My medicines & my weight – both dropped!

DefEat Diabetes participant Frederick Gupta shares how in just five weeks, he experienced wonderful results.

I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about five years ago. Since then, I have been struggling with it. My doctor here in Canada is quite concerned and has put me on a regimen of medication. These medicines have been affecting my health adversely.

I found out about SHARAN through my sister-in-law, who attended the 21-Day Health Retreat this past summer. She and my wife suggested I try this program, to change my diet and eat healthier. This would reduce the intake of my medications and at the same time keep my diabetes in control.

I had the full support of my wife and happily dove into this program head-first.

To begin with, I am very obliged to Dr Laxmi Sundar and Chef Neelima Sriram for accommodating me, as we have a twelve and a half hours’ time difference between locations.

I have learnt so much about eating healthy, organic and vegan. My wife is cooking the meals from recipes that Chef Neelima posted and demonstrated and has joined me in this healthy way of eating.

Before I started this program my sugar levels were between 9 and 10 mmol/L (i.e., 162 – 180 mg/dl), with a full intake of medications. Five weeks into this new regimen, with three-quarters of the medication intake, my numbers are averaging between 6 and 7 mmol/L (i.e., 108 – 126 mg/dl). At the same time, I have dropped about 3 kg from my body weight and I feel a lot better.

I still crave sweets and non-veg food but those impulses are starting to diminish. I plan to continue with all these changes in my lifestyle and am hoping to report a medication-free, clean bill of health very soon.

Once again I must commend my two guides and instructors, for giving me the tools to pursue a better and healthy lifestyle. A heartfelt thank you to Dr Laxmi Sundar and Chef Neelima.

Baked Potato Wedges

Yes, we can truly enjoy everyone’s favourite – potato wedges – that too oil-free & guilt-free! This recipe will leave you surprised.

Ingredients

• 4 medium unpeeled sweet potatoes / potatoes, thoroughly rinsed and cut into wedges
• 4 tbsp coconut milk
• 1-2 tsp dry mixed herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, cayenne, etc.
• ¼ tsp unrefined salt

Method

Steam the potatoes until they are 70% done. Preheat the oven to 180 °C-200 °C. Mix the coconut milk with the herbs and salt. Add this to the wedges and toss to coat them thoroughly. Spread wedges on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes. Then, turn the wedges over and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

Enjoy with home-made ketchup or green chutney.

Serves 6

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant based journey. We are offering two possibilitie

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Microwave magic?

We are creatures of habit, and if a microwave oven is part of your daily routine it may be tough to avoid it. The best bet would be just to remove it from your kitchen. Another solution could be to cut off the wire, and you have an extra cabinet to store your stuff! It takes no more than a day to re-adjust back to how we cooked or heated our food all the years before the microwave! Use a steamer to reheat rice. Invest in a conventional oven or an electric kettle to heat the water.

Read on to find out why you must bid goodbye to the microwave oven.

1. Microwaves destroy vitamin B12 There is much stress on supplementing vitamin B12 especially since lack of the same can be quite detrimental. All forms of microwaves including the mobile phone destroy vitamin B12. That’s why there is such a high rate of deficiency these days.

2. Microwaves create carcinogens in food Heating food wrapped or placed in plastic in the microwave can create carcinogens in the food. Carcinogens cause cancer, which is becoming increasingly common these days.

3. Microwaves can change blood makeup and heart rate Researchers have found that eating microwaved food results in a reduction of red blood cells and an increase in white blood cells and cholesterol. Also, the high radiation emitted by microwaves causes immediate and dramatic changes in the heart rate.

4. Heating breastmilk in a microwave destroys its nutrients and antibodies When warming human milk in a microwave, its nutritional and immunological values start to deteriorate. Microwaving milk can also create hot spots which may burn the baby’s mouth.

5. Radiation leakage Long-used microwave ovens, whose doors don’t seal well, cause radiation leakage in the kitchen which can be harmful. Also standing too close to the microwave can have an effect.

6. Microwave sickness Prolonged exposure to microwave radiation results in symptoms like visual disturbances, weakening of the immune system and more.

7. The food just doesn’t taste the same Since the heating is uneven, the food tends to have hot and cold spots and some items become sticky or rubbery. Food cooked normally surely tastes better.