Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition -- Comments by Dean Ornish, MD

Dr Ornish and his colleaques have been conducting research on the effects of nutrition on chronic diseases for about 30 years, and have published their work in many peer reviewed professional journals.

Dr. Ornish has documented, scientific evidence that his recommended approach works for preventing and even reversing chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes. His approach includes a healthy nutrition strategy, mild exercise, social support, and stress reduction techniques. He suggests people move from a less healthy lifestyle to a proven healthier lifestyle based on their condition and desires. He gives people a spectrum of lifestyle and nutrition choices. He doesn’t take an all or nothing approach. However, he has shown that to REVERSE as opposed to PREVENT chronic diseases, it is necessary to move to the most healthy end of his spectrum of choices. The healthiest end of his nutrition spectrum is an all vegetarian diet.

Dr. Ornish’s program has been proven to work, and is similar to studies reported by other internationally respected researchers and practicing physicians showing similar successful results. I encourage you to buy Dr. Ornish’s book and read it, again and again. Here are some excerpts –

Source: The Spectrum (A Scientifically Proven Program To Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, Gain Health) – by Dean Ornish, MD

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Like the obesity pandemic, and a large part because of that, diabetes has become epidemic. It’s the fastest-growing disease in United States, …

Diabetics have a shorter life expectancy than people without diabetes.

The consequences of diabetes are serious -- eye damage that can lead to blindness, kidney damage that can lead to kidney failure, nerve damage that can lead to impotence, damage to the arteries in the heart that can lead to coronary heart disease, and damage to the arteries in the arms and legs that can lead to amputation. …

The good news, is that diabetes is usually preventable or even reversible for those who are willing to go far enough toward healthy and of the spectrum, both adults and kids.

To prevent type 2 diabetes, move toward the healthy end of the nutrition, exercise, and stress management spectrums. To reverse diabetes, you need to move even further. …

If (your blood sugar) is a little high, you can begin by moving a little in the healthy direction on the spectrum and measuring your blood sugar again in a month or two later. If moderate changes are enough to bring it down, great; if not, you can go further in the healthy direction on the spectrum. … If you have diabetes, you may want to begin by going even further in the healthy direction on the spectrum. Repeat your testing; if necessary, go even further.

If you are taking diabetes medications, talk with your doctor before changing your amount of exercise (or diet or stress-management techniques), as they may reduce your need for medication. Otherwise, your blood sugar may get too low and you may become hypoglycemic.

If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar closely as you begin your Spectrum plan for diet and exercise. You may see big changes very quickly.