Got Sugar in the Blood? Change Your Lifestyle Today!
Do you remember your elders speaking about “sugar in the blood”? Do you have a friend or family member who suffers from diabetes? The importance of understanding high blood sugar is critical to the management of our often fast-paced, unhealthy, and stressful lives. A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the “Bodies – The Exhibition” and experienced the most engaging presentation on the anatomy and pathology of the human body. Cadavers, adult and fetus, were on display to showcase the miracle of the body and the importance of good health and exercise. This poignant visit, which highlighted all of our major bodily systems, provides the inspiration to urgently share information regarding sugar – the crack cocaine of the Black of the community!
What is the blood sugar level? The blood sugar level is the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body’s cells. It is also known as serum glucose level. Though it is called “blood sugar,” other sugars besides glucose are found in the blood, like fructose and galactose. Normally, blood glucose levels stay within narrow limits throughout the day, but they are higher after meals and usually lowest in the morning. If the blood sugar levels drop too low, a potentially fatal condition called hypoglycemia develops. Symptoms may include lethargy, impaired mental functioning, irritability, and loss of consciousness. If levels remain too high, appetite is suppressed over the short term. Long-term hyperglycemia causes many of the long-term health problems associated with diabetes, including eye, kidney, and nerve damage. In diabetes the blood sugar level moves outside these limits until treated. Even with good control of diabetes, the blood sugar level will still at times drift outside this normal range. Diabetes complications include: retinopathy (eye disease), nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), and cardiovascular disease (heart attack, hypertension, heart failure, stroke and gangrene). Even if your blood sugar levels are normal, get retested every three years.
The average American eats more than a pound of refined sugar each week! Sugar has many names and is found in most processed foods including your morning pastries, ketchup, and sports drinks. Unfortunately, there is no warning label for its consumption and if one continues to regularly eat this toxic food without regular cleansing, the body will become diseased and eventually fail.
What are the signs of a lifestyle that is at risk? Answer the following questions:
1. Is your breakfast usually a pastry and coffee?
2. Do you watch more than two hours a day of television?
3. Do you drink regular milk?
4. Is the elevator your preferred method of going to a third floor high rise?
5. Do you exercise less than 30 minutes a week?
6. Is your ability to handle stress poor?
7. Do you smoke? Drink alcohol regularly?
8. Do you eat one or two large meals a day (versus five or six small ones)?
9. Do you get less than six hours a sleep per day?
10. Do you rarely eat beans?
If you answered ‘yes’ to more than five of these questions, you need to consider having your blood sugar level tested immediately and implement changes in your daily routine. Although researchers are still not conclusive on the “how,” when very high levels of blood glucose are present for years, it leads to damage of the small blood vessels and possible deadly complications. In addition, research shows that the big belly or “tire around the waist” is another risk factor for diabetes than weight alone. This fat may be excess storage and reflect the body’s inability to use sugar as fuel.
In summary, choose to modify your lifestyle gradually by incorporating an on-going and sensible cleansing, eating, and exercise program. Eat more often to avoid the three big meals a day routine, reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, and drink plenty of water to aid in the cleansing of your vital organs. High levels of sugar in the blood can be conquered with disciplined action. And remember information is not power — APPLIED information is power! You will then be on your way to a lifetime of improved health and wellness!
Dr. Deborah Stroman
Presidential Pursuits: Golf – The Great Equalizer
The latest brouhaha over President Obama’s whereabouts now includes his golf endeavors. A seemingly innocent respite away from the White House arrows and darts has turned into a diatribe over women’s equality, inclusion, and diversity. And you thought golf was a boring game for old men! Ha!
The story began with a news report, which is debatable in its own right of being news, that described Pres. Obama’s recent golf outing with one of his senior leaders, Melody Barnes. Ms. Barnes, the nation’s chief domestic policy adviser to the president, was pictured sharply dressed lugging her golf bag. Golf is generally played in groups of four so the interest increased when it was determined that she was joining or barging in on the president’s regular team of men. Oh my! Katy bar the door!
People play golf for one (or a combination) of three reasons: exercise, sport competition, and business. The days of ill dressed overweight men with tires around their waists, who huff and puff on cigars as they tee off are long gone. In fact, it is now a fashion faux pas to dress less than professional (gym clothes are not welcome) and to smoke during a round. Sir Tiger changed the game in many ways and one of the most important is his devotion to fitness. His workout regiment to be the best golfer in the world motivates all ages to get in shape to improve their game. Avid golfers and wanna-bees are seeking Pilates, yoga, stretching, strength and core training customized golf programs to reduce the number of swings to get that little white ball in the hole. And now walking the golf course is more popular, so a stop at the gym or a jog around the neighborhood is no longer necessary. Exercise by strolling through a meticulously manicured lawn decorated with exotic foliage and 18 tee boxes — Yes!
Regardless of the activity, some people just like to battle and talk smack. Whether it’s a game of spades or tonk, idling at a traffic light as the engine purrs looking for a race or even concocting the best drink at a party, competitors will take any and all moments to make a friendly or not-so friendly wager to test their skill. And often times, they know they won’t win the contest but just enjoy challenging someone’s courage and heart. Golf provides an excellent platform for competitors looking for the faint of heart. Standing over a three foot putt (and the last $10 in your wallet at stake) while your so-called friend makes awkward movements and throat clearing sounds or grunts to distract you is enough to bring out the fiery spirit in the most meek and mild. And how about the pressure of knocking your golf ball over and around a few bunkers (aka the beach that you never want to visit), tall pines, and a gentle stream, all the while those same so-called friends talk smack about their birdie on the previous hole. Yes, golf is a sport for the best trash talking competitors.
Golf is considered the sport of business. Business leaders spend an inordinate number of hours working on their game in comparison to time spent on other methods of fitness and sport competition. Why? People with money or those who want to work with people with money play the game of golf. And you don’t have to be good – just familiar with the game. Usually familiarity will breed addiction. The game is synonymous with prestige and executive culture. If you desire a higher rung on the corporate ladder, don’t think that you can get there without gaining awareness and intimacy with golf. Experience has shown that golf is unsurpassed as a business tool that provides ample opportunity to reveal character, demonstrate skills, and commitment to success. In four to five hours, unlike the power lunch or wine and cheese reception, one can truly learn insightful information about your partner and business deals. Strangely enough, executives are hard to pin down for office appointments yet their golf handicaps manage to stay low. Hmmm…sounds like a timely retreat away from the firm to keep their golf muscle memory acute. So your best bet to spend time with the boss is to learn to play golf – he or she is certainly most likely available then…especially if you are highly-skilled player. So although President Obama may not have the healthcare solution, he certainly has been schooled on what is important in terms of business success – repeated golf play!
What about the female intrusion on this testosterone-driven sport? Well, that omission is strategic as the purpose and play of golf has no gender barrier. It is often joked that golf was originally designed for men – that is, Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. One can throw that by the wayside along with all the other parties and programs that women have crashed like sales, politics, academia, and heaven forbid – capitalism. Women want to get paid just like men! Women are playing golf in greater numbers. Role models like Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam have helped to inspire and nurture a new class of dedicated young female golfers. And don’t even think about competing against the top NCAA Division I women golfers. They routinely shoot par!
Businesswomen sport attractive outfits designed specifically for office and golf play. These empowered ladies understand the importance of playing golf and don’t take the risk of being perceived as women focused on frivolous shopping or mindless reality shows. In fact, the United States Golf Association has targeted this underserved market (along with youth) to grow the game. Instead of watching men network and close deals on the golf course, women are eagerly learning the game and consequently, jointly making key decisions with men while on the golf course.
Thus, similar to men, women enjoy golf exercise by skipping out from the office to head to the golf course. Women are very competitive and can fire away timely snippets to throw you off your game too. And they do participate in networking to gain business advantage. Golf offers all of these rewards and more to men and women.
So does it really matter that our president included Ms. Barnes in his foursome? Absolutely not. In fact, in the very near future he may be the only man in his group. Athletes don’t care about gender; athletes care about one’s ability to compete. He may equally seek out men or women to join him on the links to discuss challenges, resources and pressing issues. However, it’s more likely that he just wants to spend time away enjoying the game’s many benefits. Let’s just be happy that our president chooses to play a game with friends in which he shoots for low scores and not moving targets — whereby his buckshot could accidently hit Ms. Barnes! Egad!
