Diabetes: Alternative Thoughts

Diet and Diabetes Volumes of research papers are available linking diabetes with poor eating habits. Until recently a bad diet was believed to cause changes in the blood cholesterol or sugar and refraining from fats and sugar were recommended mainly for people with these conditions. There were no other reasons for having a "Healthy diet" as its beneficial effects were not scrutinized by research methodology. Researches in this field point towards long lasting benefits of food on the body. Its effects are far beyond than just controlling cholesterol and blood sugar. It is worth recollecting the findings of Diabetes Prevention Program which I mentioned earlier in this book. For centuries humans adopted a food pattern which was available locally, suitable to their race and culture. However globalization and acculturation has resulted in a lot of give and take between different cultures and races. As a result cultural differences are being reduced slowly and significantly, thanks to the development of transportation, multi- cuisine restaurants and migration of people for work and better living standards. Cavemen had totally different food habits; known as the Paleo diet or Hunter Gatherer diet. Humans are believed to have followed this diet for nearly 2.5 million years and this determined the prevalent food habits as far back as 10,000 years. Their diet consisted mainly of fish, grass fed animal meats, vegetables, fruits, and nuts and was devoid of grains, processed milk and milk products, refined sugar, salt and seed oils.