Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (279 page)
Read Gillian McKeith's Food Bible Online
Authors: Gillian McKeith
Apply aloe vera gel to areas of the skin that are affected. Aloe vera has soothing and healing properties. Vitamin E can also be rubbed into affected areas to reduce scarring. Just pierce a vitamin E capsule and rub in the oil. Test a small patch first to check for reactions.
Find out what you are intolerant to. Keeping a food and symptom diary may be useful or have a food intolerance test. Common culprits include wheat, gluten grains, dairy products, soy, eggs, yeast, and chocolate.
Lupus is often a sign of a toxic system. Do frequent one- or two-day detoxes so that the liver can get on top of its load and the body can eliminate inflammatory substances.
In 2000, I was feeling poorly with a mystery virus. Medical professionals believe I may have suffered an attack of systemic lupus. Whatever it was it wasn’t funny, and while ill in bed I read your book. My family now live pretty much in line with the fruit, vegetable, superfoods, beans, and lentils rules you set down. We eat in “abundance” and none of us are overweight; nowadays we are all healthy. My kids don’t eat sugary, processed food; they always head for the fruit bowl if snacking. I am back to being a healthy mom and wife; these days good sensible eating keeps me like that.
METABOLIC SYNDROME
Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that are often found together in individuals. Common symptoms associated with the syndrome include weight gain around the middle, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, blood-sugar problems, and imbalanced cholesterol levels. Those with these symptoms are at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, atherosclerosis, polycystic ovaries (in women) and prostate cancer (in men).
CAUSES
One of the most common causes of metabolic syndrome is a diet high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol. These foods all break down into glucose once digested. The glucose goes into the bloodstream, causing a rapid and dramatic rise in blood-sugar levels. As the body cannot survive if blood-sugar levels are high, insulin is secreted by the pancreas in order to carry the glucose from the blood into the cells. Once in the cells, glucose can be stored for later use as energy or converted to fat for long-term storage. As insulin very much favors storage of glucose rather than its release for energy, the more insulin you produce the more likely you are to convert glucose to fat.
Diets high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol mean that insulin is constantly being called upon to carry the glucose into the cells. This can lead to the cells becoming “deaf” to insulin as they get so used to it being present. This can be likened to background noise that you notice when you first hear it but soon forget it is there. More insulin is secreted until the cells let the glucose enter. As, by now, insulin levels are higher than they should be, more glucose is stored as fat and less is available for energy. This often leads to the deposition of fat around the middle of the body, hence the characteristic apple shape that is so common nowadays.
Other risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome include:
A family history of type-2 diabetes.
High blood pressure.
High blood triglycerides.
Polycystic ovaries.
A sedentary lifestyle.
Being overweight. Waist circumference measurements are one of the markers used to diagnose the condition; women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with a waist of more than 40 inches are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and should get their blood pressure and blood triglycerides checked.
The risk also increases as you get older.
Action plan
The key for treatment is to keep insulin levels as low as possible. This entails eliminating foods that raise blood glucose rapidly. It is also vital to take measures to protect the cardiovascular system. Eating plenty of calcium-, magnesium-, and potassium-rich foods is key.
EAT/DRINK
Protein, which slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose. Good combinations include chicken or fish
with vegetables (not potatoes) or lentils, beans, soy, nuts, or seeds with whole grains such as brown rice, oats, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and amaranth.
