The Pros and Cons of Monk Fruit Sweetener … never heard of it … was published by Julie Workman on ASweetLife.org, October 2018.
Gaining popularity in recent years for its use as a no-calorie sweetener, monk fruit is a small, green melon-looking gourd. This little lemon-sized fruit grows on a vine in the sub-tropical mountains of the south of China. The name derives itself from the legend that Buddhist monks were the first people known to grow and eat this fruit. Although fairly new on the market in the western world, monk fruit has a long history of use in traditional eastern medicine for treatment of cough, inflammation and other ailments.
No matter how hard you look, you’re not going to find monk fruit in your local produce section. It isn’t eaten fresh, it has a tendency to ferment quickly after harvest, and it is only grown in China. In China, monk fruit may be dried and used to prepare herbal remedies and teas. However, even dried monk fruit is not found outside of Asian markets.
The only version of monk fruit you’re likely to find in the western world is in the form of a sweetener. Monk fruit extract, also called Lo Han Guo extract, is produced from the pulp of the fruit. This extract is approximately 200 times sweeter than table sugar, but has no calories or carbs.
And the most important factor for people with diabetes? Monk fruit extract doesn’t raise blood glucose levels.
A limited number of brands of monk fruit sweetener are available, including: Health Garden Monk Fruit Sweetener, Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener, Skinnygirl Monk Fruit Extract Liquid Sweetener, and Monk Fruit in the Raw. These brands can be found in various local health food stores as well as in online shops. (I found it on Amazon.com)
Read more: The Pros and Cons of Monk Fruit Sweetener
Chocolate and Diabetes was reported by dLife.com, July 2017 … now THIS is something I can get excited about! Mmmmmmm, chocolate!
You may think that you need to avoid chocolate altogether if you have diabetes, but research suggests that dark chocolate may actually have benefits for people with diabetes when eaten in moderation. According to a study published in May 2016 in the British Journal of Nutrition, eating chocolate may help protect against insulin resistance. The flavonoids found in chocolate can improve circulation, which may reduce the risk of neuropathy in people with diabetes. Dark chocolate has a low glycemic index, which means it won’t spike blood sugar.
More good news: The next time you need a brain power boost, try reaching for a square of dark chocolate. The way the flavonoids in dark chocolate dilate blood vessels increases blood flow to key areas of the brain. This may improve mental performance and boost alertness. A study published in March 2015 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that the flavanols in dark chocolate may also help protect against age-related memory loss.
Read more: You Can Have Chocolate and Diabetes
OK, so let’s looks at diets again … it’s everywhere I look.
Dietary Differences: Keto vs. Atkins vs. Paleo vs. Whole30 was posted on blog.metagenics.com, 17 October 2018.
f you’re focused on healthy eating, then you’ve likely heard of the ketogenic (keto), Paleolithic (Paleo), Atkins, and Whole30 diets. But what’s the best way to determine the most appropriate diet for your needs and preferences?
All four of the abovementioned food plans are low-carb in nature. Keto and Atkins take a deliberately low-carb approach to eating, but Atkins does not limit protein, while keto is low-to-moderate in protein; another key difference is that while Atkins is generally touted as a short-term weight loss solution, keto is viewed as a lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the Paleo and Whole30 diets involve the elimination of processed foods and grains—categories known for their high carbohydrate content.
Read more: Dietary Differences: Keto vs. Atkins vs. Paleo vs. Whole30
These Celebrities Say the Keto Diet Doesn’t Work, was reported by Amy Reiter on Healthy Eats on FoodNetwork.com. WHATTTT?
Keto may be the current “It” diet in Hollywood – with a parade of celebrities, including Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Hudgens, Megan Fox, Adriana Lima and Katie Couric, said to be among the adherents and fans of the very-low-carb/high-fat regime – but not everyone is loving it.
Celebrity keto detractors include personal trainer Jillian Michaels, of “The Biggest Loser” fame, who has called the diet, which spurs a metabolic process called ketosis, “downright dangerous.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard the term ‘too much of a good thing’? Welcome to the keto diet,” she wrote on her blog last spring, adding that she knew that expressing reservations about the keto diet would “infuriate the keto community.”
“Do not go keto. Just work out, eat clean and don’t overeat. I promise you, balanced diet,” Michaels said in a follow-up interview with People. “It’s that simple.”
