Hemoglobin A1c and Diet: Are you really eating like you think you are
Hemoglobin A1c and Diet: Are you really eating like you think you are?
"I eat healthy, I exercise, and I'm not overweight like others, and I therefore expect that my diet is exactly as it should be."
That's what Mary thought, and she's not alone! Read more
Many people who come to Caring Medical for Prolotherapy for their painful conditions or sports injuries also get Hauser Diet Typing in order to optimize their health and healing. Her numbers were quite abnormal! Mary was no exception. At Caring Medical we test glucose, insulin, pH, and Hemoglobin A1c levels as part of the Hauser Diet program. To the surprise of many people, these results are often out of the normal range.
Risk for Diabetes. Commonly patients with elevated HbA1c levels are in a pre-diabetic condition, and will need to drastically change what they perceive as "healthy" eating habits. They are often following one of two types of diets. (1) The "SAD" diet or the standard American diet which is high in carbs, fat, and processed food, low in vegetables, protein, and good fats OR (2) the so-called "healthy" American diet that consists of low-fat, low-sodium, high carb diet. Both of these diets are not the right Diet Type for a person with high HbA1c levels.
What causes eleveated HbA1c levels? The culprit is a typically high intake of carbohydrates in various forms such as those mentioned above, as well as high fruit and/or fruit juice consumption. Interestingly enough, many of these individuals would rate their diets as healthy AND high in protein prior to their lab testing. However, things are not always as they seem. We recommend that patietns write down what they eat in a food diary. It is amazing what is revealed through these if the patients are completely honest! People also have misconceptions about what constitutes protein, fat, and carbohydrates as well. So we find that our book (The Hauser Diet: A Fresh Look At Healthy Living!) and diet materials help clear this up for many people and give them a whole new outlook on food!
How does testing HbA1c affect your health? Testing the HbA1c or glycosylated hemoglobin levels has been a very helpful tool for us in getting patients back on a healing path. Along with our Hauser Diet Typing results, we are able more fully assess our patients' average glucose levels over time, thus we know if their bodies are able to adequately process glucose (or sugar/carbs). In other words, this form of hemoglobin is measured to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over a prolonged period of time. Normal levels of glucose produce a certain amount of glycosylated hemoglobin, and as the glucose levels in the blood rise, so does the glycosylated hemoglobin. It basically gives you an idea of the average glucose levels from the previous months. When we change a person's higher carbohydrate diet like that of Mary's, to a higher protein and fat diet (such as the Hauser Lion and Otter Diets), the previously elevated HbA1c will go down.
To put it into food choices:
Before testing Mary was eating these foods: Fruit, juice, bagels, rice, potatoes, a few veggies, a small amount of chicken, pizza, sandwiches, snack foods, low-fat yogurt, low-fat ice cream, low-sodium canned soups, and the like.
After testing Mary was eating these foods: Beef, chicken, pork, eggs, salmon, avocado, salads, vegetables, quinoa, nuts, olive oil, and only 1 piece of fruit every other day.
But why do we care so much about the HbA1c going down? Poor blood glucose control and an elevated HbA1c increase the risk for poor healing. We treat people every day who have some sort of joint pain, and their goal is to heal and get better. High glucose levels compromise that goal.
The combination of Prolotherapy for the joint pain along with a proper diet has consistantly proven to be a successful means for patients to meet their goals of pain-free living with optimal health and well-being. Never underestimate the power of food!
If you have joint pain and are having difficulty healing, we would love to help you find a solution.
Please give us a call! 708-848-7789.
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