Vegetarians in Paradise/Diabetes Magazines/Diabetes Publications/Kashi Salad

With this issue Vegetarians in Paradise continues the bean explorations of VOW, a diabetic who has discovered the importance of beans in her diet. In subsequent VIP issues VOW will enlighten our readers with the further Adventures of the Bean.

Adventures of the Bean #13

The Best Way to Fight Diabetes
Is Through INFORMATION

by VOW

Includes Recipe Below

The only problem with that is you really need to find the good stuff! There's a LOT of garbage information out there, especially targeting chronic, incurable diseases like diabetes. And please take note of the word "incurable." No matter what the hype, what the treatment, what the alleged results are, Diabetes can NOT be cured. It can be managed, it can be treated successfully, you can even be taken off medication, but it can never be cured.

So right off the bat, I'd eliminate any information that claims it can cure diabetes. Forget about Noni, about apple cider vinegar, about any combination of vitamins, minerals, herbals, or supplements, the Grapefruit Diet, or whatever else the Spam mail is touting this week.

I can't say enough good things about the Joslin Diabetes Center, at http://www.joslin.org/ . I've found a home on their message boards, where diabetics from all over the world congregate to share information, encourage one another, and also commiserate together. To me, this is one of the major benefits that the Internet has provided people: the ability to find a like-minded community that isn't limited by physical boundaries. If you decide to check out Joslin, you'll find me as a regular poster on the message boards, as "VOW," of course!

VOW I've found some great magazines about diabetes. They feature articles about recent developments, offer guidance in managing the disease, and provide recipes and even coupons!

Diabetes Health is published monthly, and a year's subscription (12 issues) costs $19.95. You can contact them by email at subs@diabetes health.com or by snail mail at P.O. Box 15368, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5368.

Diabetes Self-Management is published bimonthly, and a year's subscription (6 issues) costs $18. You can contact them through their website at http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/eds/magazine.cfm?sk=5WZ1 , by phone at (800) 234-0923 or by snail mail at P.O. Box 52890, Boulder, CO 80322-2890.

Diabetes Forecast is published monthly by the American Diabetes Association, and US membership dues are $28 a year, of which $21 is designated for the magazine subscription. You can contact them at the Membership Center, PO Box 444, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0444. The ADA also offers e-newsletters (free!) which are packed with information. Sign up at http://main.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EM_signup .

The biggest thing to know is that you aren't alone.

Salads can be enjoyable even in winter! You don't have to worry about getting in line at the office microwave to heat up your lunch, either! This recipe also includes some timesaving shortcuts, so you can have your salad and eat it too.

The basis of the salad is a grain mix offered by the Kashi company. The pilaf is a combination of seven grains plus sesame seeds, and one taste of this goodie-roonie stuff will have you coming back for more! If you can't find it at your market or health food store, you can buy it directly from the company http://www.kashi.com/heritage_pilaf.aspx?SID=1&Category_ID=58&Link_ID=41& .

These are whole grains, which means a delightful nutty flavor with lots of chewing, making it kind to your blood sugars. I prepare Kashi in my rice cooker, but you can also use a saucepan on top of the stove. This is the only ingredient that needs cooking in the entire recipe.

Kashi Salad

Combine everything in a large bowl and stir gently until thoroughly mixed. Refrigerate at least an hour, to allow flavors to mingle.

Makes eight servings, about one-half cup (120 ml) each.

Per serving:
195 calories
5 g protein
31 g carbohydrates
11 g fiber
5 g fat

This salad can be jazzed up with the addition of fresh ingredients, if you can find anything in the produce department of the grocery store that doesn't require a second mortgage to finance the purchase! Suggested fresh veggies would be diced tomato, diced cucumber, diced celery, diced radishes, diced onion, or wherever your imagination and pocketbook take you!

Click here for more Adventures of the Bean