Purple Bananas

High Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-10-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Lupus patients have an increased risk for heart disease as well as other organ inflammation, I think the information below is a very important read!

High fructose corn syrup is a thick, clear liquid made from corn starch. Originally introduced in the 1970s, its use almost tripled between 1980 and 1995. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), by the late 1990s (a time when people became primarily concerned with fat content) Americans' use of high fructose corn syrup exceeded that of sugar. Compared to 1970, the average American today consumes more than 100 times the amount of this sweetener. High fructose corn syrup is one of the top four ingredients in soft drinks, low-fat salad dressings, and the majority of fast and processed food.
High fructose corn syrup is an American food manufacturer's dream. The low cost of corn production (especially when compared to the high cost of sugar importation) make it inexpensive to produce. Because high fructose corn syrup is actually sweeter than refined sugar, smaller amounts may be used. It's liquid nature makes it easier to blend into drinks. It's easy to transport, has a long shelf life, and prevents foods from drying out.
Despite all of its seemingly positive attributes, high fructose corn syrup has one fatal flaw: unlike sugar, high fructose corn syrup goes directly to the liver to be metabolized. The liver releases enzymes that signal the body to store fat, which elevates triglyceride levels. Also, the liver is unable to metabolize excess fructose.
What does this mean for you and your liver?-An increased risk of heart disease due to elevated triglyceride levels.-Potential weight gain due to fat storage and slower burning of fat.-Gastrointestinal problems due to failure to metabolize excess fructose.-Liver disease.
While conversion of high fructose corn syrup in the liver can result in negative consequences throughout the body, the most severe damage appears in the liver itself. This is especially true of a diet high in both fat and high fructose corn syrup. A recent study conducted at St. Louis University, in which mice were fed such a diet for 16 weeks, surprised researchers with the speed and severity of the development of health problems. After only four weeks, the livers of the mice resembled those of alcoholics: they were full of the fat deposits characteristic of "fatty liver" and had developed cirrhosis. Similar studies conducted in both the United States and Europe point to a diet high in fat and high fructose corn syrup as the cause of the increase in liver disease among children and teens.
While the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in American foods may seem daunting, there are several things you can do to safeguard your health:-Restrict your consumption of fast food and processed foods.-Read labels. If high fructose corn syrup is one of the top four ingredients, think twice.-Restrict your intake of fat.-Remain active in order to properly burn fat.

My liver enzymes have came back high on my last 3 blood tests. (I get blood work done every 3 months) I have cut back on my sugar intake, I hope that at least at my next visit they will be lower!

Nutrition Quiz

2009-10-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

I watched this a couple weeks ago and found it very informative!

See how you do?

What is the Glycemic index (part 2 of carbs)

2009-10-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate foods by assigning them a number ranging from 0 to 100. The number indicates the rate at which the food raises blood glucose levels during its absorption. The higher the value the quicker the sugar is absorbed.

A high Glycemic index food has a value of 70 and above. A G.I value of 56-69 is considered medium and any foods lower than 55 are considered a low Glycemic index food. Foods with a low G.I are best as they digest more naturally and help provide a steady supply of energy over the course of several hours, it also makes us feel fuller for longer.

Your body performs best when your blood sugar is kept relatively constant. If your blood sugar drops too low, you become lethargic and/or experience increased hunger. And if it goes too high, your brain signals your pancreas to secrete more insulin. Insulin brings your blood sugar back down, but primarily by converting the excess sugar to stored fat. Also, the greater the rate of increase in your blood sugar, the more chance that your body will release an excess amount of insulin, and drive your blood sugar back down too low.

Here are some examples of Low GI foods..
(Foods that digest "slower" blood sugar does not spike quickly)

Yogurt low-fat (sweetened)
14
Peanuts
15
Artichoke
15
Asparagus
15
Broccoli
15
Cauliflower
15
Celery
15
Cucumber
15
Eggplant
15
Green beans
15
Lettuce, all varieties
15
Low-fat yogurt, artificially sweetened
15
Peppers, all varieties
15
Snow peas
15
Spinach
15
Young summer squash
15
Tomatoes
15
Zucchini
15
Soy beans, boiled
16
Cherries
22
Peas, dried
22
Milk, chocolate
24
Pearl barley
25
Grapefruit
25
Milk, whole
27
Spaghetti, protein enriched
27
Kidney beans, boiled
29
Lentils green, boiled
29
Soy milk
30
Apricots (dried)
31
Milk, Fat-free
32
Milk ,skimmed
32
Fettuccine
32
*M&Ms (peanut)
32
Chickpeas
33
Rye
34
Milk, semi-skimmed
34
Vermicelli
35
Spaghetti, whole wheat
37
Apples
38
Pears
38
Tomato soup, tinned
38
Haricot beans, boiled
38
Plums
39
Ravioli, meat filled
39
Carrots, cooked
39
*Snickers bar
40
Apple juice
41
Wheat kernels
41
Spaghetti, white
41
Black-eyed beans
41
All-Bran
42
Peaches
42
Chickpeas, tinned
42
Oranges
44
Lentil soup, tinned
44
Carrot juice
45
Macaroni
45
Pineapple juice
46
Rice, instant
46
Grapes
46
Grapefruit juice
48
Multi grain bread
48
Rice, parboiled
48
Baked beans, tinned
48
Porridge, non instant
49
*Chocolate bar; 30g
49
Jams and marmalades
49
Whole grain
50
Barley, cracked
50
*Ice-cream (low- fat)
50
Yam
51
Orange juice
52
Kidney beans, tinned
52
Lentils green, tinned
52
Kiwi fruit
53
*Pound cake
54
Bananas
54

High GI foods
(foods that can make your blood sugar "spike")

White bread
71
Golden Grahams
71
Millet
71
**Watermelon
72
White rolls
73
Puffed wheat
74
Corn chips
74
Chips
75
Waffles
76
Doughnut
76
Wafer biscuits
77
**Rice cakes
77
Weetabix
77
Broad beans
79
Jelly beans
80
Pretzels
81
Rice Krispies
82
Potato, micro waved
82
Cornflakes
83
Potato, instant
83
Potato, baked
85
Rice pasta, brown
92
Baguette
95
Parsnips
97
Dates
103
In the next post, I will touch more on "Simple Sugars" such as corn syrup!

I hope this info helps with you in FIGHTING LUPUS!

Can cutting Carbs help you?

2009-10-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

One of the most common symptoms of Lupus is fatigue. There isn't a pill they can give you for Lupus fatigue, you just learn to manage it. Like I said before, my doctor did not give me any info about diet, since there isn't a "Lupus Diet". So, as I began looking for a way to lose weight I stumbled on the low-carb way of eating.

Here is some basic info about Carbs.....

~Simple carbohydrates are composed of 1 or 2 sugar units that are broken down and digested quickly. Recent research has shown that certain simple carbohydrate foods can cause extreme surges in blood sugar levels, which also increases insulin release. This can elevate appetite and the risk of excess fat storage.

~Complex carbohydrates (also referred to as starch) are made up of many sugar units and are found in both natural (brown rice) and refined (white bread) form. They are structurally more complex and take longer to be broken down and digested. Complex carbohydrate foods have been shown to enter the blood stream gradually and trigger only a moderate rise in insulin levels.

Example of Carbs....

Sugar, syrup, candy, honey, jams, jelly, molasses, and soft drinks contain simple carbohydrates and little if any nutrients.

Fruits contain primarily simple carbohydrate but also valuable vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water.

Vegetables contain varying amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water.

Legumes such as beans, peas, lentils and soybeans contain complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.

Milk products contain simple carbohydrates along with protein, calcium and other nutrients.

Grain products contain complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein. The amounts vary depending on the type of grain used and the amount of processing. Selecting whole grain options whenever possible is recommended.

So, when you eat simple carbs it is digested quickly and you get a burst of energy! Then, your insulin falls and you crash! So, with Lupus I don't think we need to eat to make us have even more fatigue! We need to eat so we can fight fatigue! So, complex carbs over simple is the way to go! In my next post I am going to go over what the Glycemic index is, plus talk about some low-carb foods!

Camp For A Cure accepting sign-ups - www.record-bee.com

2009-10-14T18:52:00.001-07:00

Camp For A Cure accepting sign-upsBy staff reports
Updated: 10/14/2009 12:26:41 AM PDT

PETALUMA -- Camp For A Cure will be held on Nov. 7 at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma for baseball players ages 8-15.

Since 2004, Camp For A Cure has raised more than $40,000 for the American Cancer Society and the Lupus Foundation of America. This year money also will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Last year's volunteer coaches included more than 60 top high school and college coaches as well as professional scouts and players. This year's staff include John Goelz (Sonoma State), Damon Neidlinger (Santa Rosa Junior College) and major leaguers Tommy Everidge and Brandon Morrow.

To download a flyer and registration form and for more information, please visit our www.campforacure.org, e-mail Leslie.adams@campforacure.org, or call Gregg at 480-9214.

For group reservations, completed registrations must be submitted in the same envelope to our mailing address no later than two weeks prior to camp (Oct. 24 deadline).

Camp For A Sure accepting sign-ups - www.record-bee.com

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SlimFast

2009-10-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

I tried SlimFast a few months ago. I was on it for about a month and lost 10 pounds. Though, after that month I stalled. I have been trying to lose the Prednisone weight. It is not a bad program, just not right for me. It did have some really good benefits. It did give me energy in the morning, and it has really great vitamins. etc.. Take a look!

SlimFast
Calories
180
Calories from Fat
45
Total Fat
5 g
Saturated Fat
1 g
Cholesterol
5 mg
Sodium
210 mg
Total Carbohydrate
24 g
Dietary Fiber
5 g
Sugars
17 g
Protein
10 g
Vitamin A
*
Vitamin C
80%
Calcium
50%
Iron
15%
Water
0oz

SlimFast has a great website, it has the best food calculator by far! You can follow the meal plan they have set up for you, or you can delete the meal info and replace the info with the food you you eat! All you have to do is search the food and it adds it to your meal plan. If there is a food you can't find, you can "Define" the food and insert the nutritional value and then it will add to your meal plan. Even if you are not trying to lose weight, it is a great way to actually "see" the nutritional value of the foods you eat!

Take a look!
http://www.slimfast.com/

Bob Greene also approves of SlimFast on his Best Life Diet

Concert announcement: Poets Against Lupus at Legacy

2009-10-13T16:47:00.001-07:00

The Second Annual Poets Against Lupus Benefit Concert is Saturday night at Legacy Books & Cafe.
Performing are Floyd Boykin Jr., David A.N. Jackson, Derek Brown, Ms. Nterpretation, Copasetic Soul, Torri Brown, Indigo Lee, and Swade.
Doors are at 6:30 p.m., with the show time at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door; $5 of each ticket sold will be donated to the Missouri Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.
SpokenVizions is presenting the event.
Get more information at 314-517-8764 or by emailing lupos@spokenvizions.com.

Concert announcement: Poets Against Lupus at Legacy STLToday.com Author Kevin Johnson

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Steroids, are they really from the devil?

2009-10-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Are steroids of the devil?

YES YES and YES lol

Steroids are prescribed to fight inflammation, and honestly I could not live without them. Though, they also have really crappy side effects!

Prednisone Side Effects

~ Elevated blood glucose

~Glaucoma

~ Type II diabetes

~Osteoporosis

~Weight gain

~Irritability

~Depression

~Loss of sex drive

It is hard to believe that something that can help you so much, could cause all those problems! Weight gain, irritability, depression are some of the symptoms I experienced. My doc didn't really explain the possible side effects to me. Especially the fact that I should probably increase my calcium intake or be more aware.

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting.

So, if you are on Prednisone, it would be best to consume low calorie, low fat, calcium rich foods.

Calcium rich foods

~Low calorie dairy foods

~Broccoli

~Collard Greens

~Spinach

~Tofu

~Canned Salmon

More detailed examples

~ 40grams of Cheddar Cheese has 296mg of calcium

~3 Tablespoons of Red Kidney Beans has 75mg of calcium

~100grams of Tofu has 500mg of calcium

1,000 milligrams a day of calcium for adults 19 through 50

At the moment I am not taking Pred regularly but when I have flares, I am right back on it! I am at a point now where I am trying to take off the weight I gained taking it regularly.

I hope this info helped or encouraged you with your Fight with Lupus! Have a great Tuesday!!

You are what you eat

2009-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

When I first was diagnosed with Lupus, like many others I immediately went to the web searching for answers. There is a large amount of information on the web, and as I searched I found that the Lupus Foundation of America website is a great website to gather info. Though, as was googling Lupus info, I noticed an abundance of "Cure Lupus" sites. Take these herbs blah..blah..blah...and you will be cured. At the moment there is no "cure" for Lupus, there has not been a new drug in 50 years! (stories of people with Lupus) I looked for what I should be eating to help my Lupus? Something strange like Purple Bananas? lol

Nutrition is not something that doctors talk to you about when you are first diagnosed. For a great deal of us, medicine for living is really what we want to talk about anyway. After I got a grip on the fact that my life would never be the same,(It took me quite awhile to do that because I mourned my old life and I suffered from guilt.) I began noticing how my environment affected how I felt in regards to my Lupus. Weather, nutrition, exercise etc.. Which leads to this blog, I am going to examine in some detail the relationship between food and Lupus in my diet and in general. I will also talk about Lupus in general and my life. I decided to make Purple Bananas a symbol of me trying to fight Lupus with nutrition.

This is will all be very lighthearted, considering I am a pretty silly person who loves to laugh! I am not a nutritionist, though I did take 2 nutrition classes in college....does that count? lol nawww...I am not a perfect eater by no means, my biggest downfall is drinking pop..mmmmmm Pepsi.

I hope you join me on this journey and fill me in with any personal stories of your own about fighting Lupus.

Purple Bananas