Eat well for less

[Shiba Park]

All the comments about this programme seem fair to me, but we are probably forgetting context...

Let's face it, the many success stories on this forum are from the T2 ninaj's, those that have actively engaged with the condition and sought to beat it. That's not to say no one else can do the same, far from it, but the uncomfortable truth is that far too many people have diets like the couple featured; some will develop diabetes, some won't. For such people, the advice given is a genuine step in the right direction and realistically, people can only adapt to a certain rate of change unless it comes from within. So, being pragmatic, while the advice could have been a lot better, it was probably as good as anyone could have hoped for.

Shiba.

 

[ringi]

I just watched it, there was a big reduction in suger and I expect a 30% to 50% reduction in carbs. But they clearly need an additional 90% reduction in carbs..

They both lost over a stone in 5 weeks, hence if they keep losing weight it will greatly improve their health. But no where nearly as much as very low carb would.

 

[JohnEGreen]

It's not just about diabetes too much sugar is bad for people in many ways they may seem restively healthy but as the song says it aint necessarily so.
Just a few ways excess sugar can harm you.

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you lose.
7. Sugar reduces high-density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar may make eyes more vulnerable to age-related macular degeneration.
14. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
32. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
33. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
34. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
35. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
36. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
37. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
38. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol) in the blood.
39. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
40. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
41. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
42. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
43. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
44. Sugar causes food allergies.
45. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
46. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
47. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
48. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
49. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
50. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
51. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
52. Sugar can cause cataracts.
53. Sugar can cause emphysema.
54. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
55. Sugar can promote an elevation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
56. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.
57. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
58. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson's disease.
59. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
60. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
61. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
62. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
63. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
64. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
65. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
66. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
67. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
68. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
69. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
70. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders.
71. Sugar can cause depression.
72. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
73. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
74. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
75. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
76. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low-sugar diets.
77. A diet high in refined sugar reduces learning capacity.
78. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body's ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
79. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
80. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
81. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become under active and others become overactive.
82. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
83. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
84. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
85. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold-increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
86. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
87. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
88. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.
89. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
90. Sugar combines with and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
91. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
92. Sugar is an addictive substance.
93. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
94. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
95. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.
96. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
97. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
98. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
99. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
100. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
101. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
102. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
103. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
104. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
105. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
106. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
107. Sugar may induce cell death.
108. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
109. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
110. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.
111. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
112. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
113. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia
114. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
115. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
116. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
117. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
118. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
119. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
120. The more sodas a 10 year old child consumes, the less milk.
121. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
122. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
123. Sugar causes constipation.
124. Sugar causes varicose veins.
125. Sugar can cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.
126. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
127. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
128. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
129. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
130. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel syndrome.
131. Sugar can affect the brain's ability to deal with rewards and consequences.
132. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.
133. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.
134. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
135. Sugar can cause liver tumors.
136. Sugar can increase inflammatory markers in the blood stream of overweight people.
137. Sugar can lower Vitamin E levels in the blood stream.
138. Sugar can increase your appetite for all food.
139. Sugar plays a role in the etiology and the continuation of acne.
140. Too much sugar can kill your sex life.
141. Sugar saps school performance in children.
142. Sugar can cause fatigue, moodiness, nervousness and depression.
143. Sugar is common choice of obese individuals.
144. A linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients is associated with increasing total sugar intake.
145. High fructose consumption has been linked to liver disease.
146. Sugar adds to the risk of bladder cancer.

https://www.hammernutrition.com/knowledge/endurance-library/146-reasons-sugar-ruins-your-health/

 

[Pinkorchid]

I too was shocked that 20 yr plus diabetic s food intake of chocolate , ECT.... Surely was not educated or was totally ignorant to the fact that they were diabetic !!!!!!!!

Not ignorant to the fact as she did say she had ignored the diabetes for 20 years and just went on eating as she always had done because that was the sweet stuff she loved. Any changes they did make at the time had to be some progress for the better if they stuck to it

 

[JohnEGreen]

My friend was T2 for over 20 years and on insulin and though he could make many changes to his life style such as giving up smoking shortly after diagnosis, changing his eating habits was beyond him even though he tried he used to say to me if only I had your will power John, but I never gave up smoking which I know is bad for me, and I know I should if only I had his will power.

I find it best not to judge we all have our strengths and weaknesses his weaknesses was food mine is smoking, among others.

 

[Mike d]

I just don't get sugars at all. FORCED myself years back to stop. Did it in one day after diagnosis The mere smell of it now makes me heave. The ban even includes "no sugar" soft drinks.

 

[Confused by differing advice]

Did anyone see it last night?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009fn0/eat-well-for-less-series-6-episode-4

Wholey moley!

 

[Confused by differing advice]

Did anyone see it last night?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009fn0/eat-well-for-less-series-6-episode-4

Wholey moley!

 

[Confused by differing advice]

Watched this last night. Was hoping for some advice and low carbohydrate recipes. Fat chance! If they really eat like that, how come they’re not very ill or worse? It was like they deliberately shunned anything healthy- they walked past the fruit and veg section in the supermarket. I don’t believe anyone eats like that. My husband has type 2, but we have NEVER eaten that way. Hope non diabetic viewers don’t think all diabetics bring it on themselves by eating like that.

 

[Mr_Pot]

Watched this last night. Was hoping for some advice and low carbohydrate recipes.

The programme is about saving money not treating diabetics.

 

[Member496333]

Except when they’re treating diabetics...

 

[srobertson06]

Yes I watched this programme - I was in disbelief that they both ate so much sweet things, I can only take from the programme that they did not care about their health enough to take steps to improve it -- Hands up here because I am not doing well right now and have been struggling for months now and not really making a lot of progress but I do know what I should be doing. The husband seemed far more willing to compromise and I hope for his health that he continues to do some of the cooking or his health will be down to what the wife cooks and she was far less flexible in her approach.
I was amazed at the low sugar readings they were getting considering what they were eating so I would also guess that the small changes would have helped because I know I could not eat anywhere near what they were eating, I would have been out for the count - high sugar readings knock me out for at least an hour............ and when I come too I feel really awful.

Well that is my rant over

 

[KK123]

Watched this last night. Was hoping for some advice and low carbohydrate recipes. Fat chance! If they really eat like that, how come they’re not very ill or worse? It was like they deliberately shunned anything healthy- they walked past the fruit and veg section in the supermarket. I don’t believe anyone eats like that. My husband has type 2, but we have NEVER eaten that way. Hope non diabetic viewers don’t think all diabetics bring it on themselves by eating like that.

People DO eat like that, in fact I would go so far as to say the majority.

 

[Flora123]

People DO eat like that, in fact I would go so far as to say the majority.

Really?! I find that hard to believe.

 

[SugarSpike]

Yes I watched this programme, and was very annoyed with the advice given by the dietitian, she basically replaced a sugar loaded diet with a slightly different sugar loaded diet, but it was less 'calories' so they will turn their health around and improve their diabetes....come on! No mention of carbs at all.
I understand that it is an improvement for these particular people, as their diet was so terrible, however this has gone out to the general public, who will be looking at this advice from a 'professional'.
For someone who is desperately trying to convince my T2 dad to change his diet, I'm fed up with this nonsense being aired on national TV!, it really doesn't make my challenge any easier!

 

[Mr_Pot]

Except when they’re treating diabetics...

They were not treating diabetics. Here is what the BBC say is the premise of the programme.
This series addresses the issue of rising food prices, looking at how they are affecting both finances and eating habits. Is it possible to eat on a lower budget without compromising on quality?

 

[DCUKMod]

Really?! I find that hard to believe.

A few years ago, I attended a meeting of my local Diabetes UK group. A the time, I was new to the group, and looked forward to hearing what that night's speaker - a Specialist Diabetes Dietitian had to say. I was utterly horrified when she recommended Malt Loaf as a snack.

I left the meeting feeling somewhat disturbed. I now know from getting to know that particular lady, and having become friendly with a hospital based DSN, that her recommendations, although dreadful to me, would usually be a whole bunch better than the approach of many people, including those living with diabetes, of all sorts.

Where folks aren't engaged in a site like this, in a group, or have friends who have what we would call a decent diet, it is very difficult for them to change, as the flood of information coming their way, from all sides is pretty well, this is as good as it gets, because diabetes is chronic and progressive.

It's such a shame.

Last I saw that SDD, she was much more open to the ND and to LC living, so it'll be fascinating to see where her thinking has gone when she is due to present to the DUK group again.

It's frustrating, but supertankers don't turn on a sixpence.

 

[Member496333]

They were not treating diabetics. Here is what the BBC say is the premise of the programme.
This series addresses the issue of rising food prices, looking at how they are affecting both finances and eating habits. Is it possible to eat on a lower budget without compromising on quality?

In a world where there is no nuance then yes, you are correct. However, this particular episode had quite a bit to do with helping two diabetics improve their health. We can debate the semantics of the word ‘treat’ some other day, but to suggest this show was purely about saving money is plainly false.

 

[Mr_Pot]

In a world where there is no nuance then yes, you are correct. However, this particular episode had quite a bit to do with helping two diabetics improve their health. We can debate the semantics of the word ‘treat’ some other day, but to suggest this show was purely about saving money is plainly false.

You might like to watch next week's programme in which, according to the Radio Times, the dietitian discusses the benefits of eating less meat. Or "treating" meat eaters, as you would have it.

 

[Member496333]

You might like to watch next week's programme in which, according to the Radio Times, the dietitian discusses the benefits of eating less meat. Or "treating" meat eaters, as you would have it.

I'll put it in my diary