Sunday, June 30, 2013

THE PROOF IS IN THE (LOW CARB) PUDDING and Chocolate Coconut Brownies

It has now been 6 months since my son was diagnosed with insulin dependant diabetes. As I refused to sit back and allow this disease to destroy his life, I launched into hours and hours of research about the best way to manage it. I chose to change our whole family's lifestyle by following the paleo/low carb plan for eating and exercising. The results have been significant for all of us, but especially for our son. I have met a lot of opposition to the low carb lifestyle, but as I have a health science background, the physiological explanation for it makes total sense to me.

He had his first HbA1c blood test a few days ago.  The HbA1c blood test indicates the amount of blood cells which have been glycated (glucose sticking to blood cells) over the past 3 months.The normal reading for the HbA1c blood test is between 4 and 6. My son's reading was 5.5!!! Completely normal.


If you would like to know more about the paleo/ low carb lifestyle, have a look at these websites, which are the main ones I follow. I am not exaggerating when I say they has saved my son's life.

www.marksdailyapple.com

www.wheatbellyblog.com

www.mariahealthy.blogspot.com

www.drbriffa.com


So, what is my little secret to maintaining normal blood glucose readings? It's no secret; don't eat lots of glucose! Such a simple concept. What makes your blood glucose levels go high? Glucose. What causes high HbA1c readings? Glucose. Where is glucose found? In most of the foods of the modern unhealthy diet. A few examples are: wheat, rice, oats, rye, barley, tapioca, legumes, fruit, corn, potatoes, pumpkin, beans and peas. Almost all processed food contains wheat, high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Some food promoted as healthy are full of carbohydrate and grains, such as breakfast cereal and bread. My son does not eat it. All of these foods have been eliminated from our diet, with the exception of small amounts of fruit for the antioxidant value.

I think it is a massive tragedy that diabetics are told by "experts" that they should base their diet on carbohydrates. So many diabetics suffer from awful complications, which are mostly preventable using diet and exercise.

Without elaborating, the above websites will clearly explain why foods full of glucose are not necessary, and which foods provide optimal nutrition.


To celebrate, here is my recipe for low carb chocolate coconut brownies with chocolate glaze..... (I can prove to you that low carb cooking and eating is NOT restrictive, or bland, or boring.)


INGREDIENTS

100g sugar free dark chocolate
 50g sachet of coconut milk powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon of dutch cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
2 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoon xylitol or stevia
1 1/2 cups almond meal

Melt together the chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave. I do it in 30 second bursts, and stir between each one (chocolate can burn easily in the microwave)
Beat in the eggs, coconut powder, xylitol, cocoa and baking powder. Lastly, mix in the almond meal. If it's a little thick, add a tablespoon of milk or cream.

Bake in a square baking tin for about 20 minutes in a medium heat oven.

 

When brownies have cooled, add the glaze. My son actually made this glaze by himself (don't know how he knew how to make it!) Melt in the microwave 50 gm of sugar free chocolate. Then mix in 1 tablespoon of full fat cream. Spread over the brownies.
Total mixture including the glaze is 54.7 gm carbs. If you cut into 16 pieces, then it is 3.42gm carbs per serve.
 
Serve with a dollup of whipped cream. Simple, decadent and something my son can eat it whilst still resulting in normal HbA1c readings.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

WHEAT FREE CHICKEN SCHNITZEL and another win to Hawthorn

This is really easy. Thin out chicken breasts by butterflying them. Then dip into beaten egg, and dip into almond meal. You can add some grated parmesan to the almond meal for extra flavor. Shallow fry in macadamia nut oil until golden.

You can then add a topping. Here I used avocado and cheese. Place under the grill to melt the cheese. Another topping I love is chopped tomatoes with cheese.
I served mine with buttered green beans and cauliflower cooked in cream and cheese. Best of all, no blood glucose spike after eating!
 
The Hawks won another match today, making it 12 straight wins in a row. I am a very happy Hawthorn supporter. Just wish they would play a match in Queensland so I could go and see them.

SWAROVSKI NECKLACE

Since my son started rowing, I spend a lot of time by the river. As he has diabetes, I need to be close by in case of any medical emergency, and to look after his insulin pump. He currently rows 6 hours per week, so that's 6 hours I have to sit in my car, or by the riverbank. But, I don't like to be idle, so I either sit in my car with my laptop doing booking keeping for my business (Yuck!) or I do beading.

Yes, I look like a weirdo sitting with a booklight making jewellery in the backseat, but I love it. I bring some coffee and have the radio on - it's quite cozy. So, here's one of the finished items, all produced in my car. Beading on the riverbank is a bit more challenging, as you have to contend with the wind and mosquitoes. But, it can be done.

Do you like?

Sunday, June 23, 2013

ROWING

 Last weekend we flew to Rockhampton for the Central Queensland Rowing Regatta. Rockhampton is a country town in Central Queensland. The regatta was held on the beautiful Fitzroy River.

My son's quad team came first, and beat the other crews by a big margin.
It was a huge thrill for our son, who has endured so much physical and mental pain since he was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes 6 months ago. But, we are determined that diabetes will not stop him from living a wonderful life.
Another exciting win for my football team Hawthorn, which makes it 11 wins in a row.
So all in all, a very happy weekend for me.
 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Roses Necklace

I made this using the beads I purchased in Singapore.

And gift wrapped it with Marimekko paper.
The Hawks have now won 10 games in a row. Looking good for the grand final.
 
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Friday, June 7, 2013

SINGAPORE SHOPPING HAUL #2



Lots of cute stationery.



Nice things to frame and display in my home.

 Pretty fabric from Arab Street.

 Beads from Chinatown and Arab Street.
I think the beads are my favourite purchase. I wish I'd bought more.  A lot of these cannot be found in Australia.
 



I've already made a few things with these beads, which I will post soon.

Monday, June 3, 2013

HAWTHORN DOES IT AGAIN

Do you enjoy watching men run around a grass oval chasing a ball as I do? Click on the link below to see why my football team is top of the AFL ladder.


http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=552360


 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

SINGAPORE SHOPPING HAUL

For those readers who enjoy looking at shopping hauls (as I do). Here are my purchases from Singapore, in no particular order. And, before you judge me for being materialistic, many of these were bought as gifts for up coming birthdays.
 
 
I saw many ladies in Singapore wearing these very comfortable looking flip flops. I finally found them at Footin in Vivo City, just as we were dashing to the airport. They are amazingly squishy and so comfy to wear. I wish I had bought more pairs now.
Some colourful handbags from Bugis Street Markets.

 
Tea from Chinatown, which I bought mainly for the gorgeous tins.
 Really love drinking this Raffles tea.
Various items of Japanese make-up.

Stationery from Kinokuniya.
The obligatory Japanese craft books from Kinokuniya. A girl can't have too many craft books. I've already made a couple of the Disney beaded creations, and about to start on sewing bag now.

 We are thinking about buying a puppy for our son and training it to become a diabetic alert dog.
 French craft magazines are also a favourite of mine.
 
 Gorgeous embroidered greeting cards from Tangs, which I plan to frame.
 Earrings from Forever 21
Ring from Denny at Singapore airport.
 My favourite Japanese shampoo - smells like peaches.




From Muji. Intend on using the acrylic storage container as a display case for my beaded cakes.
More shopping haul next post.