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Defeat Diabetes Foundation

Defeat Diabetes
Foundation
150 153rd Ave,
Suite 300
Madeira Beach, FL 33708

Nutrition

So much of a diabetic’s health depends on proper nutrition, but many of us aren’t really informed about the importance of various aspects of the nutrition equation. Click on the links to get the basics: More

The Importance of Food in the Diabetic Equation

10,000 years ago, man was primarily a hunter-gatherer. We ate the plants and animals that were part of our natural environment and traveled with the food supply. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors sampled as many as 800 varieties of plant species (there are nearly 150,000 edible plant species on earth), and while meat was an important component of their diet, consumption was limited, since storage and preserving techniques were not developed yet.

Healthy Eating

It seems simple enough. The problem is that everywhere we look there's cheap, convenient and extremely unhealthy food. Because of this, the United States is battling an obesity epidemic, while at the same time starving for critical nutrients. More

Add Color to Your Diet - Your Best Self Defense Against Diabetes

What do we mean when we say add color to your diet? Fruits and vegetables are filled with COLOR and not just one COLOR they come in many COLORS and shades of those colors.

Remember that there are about 150,000 species of edible plants on earth and our hunter-gather ancestors ate about 800 of those. The average American eats many fewer. More

Whole Grains

We eat too many refined foods. By refined we mean processed. Processing removes many of the beneficial nutrients in our food. Our ancestors didn’t eat refined foods, and while they may not have enjoyed our longevity due to factors such as injury or disease, it’s a good bet that most of them didn’t die from heart attacks caused by cholesterol or high blood pressure. More

More Fiber Improves Diabetes Control For Type 2’s

A study suggest that people with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes can lower their blood sugars significantly by increasing the amount of fiber in their diet.

This study reinforces the importance of encouraging patients with type 2 diabetes to eat fiber. However, the amount of fiber used in the study is 50 grams. If a person with Type 2 diabetes decides to add fiber to their diets, it is important that they begin to increase fiber GRADUALLY (by 3-5 grams/day) to prevent bloating. Also, people need to consume at least 8 cups of decaffeinated beverages each day, as a high fiber diet without enough fluid can lead to constipation. More

How to Read a Food Label

Federal rules require , nutrition labeling is required for most foods, certainly all packaged foods. But reading and understanding a food label can be a challenge. Here's a guide to help you decipher a food label.

Nutrient Content Claims

With the new focus on health, and the preponderance of “low” diets -- low fat, low sodium, and low cholesterol, the food industry has been making claims about their products that have led to much confusion in the marketplace. This often makes it difficult for consumers to make appropriate choices about packaged foods. More

How to Buy Fresh Foods

There is a concerted effort on the part of nutritionists, dieticians, chefs and the general public to purchase and serve food that is locally grown and seasonal. But it can be challenging to know what and how to buy. More

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables should be an important component of your diet. In fact, it is about the only element of your diet that scientists and policy makers CAN agree on. So eat up!

If you want to learn more about fruits and vegetables visit our fruit and veggie pages or download nutrition facts posters.

Need to know what's in season?

Fresh vs. Canned vs. Frozen

First of all, the good news is that whether it’s fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced when it comes to consuming fruits and vegetables ALL ways are good. More

Organic vs. Conventional Farming

There is a difference between organic and conventional farming techniques though 56% of Americans don't know the difference. Is organic food really better for you? More

Recipes

Healthy eating is an important part of the self management of your diabetes. But eating doesn't have to be boring or bland. We've developed a healthy mix of healthy recipes that fit your tastebuds and aren't difficult to prepare. More

How to Store Fresh Vegetables

Most fresh vegetables need to be stored in the refrigerator to stay fresh for very long. Store vegetables at room temperature only if you’re using them that day. Vegetables differ in how long they stay fresh stored in the fridge: More

Eat for a Healthy Heart

Diabetics are twice as likely to develop heart disease. To start making heart-healthy choices, here are some tips from the FDA. More

Meatless Mondays

Going meatless, even once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also reduce your carbon footprint and conserve fresh water and fossil fuel. Learn more.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are the embryos of plants and various trees which contain all the genetic information and nutrients needed to grow a new plant. They are a natural and tasty snack food that gives you energy as well as good health. Nuts are very healthy and nutritious.

Updated March 20, 2012