbs and heart) will thank you.



 I have already scheduled physicals for four members of my family where I will specifically be asking for tests for insulin sensitivity. And we're all going to drastically change the way we eat anyway. I, with occasional indulgences, feed my family with healthy foods. But reading this I see that I have also been duped into thinking some foods were healthy when they were not. That's gonna change. Because even if none of us (please God) have this or show to be on our way, I am not going to let us "get" there either.    Bible reading for today: Genesis 13-15, Matthew 5: 1-26, Proverbs 5