Diabetics Rejoice!: September 2021

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Microwave Keto Lemon Curd

Making homemade Lemon Curd couldn’t be easier than using this quick microwave method! This tart, refreshing spread is excellent on low carb pancakes, toast, chaffles, as a topping for ice cream, cottage cheese or yogurt, as a filling for tarts, thumbprint cookies or between layers of a cake. My grandmother loved it on peaches. Eating it straight from the jar by the spoonful is another way! It also makes an excellent gift to share with your keto friends and family. The list could go on and on…

Microwave Keto Lemon Curd

Makes 3/4 cup (12 servings)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, very soft or melted and cooled

1/4 cup powdered erythritol

1/4 cup allulose (or Bocha Sweet)

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (it’s important that it be fresh, not bottled!)

1 large egg + 1 egg yolk

1/4 or 1/2 xanthan gum (*see note below)

4-6 drops monkfruit extract

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon stevia glycerite (or more monkfruit extract to taste)

1. Whisk together the butter, powdered erythritol, allulose, lemon zest, lemon juice and egg in a large microwave-safe bowl. (The mixture will expand considerably during the cooking process, so it’s best to use a large bowl to prevent any overflow.)

2. Microwave on high in 45 second intervals, stopping between intervals to whisk thoroughly, until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 4-5 minutes in total. (The mixture will thicken more once cooled.)

3. After cooking, add the xanthan gum and whisk vigorously until incorporated and dissolved. Add the stevia glycerite and monkfruit extract to taste.

4. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the warm mixture into a clean bowl, using a rubber spatula to press the curd through the strainer. Discard any remaining solids. Cover the surface with plastic wrap, pressing down to make sure the wrap touches the top of the curd to prevent a skin forming. Refrigerate until set, overnight is best. Remove from the refrigerator and, if desired, spoon into a glass jar or other airtight container for storage. Keep refrigerated. Can be stored for 7-10 days.

Note: If you’ll be using this Lemon Curd as a filling between cake layers or for a tart, use the 1/2 teaspoon amount of xanthan gum for the extra thickening power it provides. If serving as a spread or sauce, the 1/4 teaspoon measurement is adequate.

Nutritional Information per tablespoon: 76 calories, 1.3 g carbohydrate (0 g dietary fiber, 0.3 g sugars, 0.7 g sugar alcohol), 8.1 g total fat (5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 36 mg cholesterol, 8 mg sodium, 5.4 mg calcium, 21 mg potassium, 78 IU Vit A, 5 mg Vit C, 0.6 g protein. Net carbs per serving: 0.6 grams

More about my experience with Type 2 diabetes:

After experiencing gestational diabetes while pregnant in 1988, it wasn't long before a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was made, and then, much later, I was correctly diagnosed with autoimmune Type 1.5 (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, also known as LADA).

Like many people newly diagnosed, I had to read and learn what diabetes was all about. I did everything my doctor told me to do, took my medication exactly as prescribed, began to exercise more, I consulted with a diabetic nutritionist, I changed my carb-loving lifestyle to within the dietary guideline of my nutritionist and lost some weight. For many years, following the advice of the experts, I managed the disease fairly well. Yet, it concerned me that my need for medication continued to rise steadily, but I was told by my doctor that diabetes is a progressive disease and that what I was experiencing was normal. In a few years of trying diet change, exercise and oral medication alone, I was prescribed insulin to go along with the oral meds. My blood sugars stabilized, but my need for more and more insulin over time to manage good control continued to go slowly and steadily upward, along with my weight. With the larger and larger amounts of insulin (the fat storage hormone), it didn’t take long for me to become obese! I was not pleased because at the rate my need for meds was growing, it appeared that it wouldn't be long before my condition would be too difficult to control.

Finally, I said "enough!" Something had to change! I read The Diet Cure by Julia Ross and began a diet overhaul unlike anything ever suggested by my diabetic team. Two other books I highly recommend are The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman for a T2 diabetic and Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution by Dr. Richard Bernstein for a T1 or any diabetic on insulin. I cut out all white starches and grains from my diet and went 100% sugar free. (No expert had ever suggested I look at the sugar grams in the foods I ate before and I was shocked to discover large amounts hidden in most processed foods, even items not meant to be sweet!) I began to eat mainly fresh vegetables, very small amounts of fruit and only when it's in season (I love summer berries!), plenty of healthy fats and a moderate amount of high-quality protein. I now follow a Ketogenic diet which allows about 20-30 grams of good carbs per day, mainly in the form of non-starchy vegetables. I don't go out often but, when I do, I go to a restaurant where I know I can eat within my diet. By living this lifestyle, I lost over 65 pounds but, more than that, my need for medication grew less and less. I now need only very small amounts of insulin at meals and 4 units of long-acting insulin at bedtime (down from over 25 units when I was eating higher carb). The best part is that I’ve been able to stop all other oral prescription medications, as well! My blood glucose is always steady, in a normal range and hardly ever goes above 100 mg/dl. My A1c is consistently 4.9 or lower. These excellent health outcomes keep me motivated to stick with a keto lifestyle, plus I really enjoy the food!

I am now at my ideal weight and have kept it steady for over six years. My cravings for carbohydrates and my voracious "sweet tooth" are well controlled. I am motivated to cook and have made cooking healthy my #1 hobby. I'm excited about incorporating the alternative flours into my baking so I can occasionally still enjoy a dessert or bread product in my diet. The outlook of managing my diabetes and the future of my health is extremely positive.

If you're reading this and dealing with similar issues, take heart! You can make the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle to share in this positive outlook, too. Just take it one day at a time, be good to yourself, and do not depend solely on medication. I had to face the fact: There is no "magic pill" out there! Instead, I needed to commit to eating well to heal myself from within. Remember, it's your future and your health; no one can do this for you! You owe it to yourself and your loved ones!

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Microwave Keto Lemon Curd

Diabetics Rejoice!