10 Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

Divabetic Serve Taste or Trash

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game podcasts and videos encourage people to become more open minded eaters and learn to love the foods they hate. But in some instances an adventurous palette may lead you to foods that don’t agree with you.

Lately, everyone’s talking about gluten-free foods. Many people living with diabetes are also living with celiac disease. Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet and eliminating foods containing gluten.

It’s hard to imagine that there are more than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed.

It is also estimated that as much as 15% of the US population is gluten intolerant. Could you be one of them?

If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.

1. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

1. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.
2. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.
3. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.
4. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.
5. Migraine headaches.
6. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.
7. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.
8. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.

How to test for gluten intolerance?

I have found the single best ways to determine if you have an issue with gluten is to do an elimination diet and take it out of your diet for at least 2 to 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better.

The best advice that I share with my patients is that if they feel significantly better off of gluten or feel worse when they reintroduce it, then gluten is likely a problem for them.  In order to get accurate results from this testing method you must elimination 100% of the gluten from your diet.

How to treat gluten intolerance?

Eliminating gluten 100% from your diet means 100%. Even trace amounts of gluten from cross contamination or medications or supplements can be enough to cause an immune reaction in your body.

The 80/20 rule or “we don’t eat it in our house, just when we eat out” is a complete misconception. An article published in 2001 states that for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating gluten just once a month increased the relative risk of death by 600%.

LISTEN NOW: Serve Taste or Trash! Game podcast featuring 3 delicious gluten-free recipes http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/01/29/serve-taste-or-trash-1

What’s in French’s Mustard?

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French’s mustard is rolling out a massive “National Truth” advertising campaign focusing on the fact that there is “absolutely nothing artificial” in the mustard, said Ukonwa Ojo, senior brand manager for French’s. The brand learned from focus groups that consumers think there is yellow food coloring in the mustard, and it wants to set the record straight. “We want to layer on information about brand that they [consumers] didn’t know about,” Ojo said.

The brand is targeting mothers for its campaign, since, Ojo said, moms do the bulk of grocery shopping for families. And while the brand is happy that the condiment is used on grilled meat, it is also ramping up promotion for alternative uses of the mustard in various recipes.

French’s is by far the leading mustard brand, representing 35.5 percent of overall mustard sales, according to a 2012 report by the market research firm Mintel Group. Mustard sales overall reached $508 million last year, said Beth Bloom, a food and drink analyst at Mintel.

The new packaging for French’s will hit shelves in April or May with a large “100% Natural” label above the brand name.

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Why Do Baked Potato Chips Contain Sugar?

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What? Baked potato chips contain sugar?!!!!

Okay, we get that they’re considered to be a healthier option than the deep fried variety because baked potato chips don’t contain nearly as much fat or calories as the fried version but we’re still scratching our heads over the hidden added sugar content.

Lays Baked Southwestern Ranch Potato Chips contain corn starch, sugar, and corn sugar which are sweeteners in a product that is supposed to be about salt. Corn sugar is high-fructose corn syrup, and Frito-Lay, maker of Baked Lays, has been able to get away with the name change for some time, even though it wasn’t approved.

Baked Lays also tend to have less calories and fat as the fried variety, but do still contain a considerable amount of fat and sodium.

Regular potato chips, the simple kinds, have real potatoes, oil, and salt. Baked Lays have dried potatoes, corn starch, sugar, corn oil, salt, soy lecithin, and corn sugar. Which one would you eat?

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Louisiana Meat Company Recall Expands

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination. No illnesses have been reported

The Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami. The products were recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were shipped to retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service listed eight types of meat sold under 41 different names with various “sell by” dates. Its news release said some of the products may have been sliced at retail delis, and if so will not bear packaging information.

A statement posted Saturday on company’s website says the recalled meats were produced at Manda’s facility in Baker, La. between Feb. 27 and April 9.

The USDA said eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

“Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis,” the statement said. But the disease can be serious and sometimes fatal for those with weakened immune systems, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

“We are committed to work with USDA in reviewing and enhancing our food safety system so we can continue to ensure that our products are safe, wholesome and worthy of our brand name,” Josh Yarborough, director of quality assurance for Manda, said in Saturday’s statement.

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Burger King’s New Turkey Burger

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Burger King will soon be offering turkey burgers!

The new sandwich is as part of its limited-time offers for spring, marking the latest fast-food effort to cater to health-conscious diners. Last week, McDonald’s said it plans to offer a lower-calorie version of its Egg McMuffin made with egg whites.

“Turkey burgers as a category is growing pretty rapidly in the restaurant space,” said Eric Hirschhorn, who heads global innovation for Burger King.

As with Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, Burger King said its turkey burger could be added to the permanent lineup if sales are strong enough.

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s introduced turkey burgers in response to consumers in their 20s and 30s, who are more mindful about what they’re eating than past generations, said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the chains. At the same time, he noted that the turkey burgers – which come with toppings like guacamole and pepperjack cheese_ are successful because they’re still seen as indulgent and filling. In terms of nutritional content, he said the key was just to keep them under 500 calories.

Showing that the healthy glow isn’t strictly about calories, Burger King’s turkey burger clocks in at 530 calories, compared with 470 calories for its grilled chicken sandwich. A regular Whopper is 630 calories.

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game at ADA Expo in New York with Mr. Divabetic:

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

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Why Does Chex Mix Comes in Such Crazy Flavors?

Imagine my surprise when I stopped in a truck stop on my way to Columbia, SC from Orlando, FL and discovered Chex Mix in Muddy Buddies flavors in the food aisles.

As a culture it seems like we are obsessed with food stuffed with more food inside. Witness offerings of pizza crusts with molten cheese in the middle, Chicken and Waffle flavored potato chips and pretzel bits with M &M’s.

Why would any child reach for just a plain apple these days when these processed food products are promoting “flavor takeovers” like the new Muddy Buddies Cookies & Cream flavor?

I find the temptation to try ‘crazy flavor’ combinations overwhelming. The curiosity alone is hard to fight. These products, more commonly known as junk food, contain many calories from added sugars and solid fats but offer very few significant nutrients according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you eat too many calories from added sugars, you are at risk of gaining an unhealthy amount of weight and developing diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood fats and heart disease.

Your daily limit for empty calories is based on how many calories you eat each day. The average male, ages 31 to 50, can have about 265 empty calories a day, females from 19 to 30 and males 51 and over can have about 260, males from 19 to 30 can have about 330 and females over 51 can have about 120, according to the USDA. Your physical activity level increases your daily calorie needs, so you likely have a larger empty-calorie limit if you get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days.

For the last few years I’ve been challenging people affected by diabetes to accurately guess the number of single servings in popular food products. A few people over the years have complained to me about the fact that most of the products featured in the game are processed foods. I’ve defended my choices by saying that the food items chosen are what most of us are eating. And it looks like I’m right! Especially judging by the products for sale at the truck stop.

The other Chex Mix flavors range from savory to sweet, and everything in between: Traditional, Cheddar, Bold Party Blend, Sour Cream and Onion, Peanut Lovers, Hot and Spicy, Gourmet Blends Italian Herbs & Parmesan, Jalapeno Cheddar, Chipotle Cheddar, Honey Nut, Trail Mix, Caramel Crunch, Turtle, Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate Muddy Buddies, and Cookies and Cream Muddy Buddies. Add in other seasonal flavors and the number of bags of Chex Mix you’ll find on grocery store shelves can be overwhelming.

So how does Team Chex Mix get the word out about all the flavors they offer?

“Most people don’t realize we have that many flavors. They tell us, ‘It’d be great to have a cheddar flavor,’ and we do. When they discover the variety, they want to try it,” says Angela Ma, integrated marketing communications planner.

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game at ADA Expo in New York with Mr. Divabetic:

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Mountain Dew’s Kickstart Soda for Breakfast?

Mountain Dew for breakfast?

Mountain Dew is launching a new breakfast drink called Kickstart that has Mountain Dew flavor but is made with 5 percent juice and Vitamins B and C, along with an extra jolt of caffeine.

Only 5% juice?

PepsiCo said it doesn’t consider Kickstart to be an energy drink, noting that it still has far less caffeine than drinks like Monster and Red Bull and none of the mysterious ingredients that have raised concerns among lawmakers and consumer advocates.

But Kickstart, which comes in flavors such as “energizing orange citrus” and “energizing fruit punch,” could nevertheless give the company a side-door into the fast-growing energy drink market without getting tangled in any of its controversies.

In a nod to the growing concerns about sugary drinks, for example, Kickstart also uses artificial sweeteners to reduce its caloric content to about half that of regular soda; a can has 80 calories.

Kickstart also contains far less caffeine, at 92 milligrams for a 16-ounce can, compared to other energy drinks. A comparable amount of regular Mountain Dew would have 72 milligrams of caffeine while a can of PepsiCo’s Amp energy drink has 142 milligrams, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

By comparison, a 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee has 330 milligrams of caffeine.

___

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Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Junk Food’s New Recipe for Addiction

Sugar Addiction

It’s basically impossible to stop eating junk food. And it’s like that for a reason. There are billions of dollars being spent by big corporations to keep it that way. The New York Times massive feature about how junk food companies use everything from economic theory to chemistry to experimental psychology to keep you eating it.

There key ingredient to getting people to eat more junk food boils down to “add more sugar.” There’s a deeper science to it, though, employed by Howard Moskowitz, who studied mathematics and received a PhD in experimental psychology from Harvard, and is basically the Winston Wolf of junk food:

[The] food industry already knew some things about making people happy – and it started with sugar. Many of the Prego sauces – whether cheesy, chunky or light – have one feature in common: The largest ingredient, after tomatoes, is sugar. A mere half-cup of Prego Traditional, for instance, has the equivalent of more than two teaspoons of sugar, as much as two-plus Oreo cookies. It also delivers one-third of the sodium recommended for a majority of American adults for an entire day.”

One teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium. Many processed and prepared foods already contain lots of sodium — and it’s these foods that contribute the most sodium to your diet. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day — or 1,500 mg if you’re age 51 or older, or if you are black, or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Keep in mind that these are upper limits, and less is usually best, especially if you’re sensitive to the effects of sodium. If you aren’t sure how much sodium your diet should include, talk to your doctor.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s ’Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

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Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries Cereal Recall

Food Recall

The Kellogg Company is recalling three sizes of Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries cereal packages due to the possible presence of glass fragments.

Safety officials are asking consumers to check any packages that you have in your home. Click here to see a detailed list of the recalled products.

If you have a recalled product, do not eat the cereal and contact Kellogg’s at 1-800-962-1413 for a replacement coupon.

The company says it may also make arrangements to retrieve the recalled products for further evaluation.

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SHOW LINK:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/02/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-sally-field

Mother Your Diabetes Advice with Mama Rose Marie:

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s upcoming ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Sat., Feb, 9, 2013

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Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Can Eating Yogurt Make You Thinner?

Yogurt Lovers Are Thinner

Yes, it’s true! Research shows that individuals who consume yogurt on a regular basis are thinner and tend to have a healthier diet.

Low fat dairy has long been found to help reduce body fat, especially in the midsection (where dangerous visceral fat lies), which may be in part due to calcium’s crucial role in regulating how fat is stored and broken down by the body. New research now indicates that yogurt lovers may also eat an overall healthier diet, specifically one rich in fruits and vegetables.

Yogurt through research boasts many health benefits such as:

• Improving heart health;
• Lowering the risk of high blood pressure;
• Reducing risk of type 2 diabetes;
• Improves gastrointestinal health, including lactose intolerance;
• Improves digestion;
• Prevents osteoporosis; and
• Strengthens the immune system.

The recent scientific study from researchers at Tufts University found that yogurt eaters have lower BMIs, smaller waist circumferences, reduced levels of triglycerides, improved fasting glucose and insulin, lower blood pressure and  higher HDL cholesterol than those who didn’t eat yogurt. In addition, those eating yogurt also ate more fruits and veggies,  whole grains, nuts, and fish.

Do you think there’s any chance the same goes for ‘frozen’ yogurt fans?

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundttable Podcast - “LIVE from the RED CARPET SPECIAL” featuring: Ginger.io spokesperson, Peter Smith, diabetes advocate, author and coach, Riva Greenberg, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller, Go2Bra creator, Connie Elder, Pumpwear Inc. & Girly Girl Studio co- owner, Julie De Fruscio, poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, makeup and skin guru, Sue Perez, celebrity photographer, Winston Kerr, Mama Rose Marie and Marilyn from Pasadena, CA who is living with type 1 diabetes.

SHOW LINK:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/02/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-sally-field

Mother Your Diabetes Advice with Mama Rose Marie:

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s upcoming ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Sat., Feb, 9, 2013

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org