Health&Wellness Magazine October 2015 | Page 20

20 & October 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net | Like us @healthykentucky ‘Oat Bran Doctor’ Promotes Benefits of Simple Lifetime Diet for Diabetics Everyone can learn to better manage their health By Dr. Tom Miller, Staff Writer For advances in diabetes, clinical care and research at the University of Kentucky and the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., have over the past four decades influenced weight management and diabetes treatment and care in this country. Dr. Jim Andersen has led a team of specialists to address diabetes and how diet plays an important role in the healthy management of one’s diabetic condition. In doing so, he gained the name “The Oat Bran Doctor.” Oat bran is the outside casing of the oat grain. It can be harder to find than other oat products, but you should be able to buy it at specialty or health-food stores. Research reveals oat bran offers significant amounts of fiber, protein and selenium. It can be eaten on its own cooked in milk or water or added to baked goods, poultry stuffing and salads to boost your fiber intake and overall nutrition. Oats contain several B-family vitamins, including vitamin B-1, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B-6 and folate. Together, these vitamins aid in metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nucleic acids found in food, helping the body access energy and control metabolism. Among Anderson’s publications is a book written for the lay person but based on scientific research conducted in Lexington. “The Simple Lifetime Diet” is a health-promoting diet for everyone. It encourages the use of high-fiber fruits and vegetables and whole-grain foods as well as protein sources such as low-fat dairy products and lean meats such as chicken, turkey, fish and very lean cuts of pork and beef. This diet is especially beneficial for persons with diabetes, high blood pressure or blood fat abnormalities. Anderson has summarized the research that shaped the benefits of this diet at www.andersonsimplediet. com. Among those benefits are the prevention and reversing of diabetes; lowered blood pressure; and “fixing” blood lipid derangements. The Green Light Calorie Guide guides you in the daily intake of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables; three servings of whole-grain cereal, bread, pasta or rice; two servings of low-fat dairy products; and two 3-ounce servings of lean meat such as chicken, turkey, fish or p ܚ