Question: I’m really trying to work on keeping my Type 2 diabetes under control by exercising, taking my medications and counting carbohydrates, but some days my blood sugar will run high no matter what I do. What could be causing this? 

Question: “I have Type 2 diabetes. What are some good ideas for breakfasts and snacks that will help me keep my blood sugar under control?”

Answer:

First, it’s important to know how many carbohydrates or servings of food with carbohydrates you can have at a meal/snack. 

Milk is definitely in the news these days, specifically whole milk.  At your local Ingles Market, you can find a variety of cow’s milk options as well as non-dairy alternatives.   All of the milk sold at Ingles Markets is pasteurized.  Pasteurizing milk is a food safety measure.  Pasteurized milk is still a good source of protein, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals.  Our store brand of milk is Laura Lynn milk which is primarily sourced from local dairy farmers within about 150 miles of Asheville, NC. 

I got a question this week on LinkedIn (yes, you can find me there!) about chia seeds so let’s take a look:

What are they?: They are small black seeds from the chia plant which is native to Mexico and Guatemala.   They look a little like poppy seeds but are larger.

What’s the benefit of eating/using or cooking with them?
Chia seeds are a source of fiber, omega 3-fatty acids, and protein.  

The one micronutrient that most all would do well to increase is fiber.

“Fibermaxxing” has had a moment on TikTok with people conducting fiber challenges to see how much they could consume.

Most Americans don’t come close to getting sufficient fiber in their daily diet.

Two of the trends/fads that you can expect to see reflected in products on the shelves at your local Ingles Markets are callouts for protein amounts and callouts for fiber amounts.  

Both protein and fiber are macronutrients. 

Most people think about protein coming from meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy products and fiber coming from fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  

What are omega 3-fatty acids? They are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s) that can be found in various foods.

What are the health benefits? There have been a variety of claims about the benefits of omega 3-fatty acids from heart health, eye health and reducing inflammation to reducing risk of certain cancers, however, most of this is not conclusive and is based on observational data. 

Thursday, December 11 • 3pm-6pm — Black Mountain (550 NC-9)

• Dynamite Roasting

• Sunburst Trout

• Hickory Nut Gap Meats 

If you’re looking for some non-alcoholic beverage ideas for your holiday guests,  here are some local ones to consider:

• Asheville Tea Company (Asheville NC) — look for their boxes of teas, particularly the seasonal blends.  

Question: Can drinking tart cherry juice help with my knee pain due to osteoarthritis?

Answer: While tart cherry juice isn’t harmful, the research proof of its efficacy to reduce pain or inflammation due to arthritis just is not there.