What's changed, or is it a age thing?

wbjones wrote:

mtn wrote: My personal belief is that unless you are regularly working out, a quasi-vegan diet is probably the healthiest. I'm not saying don't eat meat--Lord knows that I eat way more than I should, but a plant based diet is likely going to be the best for long term health. My uncle (who is married to a Dietitian) has seen dramatic improvements on his health since he went on the China diet. He will freely go off of it for a meal, or even for a whole vacation (I saw him eat a bacon cheesburger on vacation last year), but his typical diet has a lot of rice, fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, etc., while leaving out meat, eggs, milk, etc. If you are working out, you'll need protein, and meat is the best source of protein.

and if you're diabetic, that takes away the rice and even the whole grains … though they cause less damage than the processed grains

But if you eat this way, you won't be diabetic (Juvenile excluded).

but I already am ….

my nutritionist (when I was first diagnosed) pointed out to me …that type II was the ONLY totally self preventable disease … that NO ONE need get type II diabetes … but that once you were a diabetic, that's what you were … a diabetic … I could keep it under control with diet and exercise … but I was a diabetic ..and that now carbs (of any kind) were my enemy … some more so than others, but all were the enemy

In school, I heard of an internal medicine doc that was curing Type II diabetics. He would admit them to the hospital, hook them up to IV fluids and not feed them for a week or two. Their bodies would loose the weight, their cells would up-regulate the receptors and they would be cured.

See, Type II diabetes is when your insulin receptors have down-regulated to the point that they don't turn on and suck in glucose. The cells are "insulin resistant." This is likely caused by having too much glucose around for too long. Take it away long enough, and the cells might (or do, according to what I heard) fix themselves. People might think it is a permanent disorder, but that's because it tends to hit in later years of life to people that won't lose the 50-100 lbs that put them there.

At 44, I can still eat whatever kind of crap I want and feel fine. Unfortunately....

Drinking, however, is a different story. Anything more than 2 beers or the equivalent, and I have instant headache and upset stomach.

My food portions and tolerance to greasy stuff has definitely diminished and I'm only 31 now. I could put it away in my eaely-mid 20s though

Lancer007 wrote: My food portions and tolerance to greasy stuff has definitely diminished and I'm only 31 now. I could put it away in my eaely-mid 20s though

I'm 29, and i've noticed a HUGE change just over the last 4-5 years.

Personally, I think its age. I used to be able to eat absolutely anything without fear or remorse. Now, if I even think about a bowl of ice cream I'm up until 3 a.m. feeling sick and I've gained 2 pounds the following morning. If I actually eat it, its worse.

Around 35 was when things started changing for me.

I'm not a good subject to talk about food etc tolerances with all the crap the docs are pumping through me, but I have discovered a new love for fresh fruit and veggies. I LOVE a cold Honeycrisp apple. Yum. FWIW, I can't eat the portions I used to for sure.

I have never been a junk food junkie, I avoid chips candy soft drinks etc as much as possible anyway.

A lot has to do with what you're used to...if you don't normally eat greasy foods, suddenly going out for a big cheeseburger and fries is going to affect your system more.

I have a problem with most restaurant food. I always blamed it on nitrates but have no real proof. I know that if I cook it at home it won't send me running to the nearest washroom...no guarantees with restaurants no matter how many stars they have.

Toyman01 wrote: So what's changed.

College Humor explains with Second Puberty (you're a little late to the party though)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veq4Oc8S7-I

In reply to HiTempguy:

I'm 51 and my digestive system is shot. I've learned a lot during the past year, and a good deal of my issues at least have stemmed from taking Advil and carbonated drinks. Not to get graphic, that that stuff can cause major havoc with the linings of your stomach and colon. There are many other triggers as well, but according to my gastro doc., these two things can particularly cause issues with most people given enough time.

I'm much more careful about what I eat and drink these days, and it does make a difference.

Getting old sucks on many levels....

In reply to Toyman01:

Is it just when you eat red meat? I thought I read something a month or so ago that said there is a virus that makes people allergic to red meat. That may include ham too? Just a thought.

So if I read all of this correctly, you're saying I shouldn't use corn syrup and caffeine as my primary dietary staples anymore? But.. but, what will I drink to keep me awake for days on end?!?!

The good news is starting this winter i'm going to start growing a bunch of my own veggies (and some fruit) with my grow light and then later in the garden. Last year I just grew cucumbers and peppers and it turned out I don't eat a lot of either of those, but SWMBO used a bunch of them when she was making Korean food. This year I got a bunch of different seeds for plants I actually DO eat, so I hope that'll help improve my diet a bit.

Also, you guys make me depressed! I'm 26 and from what I gather from your experiences, I'm about ready to start the inevitable and irreversible decline into old-ness. Thanks for the morale boost! OTOH my parents are both in their mid/late 60's, they eat applebees and dunkin donuts and crap like that for lunch and dinner daily, and neither have weight/digestion problems or diabetes or any of that. They are EXTREMELY active, though. I hope the genetics I inherited can overcome the sheer volume of mt. dew and coffee I consume daily.

I'm tempered in glucose.

Toyman01 wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I think it's a tolerance thing.

Damn, you might be on to something. I cut a lot of the crap out of my diet when I was diagnosed with hypertension. I may well have lost my tolerance to them.

I'm thinking the same thing. I've never been good with greasy or salty foods, but could handle a burger and fries without any problems. Now I try to eat that and I regret it almost right away. I'm almost 53 and been eating very healthy for the last 4 years or so.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

My buddy was diagnosed with type II and told he would be on pills the rest of his life. He said berkeley that, did some research and found something that sounds very similar to what you're talking about. He was only 160lbs, but on the high end of BMI for his height. He's also 60. He cut the calories (800/day), got down to the low end of BMI and his numbers have been good for over a year now. His doctor told him he was nuts.

As a type I diabetic, I wish I had type II problems.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

My wife had an alergic reaction to metformin (sp?). We were able to control he diabetes for quite some time with just diet until a number of other health problems caught up but it was much longer than her doctors thought would be possible.

I do think there is an age factor. Watched it in others, and animals, can see some of it in myself. From simple lactose intolerance to diverticulitis and other fun things.

Processed foods, well, there sure is a lot more corn syrup these days than back a few decades ago. Don't know how much has changed over the years with regards to all the interesting chemicals on the ingredients lists. Titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, formaldehyde, just don't like things like that being in my foods.

Food desert concept seems very real, particularly in America. That doesn't help either.

foxtrapper wrote: Food desert concept seems very real, particularly in America. That doesn't help either.

True, and it's been an issue for years. A friend of mine lived in a somewhat depressed area of Philly and usually drove to the suburbs to buy groceries. I could imagine those he lived near without a car and/or the income level he enjoyed would have that as an option. He didn't really care until he was diagnosed with diverticulosis after a severe attack that nearly killed him and he was forced to make major changes to his diet.

Ian F wrote:

foxtrapper wrote: Food desert concept seems very real, particularly in America. That doesn't help either.

True, and it's been an issue for years. A friend of mine lived in a somewhat depressed area of Philly and usually drove to the suburbs to buy groceries. I could imagine those he lived near without a car and/or the income level he enjoyed would have that as an option. He didn't really care until he was diagnosed with diverticulosis after a severe attack that nearly killed him and he was forced to make major changes to his diet.

Once again, Fiance is a dietitian... She runs a clinic for overweight kids, and they are usually lower income families. She has pamphlets advising people how to cook inexpensively, how to shop smarter, how to get the most bang for your buck in terms of quantity, quality, and health. I thought this stuff was obvious--a 24oz jar of peanut butter costs $3.00, whereas the 12oz jar costs $2.00. The bigger one is clearly the better deal, but that goes over most peoples heads apparently.

This problem really stems from a lack of education, both in the schools and at homes. Kids and parents don't learn how to cook healthy, they don't learn how to shop intelligently, and they see it is cheap to buy 5 McChickens. They frequent the fast food, despite it actually being more expensive (again, education). The fast food restaurants thrive, the grocery stores (which operate on about the thinnest margins possible) fail, and they move out. Then the problem is compounded, because now they don't have a grocery store, and the fast food is still there.

That's false math in many areas.

It is cheap to buy 5 McChickens, they're on the dollar menu.

Compared to the cost of buying 5 chicken breasts, a loaf of bread, head of lettuce, a tomato or two and an onion. The cost of having a working refrigerator to preserve them at home. The time involved in going to the store to get them, to prepare them. For many people, it just doesn't work well. Especially if they don't live in the right neighborhoods. Then the price tends to double or even tripple, and the time involved grows by hours.

Vs $5 and done in 10 minutes for the McChickens.

foxtrapper wrote: That's false math in many areas. It is cheap to buy 5 McChickens, they're on the dollar menu. Compared to the cost of buying 5 chicken breasts, a loaf of bread, head of lettuce, a tomato or two and an onion. The cost of having a working refrigerator to preserve them at home. The time involved in going to the store to get them, to prepare them. For many people, it just doesn't work well. Especially if they don't live in the right neighborhoods. Then the price tends to double or even tripple, and the time involved grows by hours. Vs $5 and done in 10 minutes for the McChickens.

Take out the time, and making it at home will be cheaper just about every time. Yes, I have done the math--assuming, of course, that they have a working fridge/freezer that will be on regardless.