Local, Green and Yummy -- Great New Diabetes-Friendly Recipes

Eating Well Can Be Good for the Environment and Your Health According to Diabetes Forecast

Green cars, green computers, and green appliances -- everything seems to be "going green" these days, but what about your diet? It turns out that for people with diabetes, green practices for meal planning can help the environment and benefit your health, too. The June 2008 issue of Diabetes Forecast, the consumer magazine of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), offers a trove of ideas and tips for turning your diet green, with a dozen great new recipes from Baked Italian Tomatoes to Plum and Nectarine Upside Down Cake.

It all begins with where you purchase food. Major grocery stores sell produce that is often harvested prematurely, meaning the fruits and vegetables are not able to develop the same levels of nutrients as their field-ripened counterparts. In addition, the food in American grocery stores has traveled from an average of 1,500 miles away, so fossil fuels must be burned to transport it. So where can you get food that is high in its nutritional content and does not cause pollution? From your local farmers, of course!

Farmers markets allow you to take advantage of the fresh foods that are grown near you in the spring, summer, and autumn months. There are more than 4,000 farmers markets in the United States where shoppers can find food that picked fresh from local areas. The money spent here goes into the local economy, and not to megafarms or transportation costs. According to Don Wambles, director of the Alabama Farmers Market Authority and president of the nonprofit Farmers Market Coalition, regulars at farmers markets rarely realize all the benefits of locally grown food. "It's the taste and the freshness that draws them back, and they eat more of it. They subconsciously become healthier eaters."

Another way to turn your diet green is to try going vegetarian. This could be as simple as eliminating red meat from your diet, or as drastic as becoming vegan (which means no animal products, including dairy and honey). Either way, Amy Campbell, MS, RD, CDE says that vegetarian diets can have a positive impact on blood glucose management. Consider getting started with some of the recipes found in this issue of Diabetes Forecast, including Cool Melon Salad, Vegetable Lo Mein, Hearts of Romaine Salad, and Grilled Salmon with Garlic Chard.

Also in the June 2008 issue of Diabetes Forecast:

Step inside the American Diabetes Association's National Call Center and learn how information specialists like Timothy Outlaw answer questions and provide callers with information. See why more than 100,000 Americans support their friends, families, and loved ones by participating in 180 Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes events (and raise millions of dollars, too!). Explore what researchers are doing with ADA grants as William Kwok, PhD, describes his work as he studies the role of T-cells in type 1 diabetes.

In addition, the June 2008 issue brings you information on diabetes research, including:

--  A connection is made between diabetes, carbohydrates, and esophageal
    cancer
--  The downside of being too thin: underweight older adults are at an
    increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
--  Big problems with oscillating between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
    

Diabetes Forecast has been America's leading diabetes magazine for 60 years. Each full-color issue offers the latest news on diabetes research and treatment. Its mission is to provide information, inspiration, and support to people with diabetes, helping them to live a healthier lifestyle, control their diabetes, and prevent or treat its many complications. The magazine is published monthly by the American Diabetes Association.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides services to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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