Diabetes...Paula Deen

 We have heard a lot about Diabetes in the news lately due the news that Paula Deen, best known for high fat butter laden recipes, is diabetic.  It comes to no surprise to most of us, what was a surprise is the fact she did not announce it, she does not attribute it to her cooking and she announced on the day her commercials were released promoting a Diabetes Drug.  She could have announced this news even earlier, weeks earlier when she appeared on Dr. Oz to reveal a secret.  She has been a smoker.  She could have also told at that time she is Diabetic, remind you this was just a few weeks prior to her announcement of behind Diabetic. 

I am not angry, disgusted or sad at her decision to release this information on the same day of her ads for this drug.  Paula only cooks as she was taught to cook, I imagine.  I am sad that she claims she has always expressed to have her food in "moderation".  Now, I have enjoyed many of her shows because she is a hoot however at no time have I ever heard her say on any of her programs or guest appearances on daytime shows has she ever said moderation.  In fact she has always said "oh that needs more butter", or "that needs more cream".  She seems to have only given up her sweet tea. 

Ironically, just weeks before her revealing this news her son comes out with his show where he turns her food into healthier, diabetic friendly versions of her food.  It seems this was all in preparation for her news as if it is someway to lessen the importance that her cooking style has no bearing for her health condition.

 I just believe that is not responsible to her fans, to people suffering from diabetes and to herself.   There are many other resources that have offered to help Paula Deen such as Food Matters and PCRM who wrote an article pleading to help.  I am surprised she referenced Dr. Oz as someone who is helping her because he would never recommend her current dietary choices to remain intact. 

It is just sad because Diabetes is one of our society's enormous problems that is costly to all of us who pay health premiums.  As diabetes, obesity and heart disease rise so do our health costs including our health insurance costs even if you are a healthy individual you are paying for those who have these issues caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.  Yes there are those who contract these diseases from genetics but most of these diseases are contracted by what we eat.

People that are famous from television, films, or sport whether they like it or not are a role model to the very people who follow their activities.  Yes I have my own mind to make my own choices, however it is not responsible to claim her cooking style has no bearing on her diabetes when there is enough medical and scientific evidence on the contrary.

I enjoy Paula Deen and her sons, I just hope she seeks alternative assistance and looks at her food choices.  She could really impact a lot of people if she did. 

Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body can no longer regulate glucose within normal limits then glucose levels become dangerously high.

Left untreated:  blindness, seizures, stroke, kidney failure, nerve disease and cardiovascular disease. 

Type 1 Diabetes

What is it? - it is where the body can no longer produce enough insulin.  People with type 1 diabetes eat a meal and their blood glucose rises but then the pancreas cannot secrete insulin in response.  As a result the blood glucose levels soar. Mostly diagnosed between age 10 - 14 and has genetic link, only known treatment is pill or injections.

Type 2 Diabetes

What is it? - it is where the body becomes resistant or less responsive to insulin.  This type of diabetes it is progressive, meaning it develops over time.  Obesity is the most common trigger as well as sedentary lifestyle, age and poor eating habits (high fat, highly processed foods). 

We cannot do anything about getting older or genetics but we certainly have control over the other risks such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor eating habits.

Food for thought (pune intended)...

~Deanne

*Paula Image from Google Images



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I am not a person who normally has crushes on celebs but I will be the first to admit I have a crush on Orlando Bloom.  Even more so now after learning he is quite the greenie!  He may have some hygiene habits that may leave you wondering if you can handle it but I think some of us could get over it.  His girlfriend has commented on his water conservation when it comes to the shower.  Aside from that he has traveled to Antarctica with Global Green USA to study the effects of global warming on our polar ice caps and helped launch Global Cool.  Well if that wasn't smart of them getting one of the most good looking and coolest guys to launch a green campaign.  Now if they can get Johnny Depp in there too!

~Deanne



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Now how can you not love Sting?

I have been a fan of Sting since The Police and love how he speaks of his wife.  Of course we all know the tantra yoga he stands behind for keeping up the spark in his marriage.  But do you know Sting and his wife saved 71000 square miles of rain forest.  Rain forests are a huge part of our eco-systems, without them all will be lost.

~Deanne



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Cameron Diaz....she happens to be one celeb I wouldn't mind getting to know.  She seems so down to earth and real.  I loved her reality show Trippin that was on MTV about eco-traveling.  She makes eco-living cool.  She seems to be behind a lot of causes that affect our environment maybe because she is such an outdoors person!

~Deanne

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You can't talk about celebrities who are embracing the green movement without talking about Ed Begley JR.  Where do I even begin?  Who killed the electric car? His reality show Living with Ed with his wife where you can see his environmental passion presenting itself in comical relief.  He finds everything possible to keep his house as eco-friendly as possible even if that means inventing or creating the product he needs himself.  Check out this great site.

~Deanne

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I was pleasantly surprised to see this lovely celebrity, Salma Hayek, is a member of the board of Global Green USA.  One of her initiatives that she is fighting for is clean drinking water because believe it or not there is like 2.5 billion people without clean water to drink.  Horrid!

Of course she has solar panels on her home and she opts to drive a hybrid......I think I am liking her a little more already!  Let us not forget she does believe in breast feeding her baby too, very environmentally friendly.

~Deanne

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For some reason we hope that our celebs do the same things we do in our own homes.  So isn't it great that we know Gwyneth Paltrow composts!  She is well known for a love of organic pro-biotic diet as well.  Dang it if she can do it why can't we.....hahaha.  Just teasing, I just love to see more celebrities being responsible with the environment no matter how big or how small their commitment maybe.

~Deanne



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Most of you think of weed when you hear the name Willie Nelson but to many of us in the green world he is well known for being the father of alternative fuel.  Yes Willie started a bio-diesel alternative fuel station back in 2004 in of all places TEXAS!  I mean don't forget he has been fighting for the American farmer forever!  Go BioWillie!

~Deanne

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Fashion guru I am not....but I certainly love to follow designers who put their passion for the environment into their clothing designs.  Stella McCartney, yes the daughter of that famous Beatle dude, is a vegetarian who gives vegan clothing a high style.  Her studio is powered by wind energy and although I can not afford her clothes her shoppers are given the choice to ship their purchases carbon neutral.

~Deanne

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Oh Leonardo Dicaprio, how shall I love thee let me count the ways.....

One of the most out spoken celebs next to Ed Begely JR on the environmental.  He doesn't just talk the talk or do a documentary on the environment....nooooo.  He goes out and gets a place in New York that is green.  It has rotating solar panels, a bike storage area, low-emission paints and stains, fresh air treatment system, in-house water treatment system and gosh darn it even a bidet.  Don't forget he will even show up at events in his hybrid car.  Now if we can get him to start wearing some eco-friendly clothes he will nearly be the perfect green celeb!

~Deanne

Royal Wedding Prince William and Kate

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OK I will admit I watched every last minute of the wedding.  I was awake anyway with insomnia so why the heck not.  Honestly I wanted to watch it, I remember his mother's wedding, I was 9 years old.  Besides there is something endearing seeing Prince William find his bride.

There are two things I take away from watching the entire event. 1) how organized the police kept the crowd and 2) how quickly the trash was cleaned up.  I am left to wonder just how much trash was created and where it all went to in such a hurry.  It would have been great to see how much of the wedding was "green" since his father is a huge environmentalist!

~Deanne

More and more stars are getting into it.....



William H Macy married to Felicity Huffman recently built a chicken coop on his 6 acres in California.  First I hear Reese Witherspoon has now I see William has, it is a sign I need one too.  Their kids get up every morning to collect the eggs for breakfast.  What a way to know exactly where you food comes from!!!

Deanne

Brad Pitt loves the Earth!

Seriously, he loves it.  Brad has been going green since 2004 when he purchased hybrid cars.  He's made the biggest green mark on the world of green building and sustainable design through his support for the rebuilding projects in New Orleans.

In 2007 Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased an Eco-friendly winery in France, Chateau Val Joanis.  Along with organic grapes, the property also boasts a sustainable vegetable and herb garden that “makes up the first terrace” in addition to an olive orchard and loads of flowers and fruit trees. The estate seems to be one-of-a-kind, and we concur with Ecorazzi that we hope the Jolie-Pitt family recognizes its beauty and continues to operate with the green values of its previous owners.

If they can focus on going green with their gaggle of children, so can you!

Patience (guest blogger)

Elizabeth Hurley



"I converted my farm into organic status. I grow all of my own crops and have my own livestock." (www.treehugger.com)

So many celebrities hitting the environmental craze, glad I am not the only greenie.  I may not have crops or livestock but I have my little organic garden that saves me about $2400.00 per year in food bills. 

D



Hal Sparks!

Seriously looks, intelligence, funny, environmentalist and a vegetarian.  Do I need to say more?  If you don't know about Hal check out his twitter page and web site.  He was recently on a local news show and I was and still am so impressed with the amount of knowledge.  I vote him for President!  I am for sure enamoured with Hal.

Deanne

Edward Norton

This leading man has been leading the way for green celebs since 2003, when he helped create the BP Solar Neighbors Program. Each time a celeb has a solar electricity system installed on their house, BP donates a system to low-income family. Norton was the first to do it — he thought it up, when having solar installed on his home.He also has convinced other big names like Will Ferrell, Robin Williams, and Tom Hanks to do it; fellow list-mates Brad Pitt, Ed Begley Jr., Jack Johnson, and Daryl Hannah are also proudly on the list. A great example of how celebs doing good helps everybody win.

P



Natalie Portman eco-friendly engagement ring!



If you are a vegan or even a vegetarian and passionate about the environment then you love Natalie Portman or at least I do!  Her ring recently given to her by her co-star of Black Swan is right in line with Natalie's values and passion about the planet, and human rights.  Benjamin Millepied, her fiance really spent time finding a ring and designer who could make a ring with Natalie in mind.

Congratulations Natalie and Benjamin!  Can't wait to see your newest addition too due in late spring!  I am sure this baby will be raised green too!

D ;|