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In his ground-breaking book: ‘Releasing Fat’, Dr Ray Strand explains the underlying causes of one of the most prevalent threats to our health today. Syndrome X or ‘The Metabolic Syndrome’. Syndrome X is a sign of serious disruption of normal body function, and carries with it a HUGE risk for suffering from the following potentially catastrophic health conditions:

• Stroke,
• Coronary artery disease,
• Hypertension,
• Diabetes which is also becoming common in children and teenagers.

It all begins with what Dr Strand refers to as ‘carbohydrate addiction’ and ‘insulin abuse’.  In most cases this begins in childhood and adolescence through poor food choices.

Refined Carbohydrates

When we eat refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white flour, white rice,  most breakfast cereals and even potatoes, raw sugar and honey) they rapidly increase blood sugars which is the reason they are termed: ‘high-glycemic’.  This is in contrast to most fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are digested and absorbed slowly: these are called ‘low-glycemic’ foods.

When high glycemic foods are eaten, the body produces large amounts of insulin, in order to deal with high blood sugar.  Insulin allows the sugar to enter the body cells where it is used for energy, or stored as fat.  When you have eaten high glycemic food, you get a rush of glucose into the blood stream, followed immediately by a rush of insulin, which causes the blood sugar level to drop rapidly. When this happens you feel weak, shaky and STARVING. You crave more high-glycemic food to bring your blood sugar up to normal again.

Low glycemic foods

On the other hand, when you eat low glycemic foods, insulin releases slowly, blood sugars reach a plateau and stay constant for 3 - 4 hours then drops slowly . You feel satisfied and energized. When you feel hungry there are no strong cravings.

Carbohydrate addiction

This repeated cycle of consuming high-glycemic carbohydrates leads to ‘carbohydrate addiction’ followed by obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. You are literally abusing your own insulin. This eventually leads to the body’s becoming less and less sensitive to insulin.  Known as ‘insulin resistance’. The body compensates for this situation by making more and more insulin.  As blood insulin levels rise, many metabolic changes begin to occur: blood pressure rises, triglycerides (fats in the blood) increase, HDL or good cholesterol decreases, you begin to store fat in the mid-section (central obesity), and you develop greater inflammation throughout our body. This leads to a significantly increased risk in heart disease and diabetes.

Changing your diet

If you simply eat whole fruits, whole vegetables, and whole grains with just a few exceptions, you will be providing your body with all of the good carbohydrates it needs and your blood sugar will not spike.  In fact, they will allow you to become more sensitive to your own insulin, while at the same time increasing the fat releasing hormone, glucagon.

Changing your family’s diet is very important to avoid your children (as well as yourself) entering onto this vicious cycle.

High nutrition and low glycemic products can help.  Ask Cradle 2 Kindy for  more information about products that are available through independent distributors. (Article writen by Tony Reid. DTCM, DAc, CCP, MAACMA)

Tips:  Encouraging our children to eat healthy will incuse good habits for later in life.

Remember:  Avoid eating ‘junk’ food and filler foods which are often refined carbohydrate.  Provide low GI foods as an alternative. 

If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips.  Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.

How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help

Cradle 2 Kindy provide professional parenting advice for your child and assist with tips for good dietary habits. We can also help with suggested recommended food supplements for children and adults.   

Call now to book your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach on 1300 786 101 

Also see: What happens at a Coaching session?

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Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education purposes only.  Please consult with your doctor to make sure this information is right for your child.

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