Forum : September 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive : This forum is an archive of discussions from the September 2010 21-Day Vegan Kickstart. While you are welcome to read and post in this forum, any new topics you post will be more widely seen in the forum for the current kickstart. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/ Actually, our GP pointed us in this direction some years back - not deliberately toward vegan but he suggested that before he put hubby on blood pressure meds he wanted us to try the DASH plan (dietary approach to stop hypertension). The DASH plan does include meat, fish, dairy, eggs BUT it focuses on using those sparingly and increasing fruit, veggies, whole grains. So, we started cutting out red meat, cutting back on fish and poultry, eliminated eggs and liquid milk (still had dairy products like cheese and yogurt), and increasing our use of beans and whole grains and veggies. While hubby did eventually need medication (for the genetic side of hypertension), we started down the path of gradually removing animal products and ended up here. Our GP knows we're mostly vegan (we slip occasionally and sometimes there aren't many options, but we're getting better at dealing with those situations) and has no problem with it - it rarely comes up these days. --DebR http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=8447F013-A643-33DB-FEBA05C69C00F699&r=1 2013-03-19T20:12:19-04:00 blood work Thanks for the info about blood work. I just switched doctors and I did tell her I've been vegan for almost 2 years. She had the opposite reaction to Theodore's warning - she said that was absolutely wonderful and is a perfectly healthy way to live. She said as long as I was taking a b12 supplement (which I am) than I'm totally fine. I do feel healthy, but I also acknowledge that I don't know everything about nutrition and if my iron or vitamin D levels are low, I think its important to know about it. So I asked if I could get my bloodwork done - my new doctor suggested a lipid profile and a thyroid test just for kicks - but I guess I should ask more directly for the tests Molly recommended: Fasting Blood Glucose Fasting Cholesterol (full lipid panel) Triglycerides B-12 Iron Calcium Vitamin D Anyone else doubting their doctor's nutritional expertise? No matter what you eat, everyone can always be doing something to improve their health and diet, right? PT http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=82B47484-A578-93B7-B72D92997D13F8A5&r=2 2013-03-19T12:51:37-04:00 blood work Sometimes it amazes me how little people understand about nutrition, health and wellness. First of all about chiropractors and nutrition.....those doctors are some of the very best to go to for nutritional advice. MD's have very little education in nutrition. I just had a conversation with one of my best friends who is an MD. They just don't teach it. Medical school curriculum was taken over by the drug companies many years ago. They teach drugs, drugs, drugs! Secondly, who thinks a diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables, with fish and lean poultry is a bad plan???? I don't understand the gentleman or the doctor who said this plan wasn't sound. Thirdly, she has pain....it's all about reducing inflammation in the body. The body's response to inflammation is responsible for most things that send someone to the doctor's office. THIS plan is how we are supposed to eat. Eating highly processed food and too much sugar and dairy is why our country is a sick sick country. We have gotten away from the God given foods we can grow to artificial everything....just look around, it's NOT working. Good for your friend, (and her smart chiropractor)...How's she doing now? http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=7923E4D0-BC73-B5D2-25ECC5478B353347&r=3 2013-01-26T23:14:21-04:00 anti-inflammatory diet It is not really a diet but more of a way of life by eating certain foods, but the concept itself which says any excess inflammation in the body will lead to health troubles of all kinds, you could have inflammation when you wake up in the morning and things like this. But anyway you are following a generally healthy diet you could be on anti inflammatory diet without knowing you are, like olive oil and garlic, ginger all are good anti inflammatory diet food and it works if you want to [url=http://www.mengainweight.com/]gain weight[/url] or if you want to lose it because either ways you got to eat healthy. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=4E0BABD6-B782-5B66-50EA76A9ABFB681F&r=4 2012-11-29T21:21:25-04:00 anti-inflammatory diet Some are vegan, some are not. [url]http://www.barnivore.com/[/url] This web-site will tell you. It's empty calories so it will slow your weight loss. With that in mind, it's best to keep it to a minimum. If you don't need to lose weight it's just a matter of what's best for your health. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=5D928681-E3B2-2172-FBEEF4A65CC56973&r=5 2011-09-12T12:17:56-04:00 Alcohol, wine & beer Hi, How do, alcohol, beer and wine affect the diet? http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=5D6FA5B7-CFB1-795A-7511C3C776AF1DC0&r=6 2011-09-12T11:39:50-04:00 Alcohol, wine & beer I have seen the metal forms for them. I think some are fried but I imagine they could be baked. I have never made the hard shells, but I have cooked the tortillas long enough to be crispy for a tostada type meal. Delicious! http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=E26D1DAD-02F7-495C-88337964B303764D&r=7 2011-02-01T18:12:37-04:00 Home made Corn tortillas thanks for replying.. one more question.. do you know how to make tostada shells??? love those things.. the ones in the stores are not healthy at all.. cynthia http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=E25FDDFC-F898-834C-E993B88AC433EF78&r=8 2011-02-01T17:58:09-04:00 Home made Corn tortillas They are pretty much the same as the store bought as far as storage and such. They are a bit thicker, you want to keep them stored in something that retains moisture. I prefer mine fresh so I make smaller batches. I like that I can add my liquids and seeds and such for added flavor/nutrition. Somehow, so many things just taste better fresh! As far as wrapping like a burrito. These are corn, so that would be one difference. Unless you get a really big press, they may be a bit small for burrito making. Awesome tacos though! http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=C84CD31E-97C6-7338-CB7C6858BAF1CFF4&r=9 2011-01-27T16:27:14-04:00 Home made Corn tortillas can you actually take these and wrap them like a burrito? and do they keep in the fridge once you cook them? do you fry in oil? or just a non-stick? http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=C7873366-9FD0-312B-17949D3B0A492225&r=10 2011-01-27T12:51:22-04:00 Home made Corn tortillas [quote="kristine13826"] just fill your plate with the stringent stuff like kale ,lettuce, collards, mustard greens, beet tops and all kinds of green salads like endive escarole frise mache' lambs quarters etc. All kinds of GREEN veggies broccoli, brussle sprouts, string beans etc.[/quote] How much of that kind of stuff would one have to eat in order to maintain one's weight? Basically, we need calories, something on the order of 1200 to 2000 of them. I struggle with that all the time, the conflict between controlling my blood glucose with diet and stopping the weight loss that I've been experiencing on the vegan diet. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=9A02C5CF-C687-B767-5E340841E43FFFF1&r=11 2011-01-18T16:43:49-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high I found out that eating mostly greens and salads and veggies are your best bet.THOSE are the freebies or freestyle eating for. But ANY kind of carb you will still have to count awhile like having just a of 1/2 a cup or 1/3 of a cup of ANY rice, pasta, potato~~ even if it IS whole grain you will STILL have to do the counts . Although as your body gets better it may just be you will later be able to stop counting carbs. I just love the foodlovers diet saying where he says if it ain't meat it's a carb! Knowing that, just fill your plate with the stringent stuff like kale ,lettuce, collards, mustard greens, beet tops and all kinds of green salads like endive escarole frise mache' lambs quarters etc. All kinds of GREEN veggies broccoli, brussle sprouts, string beans etc. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=998B5EE7-AF61-1768-5D806EE1FB966162&r=12 2011-01-18T14:33:23-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high Good for you to be so in tune with your #s! You may consider a [u]diabetes journal[/u] (which includes the food journal). I agree about sharing this information and consulting with a Nutritionist and/or Certified Diabetes Educator. If you think about all the things that can impact blood sugar levels, there are a lot: timing of medication, stress (emotional, infections, cold/cough, etc), activity level, etc. can all change/impact blood sugar levels. I also find [u]paired testing[/u] helpful - check BG before you eat and 2 hours after you start eating your meal (you can set a reminder on some BG meters or use a clock, friend/family to remind you). Ultimate goals are for a blood sugar 80-120 premeal and i less than 150 at the 2 hour mark. Good Luck! http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=8EE72442-FFEC-5A47-BD3912EABA363654&r=13 2011-01-16T12:57:48-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high [quote="garys"]I joined the program 1/3/2011 and I'm a type 2 diabetic. My glucose levels have gone up. My morning level was 80-110 and evening was around 120. Now my morning is at 185 and evening is running about 226. None of the doctors I have know about this program. My endocrinologist started me on Byetta 1.5 years ago. This got me off the insulin because I lost 39 pounds but nothing since. I want off all of the drugs so I started the program. But if my glucose level does not go back down I may be back on insulin which just adds weight back on. I saw the chat about rlumley's blood levels. What did the doctors say rlumley when you went back in October? Any one else have any suggestions?[/quote] Also, keep an eye on what you're eating - it's possible to eat too much of a good thing. Your meter is your friend, as you already know. You may find that brown rice is not good for you, so sub quinoa or other grain when recipes call for it. And so on. I know, for instance, that one slice of vegan quiche is fine but two is too many (big difference in blood glucose reading). Still vegan, still fairly low fat and low glycemic (uses navy beans instead of eggs so plenty of protein and fiber and a whole wheat crust, no hydrogenated fat) but two is just too many. --Deb R http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=7A77BC92-C4D4-99B1-2CFBEBD02178F968&r=14 2011-01-12T13:43:43-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high Stepping in here to comment - it took my body about 12 days to adjust to the new vegan diet, but after that my glucose levels rapidly fell into a normal range. At first, they went up. I had been following a very low carbohydrate diet, so I expected an increase for a while. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=6B4C3544-A8BC-9DDD-95683EE42B4D20BD&r=15 2011-01-09T15:01:52-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high I joined the program 1/3/2011 and I'm a type 2 diabetic. My glucose levels have gone up. My morning level was 80-110 and evening was around 120. Now my morning is at 185 and evening is running about 226. None of the doctors I have know about this program. My endocrinologist started me on Byetta 1.5 years ago. This got me off the insulin because I lost 39 pounds but nothing since. I want off all of the drugs so I started the program. But if my glucose level does not go back down I may be back on insulin which just adds weight back on. I saw the chat about rlumley's blood levels. What did the doctors say rlumley when you went back in October? Any one else have any suggestions? http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=6852EBCD-B54E-8902-E16D4C5303E46AFA&r=16 2011-01-09T01:10:20-04:00 Blood glucose levels still too high Thanks, I'll look for it. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=667D2B74-C119-A646-EF303E4FE9940713&r=17 2011-01-08T16:37:15-04:00 Weight Loss hi brown suga.. do you realize there is another forum for the new kickstart??? i saw your post that you were waiting for someone to respond..??? hopefully you have found us.. the forum is jan 11 kickstart.. this one is the sept 10 kickstart... cynthia http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=60D0C629-E9A6-A959-1C8CDDBE0D80F386&r=18 2011-01-07T14:10:51-04:00 Weight Loss Well, if I could give you some of my weight, I would gladly do so. :D It's not bad but I really would like to be the best me that I can be and right now, I'm not there. That's a good idea to create a new blog and maybe someone will respond. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=533990DB-FD4C-3488-B36FE208AF8CC53E&r=19 2011-01-04T22:50:37-04:00 Weight Loss I have the opposite problem, needing to gain weight. I may start a new topic on that subject. http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=518C03C4-BFDE-B5ED-EE492FCF0A467F00&r=20 2011-01-04T15:01:26-04:00 Weight Loss