Tag: sugar

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Product Review: Swoon Lemonade

On a hot Summer day, I picked up a can of Swoon Pink Lemonade at my neighborhood Bodega. I had never heard of Swoon before, but the bright colors and the big Zero Sugar caught my eye. 
I googled the product and found out that Swoon co-founder Jen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age. She was on the hunt for delicious, zero-sugar drinks with little success. Cristina and her co-founder created a
sweet, fruity, tart, and deliciously flavored drink. 

The only thing to note is that it does have a slight stevia aftertaste that tingles on your tongue. Apart from Pink Lemonade, Swoon offers exciting flavors like Lemonade, Ginger Lemonade, Half and Half, Peach Tea, Lemon Tea, Raspberry Tea, and Peach Tea.

What’s even cooler is that when you buy a case of Swoon online, they donate one can to a needy family through the nonprofit Wellfare and their first-of-its-kind Better Box program that’s improving access to convenient nutrition in low-income communities.

Frozen Watermelon Pink Lemonade Recipe

After a quick scan of the Swoon®. website, I stumbled upon this fun cocktail recipe! It’s easy-breezy, hot-pink, frosty, and delicious. You can add vodka or have it as a mocktail.

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds cubed watermelon
(about 4 cups)
1 12-ounce can pink lemonade, such as Swoon® Pink Lemonade

See Full Recipe

Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Our bodies don’t need sugar to function properly. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6% of calories each day. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s no more than 150 calories per day, or about 9 teaspoons.

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘ADDED SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast. Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP. Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we play music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Divabetic Salutes Sade

Sade’s music has been a staple in the hearts of millions for five decades. With over 50 million records sold worldwide, Sade’s music has been a constant reminder that true talent doesn’t need to be loud or flashy. She has always let her music speak for itself. 

Although her body of work is considered paltry by industry standards, her music has been covered by everyone from Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill to Herbie Hancock. Sade and the band seem obsessed with less rather than more.

 This dedication to her craft has made Sade a mystery to her fans even after all these years. She rarely does interviews and shares very little about her personal life, but her music has been covered by some of the biggest names in the industry. 

If you have yet to experience Sade’s music live, you’re missing out. When I attended her Madison Square Garden concert, I was blown away. She and her band were positioned behind a scrim on stage, adding an air of mystery to the atmosphere. Although we could see through the scrim, her lighting technicians projected colors and images, providing an extra visual treat for the audience. The show was fantastic, from the mesmerizing visuals to the smooth, calming sounds. 

I fell in love with Sade’s sophisticated jet-set, jazzy romance stories from her first album, Diamond Life. Whether it’s ‘Your Love Is King,’ ‘Smooth Operator,’ or ‘Hang on to Love,’ Their music transported me from the ordinary suburban to a swanky European cafe and the sands of St. Topez.

 “Kiss Of Life” is my fantasy wedding song. Sade’s voice and the band’s sultry rhythm make it sound timeless to me.

“It’s strange because most bands are forgotten about when there is a long hiatus between albums, but with us, it seems the opposite, particularly in the last few years,” Sade told GQ Magazine. 

Her music is a reminder that sometimes less is more and true talent always stays in style. 

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast.

Added sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health? 
You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps fruit if asked to name sugary foods. However, sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, sauces, and ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies. These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake. 

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller, Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we play music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music. If asked to name sugary foods, you may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps fruit.
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Product Review: Lakanto Sugar-Free Cookie Mix

This week, I’m visiting a Houston friend who adheres to a Keto Diet for health reasons unrelated to diabetes. Keto Diet is generally defined as a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates (sugars) that causes the body to break down fat into molecules called ketones.

I’m not on a Keto Diet, but I’m always curious about what other people eat, so my friend willingly gave me a tour of her pantry. I spotted several Lakanto Sugar-Free Cookie Mix packages on her shelf. She says, “They’re great!” She especially likes the brownie mix. 

Lakanto products contain monk fruit. Monk fruit is a small, melon-like fruit grown in China and gets its name from the Buddhist monks who originally grew it centuries ago. Monk fruit sugar has been given the stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and given the title of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). ‌Monk fruit has zero calories or carbs; it will not raise blood sugar levels.

The Lakanto website claims that in less than 15 minutes, you’ll have freshly baked, sugar-free, keto-friendly cookies! They even offer a frosting recipe using Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit Sweetener.

She made some brownies earlier, so I was able to sample one. I found the brownies brimming with chocolate. They tasted lighter than regular brownies, which is true of every baked good recipe in which you substitute most popular sugar substitutes for sugar. It’s a different taste but not bad.  It doesn’t have the cooling effect or bitter aftertaste of other sugar substitutes. Sadly, I feel these brownies made me hungry for one with sugar.

A quick scan of Amazon reviews for Lankanto Sugar Free Cookie Mix revealed people’s reactions are mixed. While many reviewers wrote, “I had no expectations for these gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free “sugar cookies” and they were delicious!!! And “They do have a very slight bit of an aftertaste. But they are probably the best keto sugar cookie mix I have tried!” Several other reviews commented, “Disliked the texture and the flavor. Baked according to directions, and the cookies fell apart. They were very sweet and had a weird aftertaste. I personally would not buy again.”

On a side note, another reviewer got creative in her kitchen and came up with an interesting way to enjoy cookie mix, “I haven’t made the first cookie. Instead, I mix some with liquid or cottage cheese and have a dessert I don’t have to feel bad about.”

Erythritol is an ingredient in this Lakanto Monkfruit blend. Erythritol, eaten in excess, may cause diarrhea, stomach cramps/discomfort, headache, bloating, and explosive gas. My friend has not experienced any of the side effects. 

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Buttons by Lorraine Brooks

Enjoy this poem, Buttons, by Lorraine Brooks, whose monthly poetry contributions on Divabetic’s podcast help inform and enlighten our listeners. Over the years, Lorraine has helped me champion a weight-neutral approach to managing diabetes. She has shown me and countless others how focusing solely on the number you see on the scale can harm your diabetes health.

Taking a weight-neutral approach involves working outside the confines of weight loss as the primary goal for managing your diabetes. The goal is to respect the body and learn how to cultivate healthy habits. Unlike traditional approaches to weight loss, weight is not used as an indicator of health. The focus is on size acceptance, consistent self-care behaviors, and diabetes care. You can be healthy at every size. 

BUTTONS by Lorraine Brooks

I’ve never had buttons

On top of my jeans

I’ve only been able

To wear size of “queens”.

Elastic has often been

Something I needed

In clothing that made me feel

Somewhat defeated.

I longed for the feeling

Of putting on pants

Not worrying if people

Looked at me

Askance.

No more stretch fabric

And no more a “plus”,

And seeing my booty

As big as a bus.

I’m tucking my shirt in,

I’m wearing no sleeves,

My body is freedom

My body believes.

The old grey sweatshirt

That I used to dread

I’m wearing a cardigan sweater

Instead.

I know that this “victory”

Might not seem much

And that I am not “perfect” or

Gorgeous and such.

But trust me and listen

When I have to say

I buttoned my jeans today…

Hip, hip hooray!

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays the food game, Serve, Taste or Trash! at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

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Sugar Substitutes, Gut Health and Type 2 Diabetes

The whole conversation around the risks of consuming sugar, added sugars, and artificial sugar substitutes is confusing for anyone, especially those with diabetes.

The health risks associated with consuming too much sugar in your foods and drinks are alarming. But sugar is sneaky. When you think you figured it out, you look closely at nutrition labels, only to discover manufacturers have ways of hiding sugar in foods and drinks marketed as ‘healthy.’  

When you know, a 16 oz bottle of Coke contains almost ten teaspoons of sugar; you think you’re making a better choice by reaching for a Diet Coke or Coke Zero. But recent studies suggest that fake sugars can also have unexpected effects on your gut and metabolic health and even promote food cravings and insulin resistance, leading to Type 2 diabetes. Not to mention, quitting Diet Coke can lead to headaches and withdrawal symptoms. I know because I’ve experienced the vicious cycle of quitting Diet Coke several times without much success. 
And what about these murmurs that diet drinks make you fat? Morning TV shows love to share results from studies that have found using artificial sweeteners and drinking high amounts of diet soda is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. One study also reported a link between the high consumption of diet drinks and the increase in belly fat in older adults.
Drinking water is a great alternative. But if you’re like me, you enjoy a carbonated drink from time to time. So what do you do? A glance at the cold drinks shelves at my local bodega reveals a plethora of diet drinks. Every company offering a popular sugar-sweetened beverage now offers a sugar-free alternative. Each contains a list of ingredients a mile long with names only a scientist could understand.   
If you’re wondering why sugar substitutes seem more prevalent in our food and drink choices, one reason could be the Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to stop companies from labeling a food “healthy” unless it adheres to strict new limits on added sugars. Savvy companies can conform to the proposed rules by replacing added sugars in foods with artificial sweeteners.
“When companies reformulate their foods to contain less sugar, it leads them to use more non-nutritive sweeteners,” said Jotham Suez, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told the Washington Post.
Studies show that when countries such as Chile and Australia instituted similar policies to reduce sugar consumption, there was an increase in artificially sweetened foods and beverages.
“These low-calorie sweeteners are ubiquitous in the food supply, and so people often aren’t even aware that they’re consuming them,” said Allison Sylvetsky, an associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at George Washington University.
Many sugar substitutes are often hundreds of times sweeter than table sugar. Some are synthetic, while others, like stevia and monk fruit extract, are referred to as “natural” because they’re derived from plants.
The confusion surrounding what to do makes me feel like I’m talking from two sides of my mouth. Divabetic has hosted several Sugar-Free Baking Programs on Zoom, and we have shared dozens of Sugar-Free Dessert Recipes. Both of these offerings have proven to be very popular with our community. We’ve even rewarded our followers with free gift baskets of popular artificial sweeteners. But after seeing the new findings, I’m unsure how to proceed.
The World Health Organization cautioned people to limit their intake of sugar substitutes because of their potential for “undesirable” long-term effects, including detrimental effects on gut and metabolic health.
What the heck is Gut Health?
Gut health refers to the health of the entire digestive system — the parts of our body responsible for breaking down our food into individual nutrients we use to run our bodies.

If you suffer from frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn, your gut has difficulty processing food and eliminating waste. People with chronic fatigue may have imbalances in the gut.
Health Studies Seem To Only Make It More Confusing!
According to a Cedars-Sinaistudy, one type of bacteria in the gut may contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes, while another may protect from the disease. The researchers admitted it is too early to know how people can change their microbiome to reduce their diabetes risk.

In the meantime, experts recommend using artificial sweeteners sparingly because science changing all the time. Many of these old and new sugar substitutes seem destined to spur ongoing concerns and confusion. All we can hope for is to use them in moderation as we strive to live our best diabetes lives. 

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The Sweetest Taboo Is Not Good For You: Added Sugar

Happy Birthday to Sade Adu!

With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, 4 Grammys, and holding a CBE, Sade is one of the most successful British female artists in history,

She’s inspiring us to talk about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ on Divabetic’s free monthly podcast.

Sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?

You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and fruit if asked to name sugary foods. But sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, and sauces, and ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies.

Problems occur when you consume too much added sugar — that is, sugar that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavor or extend shelf life.

These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.

According to the National Cancer Institute, adult men take in an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day. That’s equal to 384 calories.

“Excess sugar’s impact on obesity and diabetes is well documented, but one area that may surprise many men is how their taste for sugar can have a serious impact on their heart health,” says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as reported in the Havard Health publishing.

“The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke,” says Dr. Hu. “Basically, the higher the intake of added sugar, the higher the risk for heart disease.”

How much is okay?

The American Heart Association suggests that women consume no more than 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) and men no more than 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams) of added sugar per day. Your daily allowance of added sugar daily is about the same as a 12-ounce can of sweetened soda.

Unfortunately,  the more sugar you eat, the more you crave!  Experts say it can take a few days to weeks to get over an addiction to refined sugar once you start. But you can do it!

Set yourself up for success by telling yourself that you got this.

“Words are powerful,” says our friend, Kathie Dolgin, author of Sugar Savvy Solution: Kick Your Sugar Addiction for Life and Get Healthy. “If you think resisting sugar is going to be hard, it will be hard,” she told Women’s Running. “Change that negative self-talk if you are going to take control of your diet and your health. Believe you can do this!”

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Divabetic Image & Style Icon Catherine Schuller. Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie McKendree.

Sade

Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from The Essential Sade album courtesy of SONY Music. The ESSENTIAL series features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from Sade! Plus full-liner notes and photos for the complete experience. Includes ‘Smooth Operator,’ ‘Your Love is King,’ ‘Hang on to Your Love,’ ‘The Sweetest Taboo’ and more.

 

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Divabetic Shares A Halloween Ghost Story with Listeners

Enjoy this special Divabetic podcast for Halloween.

Our regular Divabetic podcast featuring an all-star lineup of guests resumes next month for National Diabetes Awareness month in November.

 

Did you know that Halloween’s sugar consumption will likely surpass the $36 billion record set in 2021?

Understanding how food affects blood glucose is the first step in managing diabetes. But many people, especially at Halloween, when candy is so plentiful,  love to give their unsolicited advice about what we’re putting in our mouths.

Many assume that eating candy causes diabetes.

There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We know that sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes because our immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in our pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes is a combination of insulin resistance and pancreatic failure. That said, there’s enough shame and blame already associated with diabetes that it’s too much when someone feels obligated to tell us what we can and cannot eat.

One of our Facebook community members, Rosemary R., perfectly summed up our feeling on the subject:

“Having had diabetes since 11 years old and now 73, you do the math. It is only a part of my life, not the whole. I live a full and varied life. I tell new folks I meet about my condition to alert them to the possibilities of “lows” & how to help me.

Essentially, it’s my responsibility to look after myself just like anyone else. My only beef is that sometimes those “in the know” tell me, “oh, you are a diabetic and shouldn’t be eating that.”

My choice and my responsibility. I own my actions, taking care that any risk is managed and minimized and that I don’t become a burden to family, friends, workmates, the community at large, and the health system. My mantra has always been “moderation in all things.” I thank those who accept me for who I am. I lead a full and satisfying life.”

The American Heart Association suggests limiting adding sugars to no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) for most adult women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.

You can also access the Van der Voort Ghost Story using this QR code:

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Divabetic Mysteries Podcast: Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu

Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast: Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, is available on demand.  Enjoy loads of diabetes information and self-care tips wrapped up in a cozy mystery radio drama.

This year’s cozy diabetes mystery finds the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, landing his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage. She’s well-known for helping people get their “energy up and their weight down” by becoming aware of the amount of added sugar in their diets.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories each day. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day or about 9 teaspoons.

Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Knowing how much sugar you consume is important because our bodies don’t need sugar to function properly. Added sugars contribute zero nutrients, but enough added calories can reduce heart health.

Everything at Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat seems hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s chef knives. Mr. Divabetic quickly becomes the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!

Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with horizontal stripes?

Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

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Is Vegetable Oil Worse Than Sugar?

This morning, our friend and colleague, Dr. Lori Shemek, Ph tweeted “Did You Know? Vegetable Oil is Worse Than Sugar”.

I’ve never heard of this claim before, so I decided to google it. My findings are below. I strongly recommend that you do your own research and share your findings with your healthcare providers.

For years vegetable oil was considered a better alternative to saturated fats like butter. However, recent animal research suggests that when it comes to weight gain, soybean, canola, corn, and vegetable are making us fat, sick & harming brain health. These oils are highly processed damaging cellular health. Use olive oil, avocado oil, coconut, butter or ghee.

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash

Up until the 1950s, when butter and coconut oil were first wrongly blamed for the rise in heart disease, we weren’t eating these processed oils reports Eat This, Not That. So we’re just now seeing what years and years of eating the stuff can do.

In  Dr. Catherine Shanahan, MD’s book, Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food, Shanahan explains that vegetable oils are the “brain’s worst enemy” because they increase the risk of brain conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. While she didn’t conduct a formal research study to back her claims, recent research by Professor Martin Grootveld of De Montfort University Leicester confirms Shanahan’s inklings.

We’re talking about a ‘New Year, New You‘ attitude about living with diabetes with musical inspiration from Aaliyah on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Although Aaliyah died at the age of 22 and had a short music career due to her early passing, the singer’s music helped to redefine R&B, pop, and even hip-hop. And her legacy continues to live on. Her hard work ethic, creativity, and her sweet demeanor have inspired fans over the past two decades.

Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Pendulum Therapeutics CEO and Co-Founder Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph. D., (the maker of Pendulum Glucose Control), Virginia Valentine, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Dr. Darren Wayne from MealBetix and Yoga For Diabetes Author Rachel Zinman.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Aaliyah’s Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number album courtesy of SONY Music.

Tune in over 140 Diva TalkRadio podcasts available for free on i-tunes (search ‘Divabetic’).

Get the latest in diva news, diabetes headlines and inspiration by joining our Divabetic facebook page.

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Viola Davis Talks About Living with Prediabetes

Oscar winning actress Viola Davis opened up about living with prediabetes and the toll that diabetes has had on her family on the TODAY Show.

“Type 2 diabetes has taken a toll on my family. My great-aunt suffered from complications of the disease, two of my sisters are currently living with it, and a few years ago, I was diagnosed with prediabetes,” Davis said. “I’m one of the 84 million American adults living with prediabetes and I’m sharing my story for the first time in an effort to inspire others to take action against the type 2 diabetes epidemic.”

Viola told Samantha Guthrie she was diagnosed with a high A1C. She admitted she didn’t know what that meant which is why she is championing support and education for people diagnosed with diabetes.

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. The results of your A1C test can help your doctor:

  • Identify prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. To confirm a diabetes diagnosis, your doctor will likely look at the results of two blood tests administered on different days — either two A1C tests or the A1C test plus another diabetes blood test.
  • Monitor your diabetes treatment plan. The results of your initial A1C test(s) also help establish your baseline A1C level. The A1C test is then repeated on a regular basis to monitor your diabetes treatment plan.It measures your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months and can show how well your diabetes treatment plan is working to lower your blood sugar over time.

“I want to arm people with information to help them manage their diabetes,” said Viola Davis. “When I was young everyone said “you got the sugar'” and then you sort of waited to possibily get an amputation. You don’t have to that anymore!”

“My favorite word is ‘SUPPORT’ – supporting people who already have the diagnosis instead of stigmatizing them,” she said.

Viola and her sisters appeared on the TODAY show in support of her New “A Touch of Sugar” documentary film which addresses the health epidemic surrounding Type 2 diabetes, particularly among African-Americans.

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