Sunday 23 November 2008

How changing my diet has made me look differently at the food we eat

A long title but true. I knew so little about food before I was diagnosed with diabetes and though I still don't know a lot more, there are certain things I know now that make me look differently at the food I eat. I know a lot more about carbohydrates. For example, I didn't know that sugar and starch are carbohydrates. I didn't realize that some carbohydrates are absorbed more quickly that others. I didn't realize that by having something acidic (such as vinegar or lemon juice) with a meal, your digestion is slowed down and therefore the carbohydrates are more slowly absorbed. I learn a little more each week and am slowly tweaking my diet. I now eat a salad with a vinegar or lemon juice salad dressing with my mid-day meals. I enjoy potatoes and miss being able to eat them. However, if I eat new potatoes and have a dressing with them, I can still eat them.

The big no-nos in my diet are wheat products, rice, pasta (unless made with durum wheat) and potatoes. However, you learn fairly quickly how to deal with these restrictions. I try to eat only rye and sour dough breads which are more acceptable than regular wheat breads. I've discovered how much I enjoy both of these types of bread, so no real loss there.

(more later)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Much here that I didn't know..thank-you. New potatoes with vinegar are okay while other potatoes are not!?