A book that could save your life

...or at least add some years to it

"A sprinkling of cinnamon adds flavor to apple pie and oatmeal—but did you know that it can also significantly lower your blood sugar? Or that pumpernickel is the best kind of bread for keeping blood sugar stable? You’ll want to discover these foods if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes—and even if you don’t, since keeping blood sugar steady is proving more and more important to weight loss, heart health, and even memory and critical thinking! Get off the blood-sugar rollercoaster and you’ll also have more energy and fewer junk-food cravings."

When I found out I was diabetic a couple of months ago, my mom ordered a book for me that has turned out to be an incredible help, and I have to share it with you--even if you're nowhere near being diabetic.

The book is Reader's Digest's Magic Foods for Better Blood Sugar.

I read the book with avid interest the moment I received it, and I've been making recipes from it for the past several weeks. (This past weekend, I made the lentil and bean chili and the apple bran muffins.) My husband and daughter have raved about the recipes, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that they're filled with good things for us.

One of the things I've noticed since I've been eating diabetically (to coin a phrase?) is that my cravings have been greatly reduced. This is just one of the by-products of getting off the blood sugar roller coaster. I am so grateful to my mom for giving me this book, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to make their diet healthier.

Eating to maintain stable blood sugar will benefit you in so many areas, not just diabetes-related. Many of these foods are rich in antioxidants and other things that help prevent things like cancer, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and even Alzheimer's and depression.

The book is so reader-friendly and informative, I find myself consulting it frequently. I'm trying to incorporate all of the "magic foods" into my diet, although I still haven't tried a few, like turmeric and jerusalem artichokes. For the first time in my life, I bought (and am using) things like whole wheat flour, flax seed and wheat bran!

It's actually put the fun back into cooking, too! I was getting into a real rut, but making things like pork chops with peach salsa and orange beef stir-fry has really--no pun intended!--spiced things up in my kitchen.

Here's a list of the "Magic Foods":


apples
avocado
barley
beans
beef
berries
bran
broccoli
brown rice
Brussels sprouts
bulgur
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
cheese
cherries
chicken and turkey
cinnamon
citrus fruits
coffee
eggplant
eggs
fenugreek
fish
flaxseed
garlic
Jerusalem artichokes
lamb
lemons
lentils
melons
milk
nuts
oats
olive oil
onions
pasta
peaches, apricots, plums
peanut butter
peas
pork
pumpernickel bread
rye bread
seeds
shellfish
sourdough bread
soy foods
spinach and other dark greens
sweet potatoes
tea
tomatoes
turmeric
vinegar
wheatberries
wheat germ
whole wheat bread and flour
yogurt