<p>Avocado on/in salad, avocados on cooked beans (black beans here today), avocados with a squirt of lemon or lime in their shell, avocado on a slice of cheese, avocados instead of mayo on a sandwich, avocados for vegan desserts, or avocado and bacon wrapped in lettuce (okay, may substitute turkey or ham or cheese), avocado on a slice of red pepper with a little arugula, avocado–maybe diced with a little cherry tomato on cucumber, avocados and friends stuffed in tomatoes …Yes, I love avocados too!</p>
<p>Speaking of diabetics, I think there is going to a be tidal wave of research on insulin and insulin resistance. Not because of thinking that it could be an avenue for progress on the obesity and Type 2 diabetes epidemics, but because insulin resistance is now being fingered as strongly associated with risk for many types of cancer including colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. It appears that insulin resistance is now a significant factor linking obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, PCOS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. </p>
<p>Because looking into the mechanisms of insulin resistance went against the grain of nutrition policy, there’s been almost no funding of research in the obesity field. But, with the links to cancer and cardiovascular disease becoming clear, insulin resistance research can’t be ignored. It looks like it’s becoming a hot area of research. This can only be good for diet/nutrition knowledge.</p>
<p>A sampling:</p>
<p>[Resisting</a> Insulin](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/06fall/insulin.html]Resisting”>http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/06fall/insulin.html)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This article explains how the overproduction of insulin (the effect of being insulin resistant) could drive the growth of cancer cells.</p>
<p>[Obesity</a>, Insulin Resistance, and Cancer Risk](<a href=“http://www.nypcancerprevention.com/issue/5/pro/pro_features/pre_ear.shtml]Obesity”>http://www.nypcancerprevention.com/issue/5/pro/pro_features/pre_ear.shtml)</p>
<p>This one, from Harvard, specifically fingers high sugar/high carb diets as a potential culprit.</p>
<p>[Insulin</a> and Colin Cancer Linked](<a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/11/insulin-and-colon-cancer-linked/]Insulin”>Insulin and colon cancer linked — Harvard Gazette)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Colon cancer survivors whose diet is heavy in complex sugars and carbohydrate-rich foods are far more likely to have a recurrence of the disease than are patients who eat a better balance of foods, indicates a new study by researchers at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
[/quotel]
</p>
<p>And, finally, an hour long roundtable discussion with some real heavy hitters at a medical conference last summer on obesity, metabolism, and cancer:</p>
<p>[Panel</a> Discussion Metabolism, Diet and Disease: Washington DC, 29-31 May 2012 Washington DC](<a href=“http://www.amiando.com/metabolism-diet-and-disease.html?page=805793]Panel”>http://www.amiando.com/metabolism-diet-and-disease.html?page=805793)</p>
<p>Things that unquestionably reduce insulin resistance and/or insulin levels:</p>
<p>1) Exercise</p>
<p>2) Fat loss</p>
<p>3) Calorie restriction (in general), but especially reduction in sugars and carbohydrates.</p>
<p>The cancer link will result in, at long last, funding the very simple research to determine if it is really carbohydrate restriction that drives the benefits of calorie restriction and whether you even need to reduce calories if you restrict carbohydrate. These are such basic unanswered questions that have gone unfunded as a victim the focus on low fat nutrition. But, if you need to know what prevents cancer, then I suspect the funding will get these questions answered. One of the researchers on this panel is doing rat studies at the University of Texas. He finds that cutting protein calories reduces cancer rates some. Cutting fat calories reduces cancer rates some. But, cutting carbohydrate calories reduces cancer rates dramatically.</p>
<p>If insulin resistance is a nexus among obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, then everybody and their uncle is going to start researching it as these are the things that are crippling our health care system with cost.</p>
<p>Yeah. It’s hard to resist eating a whole bag of tortillia chips with homemade guacamole, but like PlantMom, I’ve learned that guac is still pretty tasty eaten with a spoon. Ya’ll are making me crave some quacamole. Maybe as a side dish with some ancho chili crusted sea scallops for dinner tomorrow? Yeah, that might be the ticket…</p>
<p>I learned a good trick. Lots of fresh ground cumin makes yummy guacamole!</p>
<p>Good thoughts to accompany your travels, DadII.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Lulu tip, MOWC. On that note, I have found the holy grail of workout bras.
Guys, can skip this portion of the post.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.barenecessities.com/panache-maximum-control-ultimate-underwire-sports-bra-5021_product.htm?pf_id=Panache5021&search=30DDDD&manual_cm_sp=SlotLocation-_-R1C1-_-Panache5021[/url]”>http://www.barenecessities.com/panache-maximum-control-ultimate-underwire-sports-bra-5021_product.htm?pf_id=Panache5021&search=30DDDD&manual_cm_sp=SlotLocation-_-R1C1-_-Panache5021</a></p>
<p>This one is just perfect for those of us who do need more than just the shelf bra for support. Sizing is a bit different though. Per recommenders, I ordered the 34E, even though I am really a 34-36 DD.</p>
<p>2 hours cross country skiing.
I am ready for a nap.</p>
<p>Thank you idad for your interesting post above on insulin resistance and cancer. I will read the links, and follow the one you provided for Lustig, later. I have such a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that carbs are so evil, and I do hope that the fiber factor will be included, before they’re all condemned. I want the evidence from these studies of the future, now! But imagine how difficult it will be, if indeed a diet high in refined carbs does cause something like colon cancer, to change the way we eat (collectively) in this country. Alas, although the epidemic of diabetes seems to be generating a mild revolution, maybe a definite link to the big C will be the impetus for real dietary truth and change. </p>
<p>And, yes, I agree that cumin, along with a bit of mashed onion, garlic, maybe a touch of chile powder, lime juice, a few chopped cherry tomatos, a dash of salt, and a bit of cucumber for crunch, make a very delicious guacamole. Yes, sea scallops underneath sounds great!</p>
<p>Carbs aren’t evil. They are almost essential. </p>
<p>If it’s anything, it’s the chronic overconsumption of carbs that’s the problem. Lustig thinks sugar is the culprit is insulin resistance and, once you are insulin resistant, then the rest of the carbs are a problem because eating them causes unusually big insulin spikes.</p>
<p>In any case, exercise is the most consistently effective treatment for insulin-resistance.</p>
<p>Guacamole is good on bell pepper slices. </p>
<p>Did the Hops Challenge and the gym. Ran into a friend on the ellipticals so I did that bit at talking pace. No intervals.</p>
<p>Dad II, I’m sorry to hear you’re having some troubles. I hope it all works out for you.</p>
<p>Ran 3.02 miles trying to keep heart rate down. Mostly I kept it under 160, but the last hill it inched up to 180. I didn’t have any calf issues or other pains. I don’t usually like to run 2 days in a row, but I have a strange work schedule this week, including 4:30am today, which included donuts that I couldn’t resist, so I thought I’d just run them off.</p>
<p>I’m deciding between Santa Barbara and San Diego for a half later this year. Apparently these things sell out, so I have to make up my mind. H says yes to a weekend vacation either way.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Nice!</p>
<p>It’s going to be stretching and weights for me today.</p>
<p>Idad,</p>
<p>My aunt died of colon cancer. She was in her sixties. Extremely fit. Not obese in the slightest. Her husband and she ate a lot of deer meat he shot, vegetables they grew, etc.They were basically hippie types, but prosperous. The polyps run in the family. If anyone violates the gycemic index orthodox it would be my dad and older brother – both a little fat a and both are outrageous consumers of the “goodie”. </p>
<p>So far both fine.</p>
<p>I’ve had 7 polyps removed in 20 years now. All benign. I am 5’5" and always between 122 and 125. My last polyp was, according to my gastro doc, an “angry polyp”. So maybe I’m going to be om trouble down the road. My spouse eats low carb now and I try but wilt on it. </p>
<p>Hmmm . . . I’m thinking on this and going to follow it. First I’ve heard on it. My Aunt was a skinny, like me.</p>
<p>Spent a long time at the club before the game. 1 1/2 hours of stretch/ strength. Mile warmup. 10 x 133 meters. Mile warmdown. </p>
<p>Spending more and more time on the foam roller.</p>
<p>You can do everything right and genetics or environment or even a car accident can negate that. But it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do as much as you can. You’re getting your stuff checked and maybe that will keep you from problems.</p>
<p>3 miles, finished when the Y closes their workout areas (15 minutes early to allow for showers). Also worked out on the abs machine. Coughing and runny nose along the way.</p>
<p>Hope you beat that cold soon, BCE!</p>
<p>Brussels Sprouts, chicken sausage, goat cheese</p>
<p>Cals 1148
Fat 67 g
Carbs 55 g
Fiber 22 g
Protein 79 g
Sugars 20 g</p>
<p>Had a Super Bowl beer. It was worth it, though. </p>
<p>Cals 1181
Fat 51 g
Carbs 75 g
Fiber 15 g
Protein 82 g
Sugars 14 g</p>
<p>Those scallops sound good. That will be dinner tomorrow night.</p>
<p>1,359 calories, 22% carbs, 12 sugars. I felt like a little late snack and didn’t know what to have. So I went with Greek Yogurt. I bought some this morning for a low-carb alternative.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that calorie counts are pretty low for those reporting them here.</p>
<p>DadII, just saw your post, my thoughts are with you.</p>
<p>If you add all the calorie counts together, you probably have mine!</p>
<p>High carb day for me. Lima beans for my veggie and a big superbowl splurge – a fuji apple for dessert. One the plus side of the ledger, I didn’t eat a single Dorito.</p>
<p>Cals 1919
Fat 117 g
Carbs 128 g
Fiber 30 g
Protein 109 g
Sugars 39 g</p>
<p>No workout. Congested and headache this afternoon. Still not completely over this cold. So I took a nap instead.</p>
<p>sewhappy:</p>
<p>I don’t think the connection is with eating carbs, per se, and increased risk of cancer. It’s between insulin resistance & metabolic syndrome and cancer risk. Something goes haywire in the hormonal control of energy metabolism at the cell level.</p>
<p>One of the docs at the symposium was suggesting that we really need to be screening for insulin levels (so people with metabolic syndrome have a target to shoot for in lowering their insulin).</p>
<p>I think a lot of factors are aligning to make sugar the new bogey-man. I think the food industry will gladly throw sugar under the bus to protect corn. Lustig was mentioning in his interview that he is surprised at the lack of food industry counter to his book. This may be why.</p>