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The saving Australia diet: Cassandra's check-up

Earlier this year we began following three average Australians attempting to reverse their type two diabetes – not with drugs but with different diets.

Tasmania's Tony Benneworth, NSW mum Cassandra Floyd and Perth resident Jack Merolla have volunteered to trial three separate diets with the guidance of nutrition experts who believe they can heal sufferers of type two diabetes without medication.

They are the faces of a national health crisis, with a new Australian being diagnosed every five minutes with the deadly disease.

Chef and author Pete Evans will coach Tony in the ways of low-carb-healthy-fat eating, known as LCHF, while Dr Michael Mosley will follow his published 800 calorie diet with Jack, a fast-track diet designed to achieve rapid weight-loss.

CATCH-UP: The Saving Australia Diet week 1


In our first update Cassandra has revealed how she is coping since she switched from her fast-food and caffeine driven diet to one recommended by the Dietitians Association of Australia.

At 102kg, the 36 year old mum of three is a diagnosed type two diabetic.

Cass began by emptying her cupboards and restocking, guided by her Dietitian Alex Parker.

ALEX'S TIPS
• Imagine that the shopping trolley is a giant dinner plate. Fill it with lots of good quality carbohydrates, some protein sources and fresh fruit and vegetables.
• When it comes to vegetables, choose lots of different colours.
• If the first 3 ingredients contain sugar, just put it back on the shelf.
• Remember that fruits naturally contain sugar but they still can form part of a healthy diet, you should be aiming for about 2-3 pieces of fruit per day.
• When it comes to carbohydrates, check the Glycemic Index – the rate at which the carbohydrate breaks down into the blood.
• Avoid high GI foods such as white bread and increase low GI foods including whole meal pastas and wholegrain seeded breads.
• Reduce added sugars by cutting down on processed foods particularly fast foods.
• Increase unsaturated or ‘healthy fats’ such as nuts, seeds, oily fish and avocado.
• Avoid the confectionary aisle!

CATCH-UP: The Saving Australia Diet week 1


In four weeks, Cass has seen a 4kg weight loss, which Alex says is a sign of a sustainable eating plan.

“It's really motivating to see, you know, for Cass to see the results, to see her blood sugar has come down, to see her weight come down and know that this is something that's going to last for the long term. It's not just a quick fix"

Despite sugar and caffeine withdrawals Cass says she is more motivated than ever to stay away from junk food and has also had a few exercise sessions with personal trainer Katie Calvelli.

"Vegetables, can’t get enough of, fruit, I can’t get enough of – I’m loving pears," Cass said.

"I have a chocolate bar that sits in my drawer and every time I feel like eating it, I just flip it over and go '50g of sugar' yep put it back in the drawer."

Stay tuned for Sunday Night's updates on Tony and Jack in coming weeks.

For more information about all the diets and experts visit the following sites:

Cass' diet:

Dr Vishal Verma – Kildare Rd Medical Centre
36 Kildare Road, Blacktown
Western Sydney
New South Wales
www.kildaremedical.com.au

Alex Parker - Dietitian
The Biting Truth
www.thebitingtruth.com

Jack's diet:

Dr Michael Mosley
Medical Broadcaster
www.thebloodsugardiet.com

Dr Patrick Garratt
www.thebloodsugardiet.com.au

Tony's Diet:

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