G'day G'day Folks,

Time and again it is emphasised that dealing with inflammation is
fundamental to living with T2 diabetics. Here is one more reason ...
if you see what I mean.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/468935?mpid=24686

Best wishes,

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 12:57:05 +1300, Quentin Grady
<quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote:


Hi Quentin,

I keep seeing the articles about the dangers of higher CRP but don't
see what to do about it? Is keeping BG down enough? Is there
something else I can do?

BettyB.
--
BettyB -- www.flamingo-code.com
bettyb at flamingo dash code dot com
"If wishes were Saabs, all type A's would ride"
by Tom Darbyshire & Stephan Underhill

This post not CC'd by email
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 19:13:42 -0800, BettyB <flamingo1656@hotmail.com>
wrote:

G'day G'day Betty,

Good question. Most of us agree that keeping BG down is essential.
We might disagree from time to time on details. There is often
disagreement on how to go about it. Whatever. Elevated blood glucose
is only the most talked about symptoms of what is known as T2
diabetes. Dealing with the elevated blood glucose usually helps
enormously with dealing with the other factors so the short answer is
keeping blood glucose down is central to reducing inflammation
associated risks. On the other hand it isn't the whole answer.

However it could be that the dietary modifications you have made to
control blood glucose might also be the ones that reduce inflammation
including such indicators as c-reactive protein, CRP.

It could be that your diet is based on low carb vegetables eg broccoli
or cauliflower, green beans, salad greens, tomatoes, onion.
6 to 10 servings daily

Fish: 1 or 2 servings daily.
Lean meat: 1 or 2 servings daily.
Low glycemic load fruit: berries, small fruit 1 or 2 servings daily.
Olive oil 1 or 2 servings daily.
Nuts 1 serving daily.
Any one of dairy, whole grain,starchy vegetables 1 serving daily.

Perhaps you include ginger, turmeric, oregano, rosemary, green tea and
select highly coloured vegetables without even giving it much thought.
This isn't the only possibility but something similar would go a long
way to ensuring CRP levels are kept low.

Best wishes,




--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

"Quentin Grady" <quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:m3gl205r81143ql4ap2q543p3rpcmulq8o@4ax.com...
A timely reminder, Quentin.

Since I suffer from some conditions that are inflamatory by their very
nature (arthritis and fibromyalgia), and additionally have had one unwelcome
dx of degenerative maculata, the question of inflamation is something I need
to consider more seriously.

Sure, there *are* some powerful anti-inflamatory drugs available OTC or on
prescription, but although valuable, they are pretty strong and carry the
risk of unwanted side effects. So it's nice to know that one can also lower
inflamation to some degree with some pretty common, ordinary foods and
herbs.

A pleasant surprise was discovering that chocolate was one of them! Well,
actually, the cocoa mass in the chocolate.
Dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa mass is of course the best if
using it for this purpose - (like I NEED any encouragement to eat high
quality dark chocolate?) LOL Of course, a small amount is all that is
required to do the job. Too much, and weight gain may rear it's unwelcome
"head".

Another herb that many women use (including me) was a surprise - ie
chamomile. I use the tea for those times when I am stressed and seeking a
relaxed night's sleep. Now I have discovered that it is also a good
anti-inflamatory. It's a pretty benign and common herb, pleasant tasting,
cheap and easy to purchase in any supermarket. The only contra-indication
is for those who are allergic to any of the members of the daisy family. I
suppose the same can be said for the chocolate - some people cannot tolerate
it, due to various sensitivities like migraine or gout.

Isn't it nice to know that the foods one likes are also good for us?

Annette
"When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried."

Or ........ ASK QUENTIN!

Annette wrote:
For those who have access to it (it's a US product),
Celestial Seasonings makes lots of different herb teas,
and one that I particularly like is labeled
"Chamomile Green Tea" Ingredients (and taste) shows
that in addition to those two, it also contains a little
bit of mint.

Not snipped in case I convinced someone who didn't
read Annete's post. :-)

"Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
news:Yu2dndEV0ImQJLbd4p2dnA@gbronline.com...
Hi there Wes,

Although we have Celestial Seasonings in Oz, I haven't seen that one on the
shelves here - but maybe I need to look harder. Mint, BTW, also has
anti-inflamatory properties, the same ingredient as that which is found in
oregano (also a member of the mint family, actually).

Of course one can always grow one's own, in a nice little herb garden, and
be confident about their freshness, freedom from contaminents etc. Herbs
generally can sure make an ordinary meal a lot more interesting, and are
certainly worth having around anyway. Many are so easy to grow, undemanding
and take up very little space.

Traditionally used both for cooking and simple home health treatments, herbs
are worth considering including, in a well balanced diet.
The large pharmeceutical companies do extract the active ingredients from
some, and there has been some research into the many of them, if you like to
read up on it. You don't have to take anyone's anecdotal reports as
evidence of their benefits.

I couldn't imagine an Italian dish without things like oregano, rosemary,
thyme or basil, could you?

Bon apetite,

Annette
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme..........
(Old english folk song)

Annette <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

: "Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
: news:Yu2dndEV0ImQJLbd4p2dnA@gbronline.com...
: > Annette wrote:

: Hi there Wes,

: Of course one can always grow one's own, in a nice little herb garden, and
: be confident about their freshness, freedom from contaminents etc. Herbs
: generally can sure make an ordinary meal a lot more interesting, and are
: certainly worth having around anyway. Many are so easy to grow, undemanding
: and take up very little space.

: Annette
: Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
: Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme..........
: (Old english folk song)

Just be careful if yu plant either mint or oregano as both are very
invaisive. I have one small garden that now is mostly oregano, as I let
it get ahead of me and it now has big old tough roots and loves to crowd
everything else out!

Wendy

W. Baker wrote:
What we did:

Get a galvanized milking pail. Cut out the bottom.
Bury it so the rim is out of the ground about an inch.
Plant the mint inside. It will get very thick but it
will not escape the bucket until the bucket rusts through.

And it takes a LONG time for galvanized steel to rust through.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 17:28:48 +1300, Quentin Grady
<quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote:

Quentin,

Thanks for the great info. I have printed this and will keep it as a
reminder for meal planning.

A happy note: I don't visit the ngs every day anymore because I
finally got a job. Three years ago I got laid off (I'm a programmer)
and my husband retired. We moved into a motorhome in Oregon (USA) and
planned on moving to wherever my next job was. Well, my next job
didn't materialize. At the end of January I got a part time job
programming for a company in northern California. Instead of moving,
I work in the motorhome. The part time part is by my request. Last
year I had back surgery and both knees replaced. I spend mornings at
a gym doing water aerobics and other exercises. I work in the
afternoons. I started programming in Jan 1966 and I'm addicted to it.

The physical exercise is necessary and enjoyable but the brain
exercise is wonderful!

BettyB.
--
BettyB -- www.flamingo-code.com
bettyb at flamingo dash code dot com
"If wishes were Saabs, all type A's would ride"
by Tom Darbyshire & Stephan Underhill

This post not CC'd by email
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:30:15 -0800, BettyB <flamingo1656@hotmail.com>
wrote:

G'day G'day Betty,

Congratulations. I know how that feels.

Now ain't that just the way of it.

You are a fabulous reminder of the strength of the human spirit and
its ability for adaption. Such remarkable courage in doing what is
necessary reminds me of the woman who having been injured in a car
accident used to put aside her crutches at the gym desk and drag
herself on her bottom backward to the exercise machines. You don't
meet many like that but every time one does one knows just what the
human spirit is capable of.

Positive addiction ... the only sort to have.

How true!

Best wishes and thanks for the inspiration.


--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

"W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
news:c0jas1$mre$1@reader2.panix.com...
Good point, Wendy!

I learned the hard way too! I now grow such things in pots! :-D

Annette