Opinion

A doctor’s grim report is an avoidable bushwhack

This is a story that's all too common.

Before leaving her doctor's office, Jane was bushwhacked with news that was unbelievable and disturbing. A puzzled look on her face, she questioned how the doctor's diagnosis was possible and how it could to happen to her.

As Jane pondered the news, she reflected on how hard she had exercised and worked out every day. She assumed her diet was in tact because she ate the right types of food to the best of her knowledge. So to be informed that she was a diabetic was not something she wanted to hear, or believe – ever in her life.

The majority of individuals would feel the way Jane felt, I'm sure, if they were told that they had some type of ailment that could lesson their quality of life or even become life-threatening. Most would ask themselves: "What do I do next?" Or, "Where do I get the help I need?"

Being told what we can't have anymore doesn't jell with some people. That's because we as a society are creatures of habit. We want what we see, and when we get it, we don't worry about the consequences. In Jane's case, I'm willing to bet that she floundered at the dinner table and eventually succumbed to foods that inevitably led to diabetes.

When looking at the selection of food at the stores – such as processed dinners, chips, candy, fruit juices, sodas, pies, cookies, and cakes – they all look good and tasty. The way they are packaged and presented is very tempting, and we lose control and stuff ourselves like pigs. If some food were actually bad for us, would the merchants continue to sell it? Most definitely!

We are the victims of an overabundance of grease, butter and sugar, and thus the victims of society. If you think you're eating healthy, maybe you should think twice. For example, we are clogging our arteries and veins each day with life-threatening fats and cholesterol.

Food is like love sometimes. It can be very misleading, if not examined thoroughly. We must read food labels and examine them carefully to see the hidden ingredients. It doesn't take but a few seconds to differentiate good ingredients vs. bad ingredients.

Contracting diabetes is nothing to play with. Jane found that out, having to change her lifestyle to regain her health. If you're experiencing the same predicament, my advice to you is: Eat more fruits and vegetables. They are the building blocks to good health. The choice is yours – not anyone else.

Is it possible to make yourself heart attack proof, cancer proof and diabetes free? I think so. Most debilitating illnesses and diseases, I'm sure, are manifested because of years of bad eating habits and too much of eating the wrong foods.

The hardest part about making a dietary change is giving up beef, chicken, fish, pork and poultry. We have been misled in believing that animal products provide our only source of protein. This isn't true. We can get our protein from beans, grains and vegetables.

If you're looking for a meat substitute, there are plenty to choose. For example, ½ ounce of almonds equals one ounce of meat; one tablespoon of peanut butter equals one ounce of meat; two ounces of tofu equals one ounce of meat; ¼ cup of kidney beans equals one ounce of meat; ¼ cup of chickpeas equals one ounce of meat; ¼ cup of black beans equals one ounce of meat; one ounce of tempeh equals one ounce of meat; and a half plate of quinoa equals one ounce of meat.

Your protein doesn't have to come from animal products. However, if you are eating too much red meat, consider changing your diet – for a diet with far less red meat and more fruits and vegetables has been proven to prolong life. It can be challenging at times, but it will keep you away from the doctor's office.

You must eat to live and not live to eat!

(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He is the author of "47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes." He can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , visit him at www.cheftimothymoore.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)