Wild Salmon Helps to Reverse Diabetes and Heart Disease

Wild salmon is a powerful food, and, in many ways, is a true super food. In fact, few single foods can bring as many health contributions to your diet in significant quantities as wild salmon. Wild salmon is an excellent source of Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids which helps people with diabetes and heart disease. Wild salmon is low in saturated fat and calories but high in protein.

Note: Make sure that you choose wild salmon over farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is injected with antibiotics and color-enhancing chemicals. Whereas wild salmon eat other fish, farmed salmon is fed corn and other foods so that they can be produced in mass quantities.

Nutrient Contents in Wild Salmon

Wild salmon provides key nutrients for your health, including:

• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Vitamins A, D, B6, E
• Antioxidant known as astaxanthin
• Essential amino acids
• High quality protein
• Appreciable amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus

All of these nutrients combine to make wild salmon the natural choice for anyone concerned with their own health or their family’s health.

Health Benefits
Prevent High Cholesterol: Studies show that salmon helps to lower triglycerides. High triglycerides are associated with high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol. When your triglyceride levels are high, you have a greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Eating wild salmon several times per week will help to lower your triglyceride levels.

Prevent High Blood Pressure: Consuming more wild salmon will also help to lower your blood pressure. If you do not suffer from high blood pressure, the omega-3 fats in salmon will help to prevent an unhealthy rise in blood pressure in the future. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to heart attack, stroke or heart failure. You can minimize your risks of these diseases by eating wild salmon regularly.

Prevent/Reverse Type 2 Diabetes: The Omega-3s and quality lean protein in wild salmon helps to stabilize blood glucose levels, which is very beneficial to Type 2 diabetics.

Prevent/Reverse Heart Disease: As previously mentioned, studies show that salmon helps to lower triglycerides. In addition, wild salmon reduces plaque formation with the arteries and lowers cholesterol levels, all of which is beneficial to anyone with heart disease. The carotenoid in salmon is a particularly potent antioxidant known as astaxanthin, which has been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation, eye diseases, general aging and many other conditions.

Note: Astaxanthin is produced by phytoplankton, tiny plants that use it to shield themselves from ultraviolet radiation. Shrimp, krill and other tiny crustaceans then eat the phytoplankton and accumulate astaxanthin in their bodies (which is what makes them pink), and then salmon eat them and store the astaxanthin in their skin and muscles. Sockeye, coho and king salmon have the deepest color orange whereas pink and chum salmon (most often canned) are the lightest. 

Protect Against Cancer: When your diet is rich in omega-3 fats, you run a lower risk for certain cancers. For example, consuming salmon and other cold water fish has been linked with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Studies show that men who incorporate salmon into their diet one or more times each week are much less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who do not eat salmon.

Promote Eye Health: Studies show that increasing your intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids may decrease the risk of dry eye syndrome. Other studies show that diets that are high in omega-3 fatty acids protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects over 30 million people globally and is the leading cause of vision loss in those over 50 years of age. Eating fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids a minimum of three times per week has been associated with a 75% reduction in AMD. Wild salmon is a great option for promoting eye health.

Prevent Excessive Weight Gain: Incorporating wild salmon into your diet will give you the protein you need without the high and unhealthy fat levels of red meat and chicken. Salmon is also an excellent source of niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, selenium, phosphorus and magnesium. You may choose to add wild salmon to your diet to replace excessive eating of tuna, which can contain mercury.

Prevent Depression: Fish oil may help combat a number of serious psychiatric illnesses. According to researchers at an international conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health there is evidence which suggests that higher consumption of essential fatty acids in fish, particularly omega-3, appear to be linked to a lower risk for depression and better treatment of manic depression and schizophrenia. "In a study of more than 1,000 people (average age 75), those with higher blood levels of an omega-3 called DHA were more than 40% less likely to develop dementia (including Alzheimer's) over the next nine years than people with low DHA levels. ...Experts advise eating a weekly serving of fish rich in omega-3's." (Information source: "Boost Your Brain Power With Omega-3's," by Holly McCord, R.D., "Prevention" (Nutrition News web site))

More Health Benefits

Based on hundreds of clinical studies, the Omega-3 fatty acids in wild salmon provide many health benefits, including:

• Protect heart health
• Reduce risk of sudden death from heart disease
• Reduce risk of stroke
• Reduce chance of heart disease in Type 2 Diabetes
• Essential in infant brain and eye development during pregnancy and infancy
• Improve blood lipid patterns
• Improve blood vessel function
• Improve symptoms of immune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Asthma and some skin conditions
• Reduce the risk and severity of some psychological/mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Depression and Bipolar Disorder
• May reduce the risk of certain cancers, particularly Breast Cancer
• May help reduce the severity or development of Nephritis, Migraine, Alzheimer's Disease and Type 1 Diabetes

The Biology

The protective role of fish against heart disease, diabetes and cancer may be attributed to the type of oil found in certain species of cold-water fish, especially Alaska wild salmon. These fish oils, referred to as “Omega-3”, are polyunsaturated. Their chemical structure and metabolic function are quite different from the polyunsaturated oils found in vegetable oils, known as “Omega-6”.

The type of dietary fat (monounsaturated, saturated, or polyunsaturated) we consume alters the production of a group of biological compounds known as eicosanoids(prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes). These eicosanoids have biological influences on blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, immune function, and coronary spasms. In the case of Omega-3 oils, a series of eicosanoids are produced, which may result in a decreased risk of heart disease, inflammatory processes, and certain cancers.

Omega-3 oils also exert additional protective effects against coronary heart disease by:

• decreasing blood lipids (cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins or LDL, and triglycerides)
• decreasing blood clotting factors in the vascular system
• increasing relaxation in larger arteries and other blood vessels
• decreasing inflammatory processes in blood vessels

Findings from Clinical Studies

Additional studies have provided exciting news about the benefits of Omega-3 oils for individuals with arthritis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, lupus erythematosus, asthma, and certain cancers. Research studies have consistently shown that Omega-3 fatty acids delay tumor appearance, and decrease the growth, size, and number of tumors.

A recent study at the University of Washington has confirmed that eating a modest amount of salmon (one salmon meal per week) can reduce the risk of primary cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest claims the lives of 250,000 Americans each year. Fresh, fresh-frozen, or canned Alaska sockeye salmon provides the highest amount of Omega-3 fatty acids of any fish — 2.7 grams per 100 gram portion.

Other studies, such as the Zupthen Study, a 20-year investigation of a Dutch population, confirmed similar benefits. The risk of coronary heart disease decreased (as much as 2.5 times) with increasing fish consumption. This suggests that moderate amounts (one to two servings per week) of fish are of value in the prevention of coronary heart disease, when compared with no fish intake.

The type of dietary fat we consume is very important. It has been well documented that saturated fat can increase the risk of heart disease. The amount of saturated fat in both high-oil fish and lean fish is minimal. Fish, and other seafood, also offers lean, high-quality protein, as well as many other important vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin E:

• Powerful antioxidant
• Lowers the risk of heart disease
• Prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins
• Reduces the buildup of plaque in coronary arteries

Salmon is also a good source of Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants, which also include Vitamin C and beta carotene, act at the molecular level to deactivate free radicals. Free radicals can damage basic genetic material, and cell walls and structures, to eventually lead to cancer and heart disease. Vitamin E lowers the risk of heart disease by preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), thus reducing the buildup of plaque in coronary arteries. Other research has found that Vitamin E plays a protective role against cancer and the formation of cataracts, and may possibly boost the immune system in the elderly.

Cooking and Preparation Tips

You can eat wild salmon in a variety of ways. It is delicious on top of a salad with your favorite low-fat salad dressing. It can be made into a salmon burger or eaten with a side of rice and vegetables.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when cooking wild salmon is that they overcook the salmon! This dries out the salmon and destroys some of the Omega-3 benefits. Instead bake the salmon in aluminum foil and add 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil on top -- this will prevent the salmon from drying out, providing a very succulent and scrumptious flavor.

If you really don't like the taste of salmon, place some tomatoes and other veggies along with some cayenne pepper, oregano and other spices on top of the salmon while cooking -- you'll just love the flavor!

If you really don't like the taste of salmon, place a ½ pat of organic butter on top of the salmon after cooking -- you'll just love the buttery flavor!

Another option is to place a thin slice of low-fat (organic) cheese or a ½ handful of mozzarella cheese on top of the salmon after baking -- you'll love it!

Canned wild salmon (like sardines and tuna) can be eaten right out of the can -- there is no need to cook it. You can also add it to your salad for some additional protein.

What Salmon to Buy and Where
Wild Alaskan salmon, which spend most of their lives in open oceans, generally have very low levels of toxins. Coastal and farmed salmon, depending on the fish and meal they are fed, may have higher levels. The Environmental Defense Fund lists farmed Atlantic salmon as an “Eco-Worst” choice and recommends people eat no more than two servings a month due to high PCB levels.

Two of the best websites that sell wild salmon are:
http://www.vitalchoice.com/
http://www.seabear.com/

Thawing Tips
You can cook your salmon frozen , but we suggest that  you thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Place the wrapped package on a plate and allow 8-10 hours (extremely large cuts may take a bit longer). Try not to speed up the process of thawing seafood by defrosting it in the microwave or thawing it under warm water. Doing this causes the salmon to lose flavor and texture.

Grilling Tips

Preparing the Grill:

• Fish cooks best over a medium-hot fire.
• Make sure the grill is hot before you start cooking.
• Liberally brush oil on the grill just prior to cooking.

Grilling Salmon:

• Cut large steaks or fillets into meal-size portions before grilling.
• Oil fish lightly just before cooking.
• Grill salmon with skin side down on parchment paper or foil. No need to flip!
• Cook fish approximately 10 minutes per inch of thickness.
• Seafood continues to cook after it’s removed from the heat so take it off the heat just as soon as it starts to flake.
• Slide a sharp knife tip into the center of the thickest part of a cooking salmon portion, checking for color (Our favorite is when the flesh is still red/rare on the inside). We have found that overcooking is one of the biggest mistakes our customers make when preparing salmon. This is quality salmon, no need to dry it out!

Plank Grilling Tips:

Planking is a traditional Northwest-style of cooking using aromatic pieces of wood. It’s a great way to add subtle flavors to your wild Alaska Seafood. Many stores sell pre-cut planks now, but it’s just as easy to make your own.

• The best wood choices for planking are Cedar, Alder and Oak.
• Pre-soak the plank in water for 30 minutes – two hours.
• Pat planks dry with paper towels and spray-coat or lightly oil one side of the plank.
• Season salmon lightly with an herb blend or just salt and pepper. Go easy, as you don’t want to overpower the flavor you will get from the plank.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• Place the planked salmon on the grill over indirect heat and close the lid.
• Turn the heat down to medium.
• Check salmon frequently after 10 minutes.
• Salmon will continue to cook after it is removed from the heat. (See grilling tips to know how to tell when salmon is finished)
• Serving: the plank provides a beautiful, organic-looking platter for serving.

Baking Tips

• Rinse and pat fillets dry.
• Spread thin coat of olive oil over the salmon.
• Wrap the salmon in aluminum foil with spices, tomatoes, etc. (to lock in the precious oils and juices)
• Coat bottom of pan with olive oil if baking without the foil.
• Sprinkle seasonings over fish.
• Bake in 375°F oven for 10-12 minutes or until fish begins to flake.

Broiling Tips

• Preheat the broiler to Med/High.
• Rinse and pat fillets dry.
• Place parchment paper inside a shallow, nonmetal dish. Put salmon fillets on top of parchment, skin side down.
• Top with olive oil and seasoning of your choice.
• Broil the fish 4 to 6 inches from the heating element for 5 to 6 minutes or until the fish is done. (No need to turn.)

Poaching Tips

• Place poaching liquid in saucepan.
• Bring to boil and reduce to simmer.
• Place salmon in liquid and poach for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness (8 minutes per inch thick).

                                         

Type 2 Diabetes at the Cellular Level

Author's Note: If your goal is to get your Type 2 diabetes under control (stop the rot), or possibly reverse your diabetes, then is critical that you acquire the proper knowledge to understand and learn how this disease works to rot out your body from the inside out. In addition, it may be just as important to unlearn a lot of myths you believe to be true about diabetes, drugs, and nutrition.

The following is some of that knowledge and information that you need to understand about Type 2 diabetes.

And, once you understand how diabetes rots out your body, it will make it easier to understand how to stop the rot, and reverse the disease.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

In simple terms, Type 2 diabetes is a rotting disease that gradually spreads the rot and damage throughout the body, driven by cellular inflammation, insulin resistance (hyperinsulinemia), celluar dehydration, toxic overload, mineral deficiencies, and other nutrient deficiencies.

Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM) has reached epidemic levels in the United States and other countries around the world. There are more than 24 million diabetics in the U.S. and more than 190 million worldwide.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to maintain glucose homeostasis and the cells have lost the ability to effectively utilize the insulin produced by the pancreas.  This is known as insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, because it primarily affected older adults. But today with more children being overweight and sedentary, Type 2 diabetes is affecting children as well as adults. As a result, Type 2 diabetes has reached such an epidemic level that 1 out of every 2 people knows someone who is diabetic! In fact, you may be surprised at the number of famous people and celebrities who are diabetic.

Type 2 diabetes is a combination of cellular dehydration, nutrient starvation (vitamin/mineral deficiencies), insulin resistance, leptin resistance, cellular inflammation, lack of glucose homeostasis, rotting, toxicity, and oxidative stress that affects trillions of cells and damages many of these cells -- which can lead to a dysregulated immune system. In other words, Type 2 diabetes is more than just a "blood sugar" disease!

This is important to understand because once you realize that controlling your blood sugar is only one component to defeat and reverse your diabetes, achieving the ultimate goal of "death to your diabetes" is within your reach.

Insulin resistance and cellular inflammation reinforce each other via a positive feedback loop, causing more cell damage and preventing your body's cells from effectively using the insulin produced by the pancreas. That is, the insulin receptors on the surface of each cell are damaged (inflamed), ignoring the presence of insulin in your blood and refusing to allow glucose from your blood to enter your cells.          
                       

 

Cell Biology
The cells in your body require the glucose (as fuel) in order to produce energy. Without this fuel, your cells cannot produce energy and perform their functions.

Some of this glucose is stored in the liver. But most of it enters the bloodstream and travels to the cells to be used as fuel. Glucose needs the help of a hormone called insulin to enter the cells. Insulin, which is made in the pancreas, is released into the bloodstream in response to the presence of glucose in the blood (i.e. after eating food). Think of insulin as a key. When insulin reaches a cell, it attaches to the cell wall. This signals the cell to create an opening that allows glucose to enter the cell.

But with Type 2 diabetes, your cells don’t respond properly to insulin. Because of this, less glucose than normal moves into cells. This is called insulin resistance. In response, the pancreas makes more insulin. As less and less glucose enters cells, it builds up to a harmful level in the bloodstream. This is known as high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. The result is Type 2 diabetes. The cells become starved for energy, which can leave you feeling tired and rundown.                 

Blood Glucose Mismanagement
The sustained high blood glucose levels drive the beta cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin, which may cause the beta cells to begin to "wear out". Gradually, this may lead to beta cell dysfunction, which will reduce insulin production and cause blood glucose levels to rise even further, creating a vicious cycle of metabolic, biochemical and hormonal imbalances.

Over a period of years, these metabolic imbalances of insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction, and cellular inflammation continue to feed each other, spreading more damage to more cells, leading to an increase in the production of fat cells and the need for more insulin from those cells. This increases the fat storage, especially in the abdomen area, while inhibiting fat metabolism because of the excess insulin (known as hyperinsulinemia).

In addition, there is an increase in oxidative stress, glycation, and a depletion of key micronutrients such as potassium, chromium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E causing a severe nutrient deficiency.

 

All of this dysfunction leads to more cell membrane damage and a buildup of homocysteine, which causes damage to the artery walls. This leads to arterial plaque formation, an increase in blood viscosity and blood pressure, and, in some cases, an increase in cholesterol.  That's why many diabetics end up taking prescription medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Unfortunately, this combination of medications just make matters worse.

However, there is more to diabetes than the insulin resistance and inflammation. There are other biochemical and hormonal imbalances  (root causes) that fuel diabetes, including excess oxidation, adrenal fatigue, toxicity, and  insufficient nutrient absorption by the gastrointestinal system. All of these biochemical and hormonal imbalances must be addressed in order to properly treat diabetes and provide the opportunity to reverse the disease.

Since billions of cells have been damaged by the diabetes, the body requires a comprehensive nutritional and detox program that removes the excess toxins, reduces the oxidative damage, and initiates the body's repair process to repair the cellular damage and heal the body.

If Type 2 diabetes goes untreated, the excess insulin and excess blood glucose (hyperglycemia) damages the pancreatic beta cells and the body's blood vessels. This can lead to thicker blood, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high homocysteine, high c-reactive protein, arterial plaque formation, and low levels of chromium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, CoQ10, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.

Please Note! These vitamin and mineral deficiencies tend to lead so-called nutritional experts to recommend that diabetics take a bunch of vitamins and minerals to fight their diabetes. Nothing could be further from the truth! Instead, a better treatment strategy is to feed the body the whole foods that contain these key vitamins and minerals, i.e. green/bright-colored vegetables, sea vegetables, beans, wild salmon, organic eggs, and some dark-colored fruits.

These complications affect nearly every organ in the body, leading to kidney failure and dialysis, diabetic retinopathy and blindness, peripheral neuropathy and amputation, serious skin infections, gangrene, cardiovascular disease, stroke, disability, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, hearing damage, nonketotic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome, and death.

However, the good news is that these biological changes and metabolic biochemical imbalances can be corrected and these complications prevented with a superior nutrition, anti-inflammatory foods, a proper exercise regimen,  spiritual health, and less stress in your life.

For more details about the science of diabetes, refer to the pathophysiology web page. For more details about repairing and healing the body from the damage caused by the diabetes (and the drugs), refer to Repairing & Healing web page. 

The following diagram depicts how a cell pulls in glucose from the bloodstream in a non-diabetic's body vs. a diabetic's body.

The following diagram depicts how a cell performs its major functions in a non-diabetic's body. 
     

The following diagram depicts how a cell is unable to perform its major functions in a diabetic's body.

Pre-Diabetes: The Misunderstanding or The Lie

Based on the latest statistics, 67.1% of people with pre-diabetes develop full-blown diabetes, usually within 7 to 9 years of the original diagnosis. 

Why are such a large percentage of pre-diabetics becoming diabetic? The easy answer is that most people fail to make the proper nutritional and lifestyle changes to avert the development of the full-blown diabetes.

From a cellular biological perspective, if you understood the previous discussion about Type 2 diabetes (at the cellular level), then, you'll realize that pre-diabetes is actually the 1st or 2nd stage of the pathogenesis or cellular development of Type 2 diabetes.

Note: The first two stages Type 2 diabetes pathogenesis are insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Refer to the DTD book, health coaching program and online training class for more details about this.


Death to Diabetes Website Reference: 
http://www.deathtodiabetes.com/Death_to_Type_2_Diabetes.html

Diabetes Increasing in African-Americans and Other Groups

Many groups in the U.S. and around the world are developing diabetes at a faster rate today than they were 5 years ago. But, African-Americans are more likely to develop diabetes at more than twice the rate of other groups! 

                    

More importantly, even with all the latest information available about controlling and reversing diabetes with diet and exercise, many African-Americans prefer to remain diabetic while embracing fast foods and diabetic drugs.

Why? To sum it up in one word, some African-Americans are D.E.A.D. emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually.

Warning: If you are overly-sensitive about these types of issues, do not read this web page. 

African-Americans Are D.E.A.D.  But They Don't Know It! 

Many people in the U.S. (including African-Americans) have increased their annual consumption of fast food from places such as McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken -- even though most people know that these foods are bad for them. So, what's the real issue here?  Economics? Time? Convenience? Addiction? Lack of Motivation? Laziness? Lack of Knowledge? TV Marketing targeted at blacks? 

 

In recent years, fast food has grown to be a staple in many American diets; however, the percentage of African Americans that are consuming fast food products far outnumbers the percentage of other races. “African Americans between the ages of 20 and 39 were shown to have the most fast food in their diet when compared with their Caucasian and Hispanic counterparts, as one-fifth of their calorie intake came from quick service restaurants”, reports Afro.com.

                                  

This is alarming, especially considering that the country has slowly been shifting towards more healthy options. Many African Americans attribute their alarming support of unhealthy fast food to the higher price of healthier food choices or not having the time to prepare daily home cooked meals. “Fast food is quick and I don’t have time to cook with my lifestyle. I’ve gained weight but I think it’s because I’ve been less active physically since I graduated. I don’t even like fast food that much but it’s convenient”, said Kelli Williams, a 24 year old lab technician. This is understandable but there are much healthier fast food choices that are reasonably priced.

I See Dead People
Unfortunately, many people including African-Americans are D.E.A.D. inside -- they have become new version of "The Walking Dead". They may be alive physically, but, they're D.E.A.D. emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually.

Warning: Don't read the following if you are easily offended. These are the facts. Instead of getting offended, do something about it -- become a health advocate for your family.

D.E.A.D. stands for:

Denial or Dead Foods: Some African-Americans live in denial of what's happening to their health, eating dead foods and relying on drugs and doctors; and, telling you to "Talk to the hand".  They deny the seriousness of the disease by referring to diabetes as "a little sugar problem".

Some African-Americans deny that they have diabetes because they are ashamed of being diabetic. They deny that they need to change their lifestyle or eating habits due to the lack of knowledge. They deny that their poor eating habits is going to catch up with them and lead to diabetes and obesity.


Some African-Americans have the heads in the sand. They deny that they're fat and overweight by using terms such as "big-boned" or "thick" to rationalize that they're really not fat or obese. Really! They deny that their parents, siblings,  and other relatives have diabetes or have died from diabetes.  

Many African-Americans continue to eat a lot of "dead" processed foods that lead to diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. A life of denial makes life very difficult and leads to disaster -- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.

Ego: The egos of some African-Americans make them believe that "they're special" and that they won't become diabetic. Their egos prevent them from humbling themselves to address their ignorance and get educated about nutrition and disease. Other African-Americans don't believe that there's someone more intelligent than them that can actually help them. This is part of the "self-hate" complex that blacks have about themselves. Of course, blacks deny that this complex exists, but studies indicate otherwise, i.e the black-white doll Clark study.

Apathy or Ashamed: Some African-Americans are apathetic, giving up and accepting the fact that there is nothing that they can do to prevent diabetes or successfully fight their diabetes. Unfortunately, with apathy comes a lack of hope and sense of hopelessness that permeates throughout  many African-American families. 

In addition, some African-Americans are ashamed of being diabetic, which allows the disease to spread silently from generation to generation. 

When African-Americans are confronted with this reality of apathy and shame, many of them become angry and tend to complain and attack people like the author, who ironically has the solution to their problem. Other African-Americans are weak emotionally or lack the emotional support from family and  friends. Some are weak-minded and lack the discipline and will power to even want to fight the disease. Others love eating the toxic, fattening fast foods from McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc. 

Also, it's easier to drive to KFC  and pickup some chicken and mash potatoes than it is to steam some vegetables and bake some wild salmon at home. In addition, on the surface, it appears to many African-Americans that KFC and McDonald's are a lot cheaper than wild salmon and extra virgin olive oil -- but, many African-Americans forget about the high medical costs associated with being diabetic.

Disbelief: Some African-Americans live in disbelief that someone could actually reverse their diabetes after being so close to death -- due to their lack of knowledge about science and disease. In addition, they don't believe that they can successfully fight and reverse their diabetes -- especially if they've seen it happen to a parent or other relative.

As a result, they don't do the research to find out that thousands of people have actually defeated their diabetes. Others are shocked when their doctor tells them that they're diabetic. Some African-Amerians expect God to solve their health problems, when God has already told them what to do! (in the Bible). God also sends messengers, but some African-Americans ignore the messengers.

Note: To counteract being D.E.A.D., African-Americans and others have to become A.L.I.V.E. Read the next section for more details.

African-Americans Can Become A.L.I.V.E.!

Instead of being D.E.A.D., African-Americans can become A.L.I.V.E.

A.L.I.V.E. stands for the following:
Accountable and Active: African-Americans must become more accountable and responsible for their own health and. Some African-Americans need to stop blaming others and using negative energy to put others down.

In addition, African-Americans must become more active, and exercise on a consistent basis. Being active means more than just exercising for 30 minutes a day! Being active has to become an integral part of living each day.

Being active is a mindset, where you look for creative ways to move, i.e. walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator; walking on your treadmill or using your elliptical machine while watching TV or talking on the phone; shoveling the driveway, mowing the lawn, gardening. African-Americans must also "accept" the fact that they have a serious problem (diabetes) -- because that's the first step in solving a problem: recognizing that you have a real serious problem -- not "just a little sugar problem". African-Americans must also become more aware of what's happening to their health, the food, and the drugs; and, how this lack of awareness will affect their children and their children's children.

Live Foods: African-Americans must value life and learn to love eating "live" foods while eating a lot less "dead" foods in order to fight the diabetes, obesity, or other illness. "Live" foods include vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, plant oils, whole grains, and filtered water.  

When African-Americans learn how to live, they will find their calling, their passion and their purpose in life -- which will bring and joy and fulfillment throughout the family and community.  They must embrace the life that is calling them, and use that life to embrace the world.

Intelligent: African-Americans must recognize that true knowledge is power; and, that they must acquire that power to become more intelligent. They can become more intelligent by taking classes and doing their own research on nutrition, disease, and drugs. 

A good way to start the education process is to get several books on diabetes, wellness, and nutrition, including the book Death to Diabetes. Once they acquire the knowledge, they won't give up and they'll realize that there is something that they can do to prevent diabetes or successfully reverse their diabetes. 

ln addition, they must invest the time and be insistent with their family and doctor that they really want to change.

Value or Visionary: African-Americans must recognize that they have value and that they matter. And, since they matter, they must value their own health instead of taking it for granted and contaminating it with dead food and drugs. African-Americans must be visionary and see beyond just today, and realize that a long-term commitment to a healthy lifestyle will provide many rewards in the future. It will also send a positive message to their children, who learn their (good and bad) habits from their parents. That's how diabetes is passed from one generation to the next! -- poor eating habits and lifestyle! African-Americans must also be vigorous in their commitment to seek and acquire the knowledge to improve their health and financial well-being.

Effort, Enthusiasm, Energy and Empowerment: African-Americans must make the effort to change their lifestyle and eating habits with enthusiasm and energy, and use a lot of  emotion and passion to drive those changes.  

With this effort  enthusiasm, and energy, African-Americans will feel empowered and finally in control of their lives.  This, in turn will lead them to find their true passion and purpose in life. 

They must also have a certain amount of positive ego reinforced with supreme confidence and commitment to fight the establishment and the doctors, who will continue to push the drugs. 

Note: For more information, read the Death to Diabetes web pages about purpose in life, success, spirituality, and support. 

Disease Statistics for Black America

Health Conditions: In 2010, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide. 

Cancer  Facts

• In 2009, African American men were 1.5 times as likely to have new cases of lung and prostate cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• African American men were twice as likely to have new cases of stomach cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
• African Americans men had lower 5-year cancer survival rates for lung and pancreatic cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• In 2009, African American men were 2.5 times as likely to die from prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• In 2009, African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, however, they were 34% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
• African American women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, and they were 2.4 times as likely to die from stomach cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
• Blacks have approximately 30 to 40% more cancer and in some cases a 250% higher death rate than Whites.
• Life expectancy for Black men is 68.6 years old compared to 75.0 for White men (6.4 year difference) and Black women are 75.5 versus 80.2 for White women (4.7 Year Difference) This is a "six year discrepancy" for men and almost a "five year discrepancy" for women.

Diabetes Facts

• African American adults were 1.9 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
• In 2009, African American men were 2.2 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• In 2009, diabetic African Americans were 1.9 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
• In 2009, African Americans were 2.3 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

Heart Disease Facts

• In 2009, African American men were 32% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• African Americans were 1.45 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
• African American women are 1.9 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be obese.

HIV/AIDS Facts

• Although African Americans make up only 13% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 47% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2006.
• African American males had more than 7 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white males.
• African American females had more than 21 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white females.
• African American men were more than 9 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white men.
• African American women were more than 20 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.

Immunization Facts

• In 2009, African Americans aged 65 and older were 40% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group.
• In 2009, African American adults aged 65 and older were 30% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, compared to non-Hispanic white adults of the same age group.
• Although African American children aged 19 to 35 months had comparable rates of immunization for hepatitis, influenza, MMR, and polio, they were slightly less likely to be fully immunized, when compared to non-Hispanic white children.

Infant Mortality Facts

• In 2005, African Americans had 2.3 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
• African American infants were almost four times as likely to die from causes related to low birth weight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
• African Americans had 1.8 times the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
• African American mothers were 2.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.
• The infant mortality rate for African American mothers with over 13 years of education was almost three times that of Non-Hispanic White mothers in 2004.

Stroke Facts

• African American adults are twice as likely than their White adult counterparts to have a stroke.
• African American males were 60% more likely to die from a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
• Analysis from a CDC health interview survey reveals that African American stroke survivors were more likely to become disabled and have difficulty with activities of daily living than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.

Note: The above information can also be applied to other groups in America and around the world.