For many centuries, rice has been the staple food in every Asian home. The more polished the rice grain, the more successful or wealthy the family must be. And for good fortune, there must always be a rice urn filled with rice.
The cultural belief is that we, as Asians, need to eat rice. But this is not true. I believe many things could be different today if only I had known better…
My father was a type 2 diabetic. Just like many diabetics he was prescribed with medication, and was told by his doctor to eat less meat, reduce fat intake and eat 45 gram of carbohydrate each meal, three meals a day and two snacks in between.
Every morning his breakfast was oatmeal or bread. Lunch and dinner was usually a bowl of rice, rice porridge, or noodles with a small portion of meat, fish, and vegetables. He avoided eating all fat, including his favorite braised pork belly and mutton soup. He lived a very normal life…He worked hard, ate well, and slept well. That was the healthy lifestyle he knew.
For as long as I can remember, bread, rice porridge, steamed fish, vegetables, and fresh fruit were his main foods for almost every meal. He avoided all sugary beverages and all fat. He tried very hard to eat “healthy.”
This went on for many years as he continued to live with pain from arthritis and occasional kidney stones. It was sad to see that he avoided so many of his favorite foods.
It didn’t occur to me then that one day my dad would get sicker and die…
One evening, my father felt very sick and was brought to the hospital emergency room. He was diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer as a diabetic patient and was told he had only six months to a year to live.
During that time, I met my husband, Dr. Dan Peterson who specialized in Preventive Medicine. I learned from Dan about the causes of diseases.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic syndrome caused from carbohydrate intolerance. Prostate cancer metastasis can occur in diabetics…mainly due to high blood glucose that injured nerves fibers throughout the body, just like retinopathy and neuropathy.
Why didn’t his doctor or nutritionist tell him that starches actually turn into glucose, that fruit is high in sugar, and that diabetics should not be eating either of those!? Instead he was told to eat lots of carbohydrates.
I wish I had known all that earlier…I wish I’d had more knowledge about why avoiding eating starches and sugar would help control blood sugar, because my father would probably have lived longer. Ignorance is not bliss, in this case.
During that time in my life, I was overweight and often experienced hypoglycemia. I also had a bad blood lipid profile. I realized that my eating habits and lifestyle were leading me to the risk of becoming a diabetic just like my father.
With help from Dan, I begin to eat a flavorful diet with high fat and eliminate all simple carbohydrates. After 16 months of eating low carb high fat, I lost the extra weights and have had no sign of hypoglycemia ever since. My blood glucose level normalized, and blood lipid panel became very good…all without medication.
I swore that I would never walk my father’s path to become a type 2 diabetic, and I wanted to spread the knowledge on how to prevent or reverse diabetes. After this personal experience coupled with the death of my beloved father, I became very passionate about studying a low-carb, high-fat, ketogenic diet in depth.
Eating low carb—replacing carbs with high amounts of good fat – can convert the body from being dependent on glucose for fuel to burning fat for energy. I am on my seventh year of living a healthy low carb high fat ketogenic lifestyle!
Yes, my body has been using fat for energy for the last seven years! I am healthy, full of energy and look younger than my actual age. I am glad that some of my family and friends had adapted this eating lifestyle and got healthier. Some of them have even came off their diabetes medication!
There are so many people around us who are walking the same path as my father did. High blood sugar eventually leads to diabetes and many other common diseases. Many people are not aware that eliminating carbs and sugar intake can help to maintain healthy blood sugar and prevent diabetes and many other diseases. Are you one?
Believe this: Asians do not need well-polished white rice to show that we are wealthy. Without health, wealth is nothing. We do not need to eat rice or potato. All rice including brown, red or black rice all are starch that turn into glucose in the body. Avoid them all. Filling your rice urn with lard is equally auspicious.
Hi Kelly, thanks for your sharing. I never eat the fat meat (pork belly) but now its one of my favourite food. I started keto diet since Jan 2019, feel good…will continue this diet..
I have suffered with D.2 for 17 years and finally with Keto, I am off my medication and insulin. It is still not very balance yet as I do get spikes sometimes…..I believe time will make it better. I just need to stay focused! Thanks for the motivation!
Thanks for sharing the great news Grace! Keto On!
Thank you for sharing the info… my dad having lymphoma cancer stage 4 if I get know this diet earlier he might could lived now
Really thanks and appreciate your sharing. Have a great day
Thank you for your kind comment 🙂
What a touching story, I am glad you have found your husband and learned the cause of many health issues in your family. More impressive is that you actually listened to the device and are now sharing it the larger community. Thanks for your work it is always a joy to red and prepare.
Thanks for your kind words Kevin. 🙂
Hi, Kelly
Thanks for your sharing.
After low carb three mthI loss 10 kg and feeling healthy.
Congrats to your success Celia! Keep the good news coming! 🙂
“If only…” such a sad story Kelly. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Kelly and greeting from your home, Singapore!
I feel your emotion and rationale when reading the article. Yes, we have seen too many cases that could be prevented if we had knew earlier – including our lost loved ones.
Will share with those I care about… take care and keep the fats up! 🙂
Sidetrack: Love your profile pic here.
Hi Sharon! Thanks for the comforting message coming from Singapore!
Yes please share my story with your friends. Hopefully some may get a second chance.
I agree with the carbs but sceptical about the fats. Please elaborate about the type of fats. Will it not push up the cholesterol level
Hi Noraini, I totally understand how you feel. The fear of cholesterol has been around for decades and sad to say, it was all base on bad science. You may like to read this short article I have here and check out the links at the bottom of the article. http://www.cookinginspiredbylove.com/10-reasons-you-need-cholesterol/
Kelly,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for writing this post. It’s an important one.
I’m sure you’ve seen this TEDx talk but, perhaps others reading your post have not: http://www.dietdoctor.com/best-of-2015-reversing-type-2-diabetes-starts-with-ignoring-the-guidelines
Blessings and good thoughts to you.
Hi Cait, thanks for the comforting words. Yes that link is a great talk on this subject. Thanks for sharing with our friends here!