Guest Blogger - Charles Mattocks

Charles Mattocks is a celebrity chef, actor and best selling author of "Eat Cheap but Eat Well." His famous tag line: “What can you cook for $7.00?" took the the country by storm.

As a high profile chef, Charles Mattocks appears regularly on nationwide programs such as The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox TV, Martha Stewart, ABC, CBS and a host of others. He is featured in such publications as Cosmopolitan Magazine, Quick and Simple, Edible Publications, RYSE and Martha Stewart.

His talents were quickly recognized and after starring in his first major made for television role as Ben Tyler in"The summer of Ben Tyler" Charles was honored with the nomination of an Emmy award.

As the nephew of Reggae legend Bob Marley, Charles was inspired at an early age by his uncle as to the importance of making a positive impact on society and a difference in the world.

In 2011 Charles' life was forever changed . Given a devastating diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, Charles quickly learned what a confusing and frightening time that is for millions of people just like him and from that moment on he made it his soul's purpose and life's mission to become a beacon to those in search of answers and to cover this globe promoting early detection of diabetes through frequent testing and prevention through lifestyle, diet and habit changes.

Charles Mattocks on the Savannah Show

'Poor Chef' to demonstrate healthy, inexpensive meals at Southern Women's Show in Savannah

By Linda Sickler
Posted: February 17, 2012

Eating smart

Inquiring minds want to know: How can you cook a family meal for just $7?

“Start off by going to your local produce market, where you can get some good herbs and vegetables,” says Charles Mattocks, better known as the Poor Chef. “Then swing by the local butcher and ask him to cut a piece of meat. You’ve got all the ingredients for a healthy and fresh meal, all under $7.”

Mattocks will be in Savannah to speak and do cooking demonstrations at the Southern Women’s Show, which runs Feb. 17-19 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.

“I’m going to be doing some healthy cooking and going back to my roots and heritage,” Mattocks says. “I’ll cook my famous curry chicken with brown rice.”

The author of “Eat Cheap but Eat Well” is famous for recipes that are healthy, cost-effective and delicious. Mattocks also is the founder and director of The Diabetic You, a foundation aimed at promoting health and wellness among diabetics and people at risk for diabetes.

Yes, Mattocks says, it is possible to find the ingredients for a healthy $7 family meal at a grocery store.

“Say there’s a piece of pork or pork chops or even steak, you can ask the butcher to cut it in half,” he says. “You don’t have to just buy what’s on the shelf.

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06 March 2012

Can Calorie Restriction Cure Diabetes?

Hmmm...

very-low-calorie-diet-and-diabetes Have scientists hit upon a simple cure for diabetes? New research shows that calorie restriction goes a long way toward eliminating the health problems that go hand in hand with type 2 diabetes. To test the effect of calorie restriction, Dutch researchers enlisted 15 obese men and women with type 2 diabetes and used MRI scans to check their hearts for fatty deposits that are known to impair cardiac function, according to a written statement released by the Radiological Society of North America. Then they had the volunteers follow a 500-calorie-a-day diet for four months and re-scanned their hearts.

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03 February 2012

Diabetes and Wine

A few years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. For a food and wine lover this was the last thing I ever wanted to hear. I was sure my life was about to change, and that I would never have a decent meal or any fun, ever. My life did change, but I still get to eat pretty well.

What follows is an anecdotal tale of my personal experiences. I can not begin to stress enough that I am not giving advice, and that you should check with your doctor and nutritionist before changing your diet in any way. That said, here is what life is like for a diabetic ex-chef with a serious love for wine.

Carbs are the killer. White bread and white rice are just as bad as sugar for my glycemic index (a term I will be using a lot, and abbreviating as GI). Whole wheat bread is better than white bread, but brown rice doesn't seem to make any difference, for me.

My Love of Chocolate and My Diabetes

chocolate By Charles Mattocks

One of my favorite things to eat is chocolate. As a diabetic, I set out to find if eating chocolate was a treat I needed to give up.

Not only did I look into it, but I was very surprised at what I found. In fact, I ended up creating my own line of sugar-free chocolate.

A Question from Ruby

Question:

I am diabetic and in school. Most days I feel good but some days I have no energy and it affects my performance. Do you have any suggestions?

Response:

Thanks for your response Mary. Yes, I do have some suggestions. Diabetes does wear one down. It is the body’s inability to properly breakdown sugar making it readily available for energy. Diabetes has many aspects which should be monitored. You should ask your doctor to do an EKG, to ensure your heart and circulatory system are functioning well. A lipid profile is necessary to monitor your cholesterol level, and you would need to repeat the HbA1c if you have not had one in three months. The HbA1c measures the amount of sugar adhering to the blood cells over a period of time.

Also, make sure your medical professional does a complete urinalysis. Varied amount of testing and monitoring is needed for a diabetic to ensure the different systems of your body are still functioning and not breaking down contributing to your lethargy. You could also see an herbalist for necessary supplements needed for the body to help repair itself. Other suggestions are:

Monitoring your blood glucose level before meals. (2am, 6am, 12noon, 4pm, 8pm)
Readings can trigger strong emotions but do not get discouraged, flexibility is needed to accommodate care.
Have a healthy breakfast within your range of accommodation for food exchanges. This depends on your reading. Blueberries are a good source of anti-oxidant and are good for the brain. You may want to incorporate this in your meal plan.
If you are on medication, take meds ½ hr before meals - This will help to control the amt. of glucose in the blood. DO NOT increase tablet (dosing) without consulting your physician.
Exercise daily for 30 min.
Take frequent breaks when you study. Stand and take a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
Deep inhalation increases the flow of oxygen to the brain and glucose which facilitates learning.Get a Foot Detox – It stimulates your blood cells and enhances memory. It is very beneficial.

Mary: successful management of diabetes is left to the individual. Therefore, you must establish a routine that will accommodate changes and flexibility in food choices. Concentrating on your body’s nutritional needs with diabetes and coordinating care with your physician and herbalist will help improve your energy levels and your performance.

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27 January 2012

Diabetes Diet

As soon as you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll meet with a dietician or diabetes educator to discuss your diet. A certified diabetes educator (CDE) is usually a registered nurse with special training who is certified by the National Board of Diabetes Educators. A dietician, physician, or pharmacist also can be a CDE. Your CDE will help you understand diabetes and teach you how to balance your insulin or pills with food, blood tests, and exercise. A registered dietician (RD) is trained in the field of nutrition (an LD credential means the person is licensed). Many registered dieticians are also CDEs. You’ll meet with your dietician once or twice to work out a special meal plan tailored to your situation, taking into account how much you still need to grow, what your lifestyle is like, and what foods you like best, while keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range. Portion size, the right amount of calories for your age, and healthy food choices are also important.

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08 December 2011

Exercise For Life

Why exercise?

Exercise burns calories, which will help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
Regular exercise can help your body respond to insulin and is known to be effective in managing blood glucose. Exercise can lower blood glucose and possibly reduce the amount of medication you need to treat diabetes, or even eliminate the need for medication.
Exercise can improve your circulation, especially in your arms and legs, where people with diabetes can have problems.
Exercise can help reduce your cholesterol and high blood pressure. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Exercise helps reduce stress, which can raise your glucose level.
It can lower your risk for heart disease, reduce your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure.
In some people, exercise combined with a meal plan, can control Type 2 Diabetes without the need for medications.

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28 March 2011