Pardon me if this is wordy:

The attached article talks about the increasing threat Diabetes is having on many of us.  Some of you, or someone you know, is suffering from this disease even today.  This subject really hits home for me because last year,  a close friend lost his lifelong battle with diabetes. He was unfortunate to have had the very deadly type 1 form.

This Saturday, I will participate again in the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Tour De Cure Bike Ride across San Diego.  It is something I have done since 2012. This 100 mile ride raises money and awareness to help find a cure for this disease.  It is a grueling ride for sure, but I think about my friend and everyone today that suffers to push me along.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES:
The article, and ADA , recommends changes in our behavior when it comes to eating and exercising.
Studies have found that even losing 5 or 10 pounds can improve the quality of life for many overweight people.  I can say that losing weight is actually easy!!!  It is a formulaic process of reducing your calorie intake, picking healthy foods, and exercising.  Keeping it off is hard, but worth it...

 
ps..  this is TER, so reducing your weight can lead to better sex!   :

did it for me 15 years ago.  I don't really miss it and the benefits were immediate.  I hope to become completely free of it soon (vegan) but that takes real discipline.  I still eat some sweets and drink occasionally with friends, but diet and some moderate exercise really helped me.  


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It is a complete misconception that there are few nutrient rich fruits, nuts, or vegetables that fulfill our daily nutritional requirements.  

Case against Vitamin C supplements:  When I walk through Costco or CVS, I am amazed at the enormous jars of Vitamin C tablets for sell. Some will pack 1000 milligrams of Vitamin C in a single tablet.  Scurvy is EXTREMELY rare in the US and is brought on by Vitamin C deficiency.  However, the human body only requires about 100 milligrams a day and that can be found in a single orange.  

The main reason, I feel, most of us are so alienated from natural forms of food is because fast and processed foods are so readily available.  These companies that manufacture multivitamins have brain-washed us into believing that we need pills, powders, and juices to supplement our diet to be healthier.

Hogwash!

that he might be referring to Vitamin B12 deficiency, something that can come up if one is vegan (vs vegetarian) and does not supplement or throw in some very unusual foods into the diet. See link from a pro-vegan source.

I agree there is little evidence that most vitamin supplements benefit our health, and a recent study suggests some harm, not at a level to panic about, but certainly enough to make one question any benefits. I also agree we'd be a lot better off as a society if we ate more veggies. However, I believe, based on what I've read in research journals, that reducing added sugar intake has the largest impact on health; the studies are extensive and compelling, and there are even some that rule out general diet improvement vs only the sugar change.

I was more curious if you took any Protien supplements both vegans I know rely on them.  That just seems counterproductive.  

Sorry for getting sidetracked. LOL.  I am not vegan and, in fact, eat some meat (once every few months maybe).  My diet consists of mostly vegetables and dairy poducts.  B12 is not a problem for me since I still can find it in the things I eat and not supplements.

I also agree that sugars and our every increasing sedentary lifestyle are the real culprits for obesity in this country.  Still, I find it MUCH easier to bypass a steak dripping in blood on my plate and dig into a bit of strawberry pie.

So that is tommygunn's point I'm sure!!  Kudos to you sir and sorry for your loss. I really love seeing folks getting out and spreading the message that in order to be healthy, we need to make lifestyle changes

daily protein, a "hunch" will be the least of your problems.