For the type 2 diabetic keeping blood pressures under control is a vital part of their diet plan. In recent studies researchers evaluated how a high carbohydrate and high monounsaturated fat diet affected the blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. After 14 weeks they found that those eating the high carb diet had a modest increase in blood pressure as opposed to those who ate a diet high in monounsaturated fat.
The diet itself was laid out as follows. The high carbohydrate diet consisted of 55 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat, and 10 percent monounsaturated fat. The monounsaturated diet had it test subjects eating 40 percent of calories form carbs, 45 percent from fats, and 25 percent from monounsaturated fat. Both groups consumed the same amount of calories, just different percentages from the above food types.
The 42 patients in the study consumed each diet for a 6 week period with a break of one week between each test period. After their one week break they were invited to continue with the second part of the diet for 8 more weeks. Eight test subjects continued on the high monosaturated fat diet with thirteen more continuing on the high carbohydrate diet.
After the first 6 week period there was little change in both systolic or diastolic blood pressure (upper and lower blood pressure readings), or in heart rate.
After the final 8 week period though, researchers began to see some changes. Those who ate the high carbohydrate diet began to see systolic pressures 6 point higher and diastolic pressures were 7 points higher. Their heart rates were also higher by about 7 to 8 beats per minute. Contrast this with those patients on the high monounsaturated fat diet whose systolic and diastolic pressure were 3 to 4 points lower at the end of the 14 week period.
This shows that while caloric control is important for the diabetic where those calories come from may be of even more importance. A diabetic diet low carb choice may help type 2 diabetics with blood pressure problems but it is important to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor or nutritionist.
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Diet & Exercise Tips
Make your New Healthy Diet a LIFE STYLE!
Stop going on and off your diet! View it as a complete life style change. That way you'll never yo yo diet ever again. And there will be no diet to go off of. And remember it only takes 21 days to develop a habit. Even if you have developed a habit of over eating or eating all the wrong foods for the last 50 years. It only takes 21 days to change it!
Plan the Details
Since the first day will be the hardest, plan every detail possible the day before. For example: outline exactly what your going to eat, where your going to be, and what activities you have planned, for every hour of the day. Keep this outline with you and stick to the plan 100%.
EAT!
Many people make the mistake of thinking they have to stop eating to lose weight. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your body is programmed to speed up your metabolism and burn calories when you eat. The key is to eat healthier and drink plenty of water.
Eat Early!
When you do eat, do it as early in the day as possible. First, eating right when you get up gets your digestive system going. Second, your metabolism slows down as the day goes on. You don't want food sitting in your stomach overnight.
Breakfast
Doctors say that your metabolism doesn't really kick into gear until you eat your first meal of the day. Make it a point to have a good nutritional breakfast to start the day.
The Importance of Exercise
Many dieters mistakenly fail to include exercise as part of their diet plan. Losing weight involves two parts: eating less and exercising more. Make sure you properly plan exercise into your daily life and you will see fast weight-loss results.
Gain Muscle, Lose Fat!
Everyone thinks of Cardio exercise when they think of losing weight, but lifting weights should be part of your program too. Weight lifting builds muscles which makes you look more firm and helps you burn more calories! You don't have to lift heavy or long, just enough to start tiring out your muscles to get good results.
More Than Weight
Don't just use the scale to measure your success, there may be reasons you are gaining weight and still losing fat (such as gaining muscle or retaining water)
Vitamins
Taking a multi-vitamin can help supplement some of the nutrients your body misses, now that your not eating as much.
Cleanup Your Life!
Although they appear unrelated: clean out your car, your home, your desk, etc. As you diet, you are cleansing your body and getting healthy and right along with that comes cleaning out your entire life. From a mental standpoint, you are eliminating all that is dirty and impure and change your lifestyle completely.
And Last but Not Least, Water, Water and Water!!!
You've heard it before and you'll hear it again. Water is the best way to keep your metabolism going and keep your body healthy. Don't underestimate drinking water!
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"Self delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scale."
- Paul Sweeney
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