Voice of the Diabetic

Voice of the Diabetic

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BOOK REVIEWS

by Marilyn Helton

According to the National (USA) Diabetes Fact Sheet, released

November 1998, the prevalence of diabetes by race/ethnicity in people 20 years

or older was as follows: Non-Hispanic persons of African-American ethnicity

have the highest percentage of diabetics in their population (10.8%). This is

followed by Mexican-Americans (10.6%), American Indians and Alaskan Natives

(9.0%), and non-Hispanic Whites (7.8%). Diet, with regard to cultural diversity,

is a significant factor in diabetes, just as it is in cancer incidence.

THE NEW SOUL FOOD COOKBOOK FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, by Fabiola Demps Gaines,

RD, LD, and Roniece Weaver, MS, RD, LD, is the first African American cookbook

for people with diabetes.

According to the authors, when the first slaves arrived in Virginia around 1619,

common African-American foods included rice, beans, cornmeal, black-eyed peas,

sweet potatoes, greens and onions. Foods were usually flavored with meat scraps

(usually "fatback" from hogs), chiles from the Caribbean and molasses.

Although diets were predominantly vegetarian, with some fish, possum or squirrel

for flavor, foods were boiled, fried, roasted or baked. Stews and thick gumbos,

liberal use of molasses, and fat-laden gravies provided calories. African-Americans

used salt and sweeteners in abundance, but, due to long hours spent in hard

manual labor, suffered few ill effects from the excess.

Authors Gaines and Weaver show the reader how much of the hypertension, heart

disease, and diabetes plaguing the African-American population can be avoided

by making easy changes to traditional soul food recipes without losing too much

of the flavor. The basics of healthy food preparation and menu planning are

incorporated with suggestions for cooking with traditional herbs and spices,

along with advice for reducing fat, calories and sodium. Portion sizes are given

to aid in blood sugar control and weight loss, as well as complete nutritional

information and official ADA exchanges.

Now you can experience palate-pleasing soul food recipes such as Barbecue Pulled

Pork, Hoppin' John, Hoe Cake, Soul Slaw, Collards with Smoked Turkey, Chicken

and Dumplings, Key Lime Pie, Rice Pudding, Sweet Potato Pound Cake and more

in The New Soul Food Cookbook. Published by the American Diabetes Association,

©1999, $14.95.

I had a great time spending my Christmas cash gifts last year,

and one of my favorite treasures was DIABETIC DESSERTS, by Betty Wedman, PhD,

RD. (Ms. Wedman, past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators,

also authored the best-selling Quick & Easy Diabetic Menus).

In Diabetic Desserts, Betty Wedman offers people with diabetes more than 80

delicious and easy-to-follow recipes for desserts that are good-tasting and

health-conscious. I found myself in a full-faced grin as I read her dedication,

"To all those individuals with diabetes who thought I was unscientific

when I told them to use sugar instead of sugar substitutes in their recipes."

She bases her statement position on the most recent ADA guideline which states

that ". . . scientific evidence has shown that the use of sucrose as part

of the meal plan does not impair blood glucose control in individuals with type

1 and type 2 diabetes."

You can enjoy a wide variety of rich-tasting, delicious recipes for cookies,

cakes, muffins and quick breads, pies, tarts and tortes, puddings and custards,

crumbles and cream puffs, snacks, sauces and sorbets, as well as holiday favorites

and dessert beverages in this neat little cookbook. Wouldn't you just love a

taste of Cappuccino Pudding Cake, or a bite of a Macadamia White Chocolate Cookie?

How about Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, Chocolate Swirl Brioche, Mud Pie or

some Lemony Bread Pudding?

Each recipe in Diabetic Desserts includes complete dietary information, and

is based on the new American Diabetes Association recommendations and revised

exchange lists. The recipes are low in sugar, fat, sodium and cholesterol—making

these treats healthy as well as a sweet addition to your meals. If you have

a sweet tooth as finely tuned as mine, don't miss this wonderful dessert book.

I highly recommend it!

Diabetic Desserts, by Betty Wedman, PhD, RD., ©1996, published by Contemporary

Books, $12.95.

Please join me again as we explore our choices for some good

summer reading. Until then, stay healthy and enjoy every moment. Each one is

a gift!

Marilyn Helton, type 2 diabetic since 1993, is the publisher of CINNAMON HEARTS

--The Art of Living A Winning Diabetic Lifestyle, a positive-power online e-zine

for diabetics and their families. You can find more of Marilyn's book reviews,

articles and recipes online at: http://diabeticgourmet.com, www.fabulousfoods.com,

www.practicalkitchen.com, or Cinnamon Hearts website: http://members.xoom.con/cinnhearts/

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