More than 100 people packed the Bear Hotel in Grants Pass on June 2 to hear Marcel Wiggers speak about reversing diabetes naturally. Attendance proved that, as diabetes rates in the United States increase annually, there is more and more interest in preventing this disease through a healthier lifestyle.
The event began with a prayer and a healthy Mexican buffet catered by La Burrita Restaurant. The low-fat, low-sugar meal was praised by guests. Some were surprised how full they felt so quickly after eating only plant-based foods. For these guests, this type of food was a new and enjoyable experience.
Wiggers’ discussion focused on insulin and how the body regulates blood-sugar levels. Most of what we eat is broken down in our digestive system into glucose. Glucose enters our blood and is used for energy. Insulin is necessary to unlock those “receptor doors” in our cells to allow glucose to enter. When people have normal blood-sugar levels, just enough insulin is released by the pancreas to allow cells to absorb glucose for energy. When the pancreas has to work overtime, destroying important beta cells, insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes usually follow. Cells do not respond to insulin that is produced because those “receptor doors” have been closed. The result is too much glucose in the blood, which must somehow be passed through the body. This is why excessive thirst, for example, can be a symptom of diabetes.
Wiggers stressed there is indeed a time and a purpose for medication. He was not advocating anyone discontinuing his or her prescribed medication. If a person has increased blood sugar or diabetes, regulating those levels is crucial. However, adopting a plant-based diet can often reverse the ravages of diabetes. Many can get off medication with a few lifestyle changes. Whole plant foods, eaten whole, will work with the body to produce healthy blood-sugar levels. Just as important, if not more so, is exercise. Wiggers couldn’t stress enough the importance of exercise, particularly walking. “Every little thing matters,” he told the group.
The Simply Delicious Plant Food Cuisine classes resume Sept. 7 with a focus on canning, drying and freezing. The Oct. 5 class will cover how to prevent and reverse lifestyle disease. The focus will be on simple meat-free dinners on Nov. 2, follwed by a lesson on edible and healthy Christmas gifts on Dec. 7. These dates are subject to change, so please check for updates.
Marcel Wiggers speaks in Grants Pass about how to reverse diabetes naturally.
