Houston's health crisis: by 2040, one in five residents will be diabetic

[umbertino]

Regularly dubbed ‘America’s fattest city’, Houstonites’ dietary choices are only one element of its spiralling diabetes problem. Can anything be done to reverse this deadly – and very costly – disease in a city addicted to sugar and cars?

 

 

Tom Dart in Houston

 

Thursday 11 February 2016 11.56 GMT

 

 

 

1 5

Houston’s car-centric suburbs continue to expand along with its residents’ waistlines.

Photograph: David R Frazier Photolibrary/Alamy

 

 

More pics in link

 

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/feb/11/houston-health-crisis-diabetes-sugar-cars-diabetic

 

 

[tankdude]

I've been to Houston and can understand it - they have some fantastic restaurants.  Patty Angel can confirm that one! 

 

It sad that so many can't see that the choices they make can make such an impact on them. I'm not perfect either, but it seems to me that - at least in America - the idea of "will power" is kind of disappearing. A sad commentary on how our socialization of "me" and "now" appears to be taking over.

[coolbreeze]

I have lived in Houston my whole life.

I was recently pushing 280 husky guy yes.

My wife is diabetic and then got fibro myalgia. If you don't know what that is count your lucky stars you don't have it. It attacks your body, bones like you've been beaten with a bat for hrs. I had to help her to the bathroom, shower even in and out of the car. It also attacks your memory and gets you with fatigue. This went on for a year with that and diabetes. Then my sister n law did research and gave her Plexus. Soon energy started coming back and then she started doing more research and got plexus bio cleanse and pro biotic pills. She is no longer struggling with diabetes and no longer on fibro pills that barley made her feel better. And she's lost a ton of weight that fibro pills made her gain. Plexus not only good for that symptom but many others. I take it and I'm down to 211 in weight. The difference with her alone is night and day. Now she sells it and started a cleaning service that she does alone. So we thankfully will not be on that list above. Wanna know more info PM me. I'm not trying to con anyone it works her and i are proof and millions of people. Hope everyone is doing well today. Go RV ASAP!

[pattyangel]

Yes Tankdude!!! Houston does have a diversity of restaurants and some can be hazardous to your health. LOL!!!

In fact Mr. Angel and I went this weekend for some Ethiopian food.  I have to say its not bad, tad spicy, but not as spicy as India food in which we had the weekend before. Enjoyed both very much and the cultural atmosphere was a delight.   

 

How we control our diet is solely the responsibility of the individual.  No one else is responsible for our health.  Not the doctors, not your mother etc.. until that thought process sets in, we will always see all diseases run rampant. 

 

It took cancer to wake me up in how I take care of myself.  A blessing in disguise for me.  I've learned to care for myself starting at the cellular level.  If you don't understand the biology of the body, and how it works, I suggest you do some deep research regarding Cellular health. 

 

Eliminate/reduce oxidative stress and you'll have a healthier life.   

 

Tankdude, love your caption below, "Have you had your Molecules today?"   YES!!!!

[tankdude]

Yes Tankdude!!! Houston does have a diversity of restaurants and some can be hazardous to your health. LOL!!!

In fact Mr. Angel and I went this weekend for some Ethiopian food.  I have to say its not bad, tad spicy, but not as spicy as India food in which we had the weekend before. Enjoyed both very much and the cultural atmosphere was a delight.   

 

How we control our diet is solely the responsibility of the individual.  No one else is responsible for our health.  Not the doctors, not your mother etc.. until that thought process sets in, we will always see all diseases run rampant. 

 

It took cancer to wake me up in how I take care of myself.  A blessing in disguise for me.  I've learned to care for myself starting at the cellular level.  If you don't understand the biology of the body, and how it works, I suggest you do some deep research regarding Cellular health. 

 

Eliminate/reduce oxidative stress and you'll have a healthier life.   

 

Tankdude, love your caption below, "Have you had your Molecules today?"   YES!!!!

 

Thanks Patty! Yes - health really is a personal responsibility. Nothing wrong with eating out from time to time (and personally I love Indian food)

 

You are so right on the oxidative stress too. It is tied to over 95% of all chronic conditions. It is either a direct cause or an exacerbating factor. It is is thought to be involved in the development of Asperger syndrome, ADHD, cancer, Parkinson's disease, Lafora disease, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, fragile X syndrome, Sickle Cell Disease, lichen planus,vitiligo, autism, chronic infection, and chronic fatigue syndrome. It's nice that we have found a way to reduce that!

 

Not sure if you heard the latest news - but the redox supplement has been shown clinically reduce oxidated LDL, and even DNA markers! For those that understand the science behind how cells create energy and use the resulting signaling molecules created in that process to heal themselves - this is huge!

 

So glad you and the hubby became early adopters! Next time I'm in Houston - dinner is one me!

[Texstorm]

I sure hope crawfish ain't bad, I boil up over a 150 lbs a month....I do share some with my family LOL. Probably another 100 lbs of blue crabs as well.

[Thaiexpat]

Hey TD, don't forget your promise of covering my beer tab when you get over this way! Actually, I don't drink, so the bar-lady tab I will let you cover! Hahaha

Actually, PA is right on: NO ONE to blame but yourself if you stuff your face endlessly with junk. The problem is the so-called "experts" telling everyone to avoid the saturated fats and getting 60-70% of your diet from grain-based carbohydrates. However, in today's world of Google-God, you can get plenty of proper information from the net. Also, just use your God-given common sense: if the dietary ideas are so great, WHY are so many people getting sicker and sicker? When did the low-fat ideas get established? Since then we have only seen increases in all manner of diseases. Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. People are just plain lazy in taking care of their OWN health. I tell my patients all the time, "If you want me to do all the work, I'd be more than happy to take all your money. So what's it going to be?"

Research "evolutionary" or ancestral health topics. Don't listen to my profession. Listen to those who link OUR PAST to how we should eat/live. DNA is programmed behind us. Live accordingly. Dr. Kruse provides excellent information in this regard (as do so many others). It means not only eating, but LIVING according to life cycles. Sleep is critical. Find out if you are leptin resistant (blood panels can determine this) or how much inflammation is going on in your body (cytokine testing is one option). Stop inflammation (see TD's posts-he covers this better than most doctors know) and health improves. Fitness improves. To all your health...Cheers

[tankdude]

I sure hope crawfish ain't bad, I boil up over a 150 lbs a month....I do share some with my family LOL. Probably another 100 lbs of blue crabs as well.

The only reason it's bad is because you haven't invited me!!!

[bigwave]

"Can anything be done to reverse this deadly – and very costly – disease in a city addicted to sugar and cars?"

 

Go Paleo or the very least go with the Adkins diet.

[tankdude]

This is an article from The Lancet.  It is one of the world's oldest and best known general medical journals,and has been described as one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world.

 

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2813%2962365-X/abstract

"Physical exercise has long been widely regarded as essential to human health.1 Yet, we do not know how exercise-stressed skeletal muscle cells that generate reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) delay—if not prevent—the occurrence and severity of diseases such as type 2 diabetes (as well as dementias, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers). Also unexplained is the recent finding that metformin—the most commonly used drug to treat type 2 diabetes2–4—and physical exercise seem to be beneficial for several of the same diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiovascular disease."

 

I postulate that there is a need for ROS (reactive oxygen species) to trigger the body to make it's own antioxidants - glutathioine, catalase, SOD and lipoic acid.  This is why taking too many antioxidants can be a bad thing. It suppresses the production of these key factors. It's all about balance and homeostasis.