Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams’ healthy habits control his type 2 diabetes.
In the spring of 2016, during a check-up to discover the cause of his abdominal pain, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams discovered he had type 2 diabetes. His doctor was shocked that the blood sugar levels he’d just measured hadn’t resulted in a coma.
“The human palate is amazingly adaptable.”
Instead of relying only on medication to fix his condition, Adams made a decision to heal his body with more natural methods. He soon adopted a vegan diet, plus he limits the time he is sedentary at work by having a stationary bike, weights, and a mini-stepper with a stand for his lap-top in the room next to his office. In just three months, he lost 30 pounds and reversed his diabetes diagnosis.
To those who think they wouldn’t be able to give up tasty not-so-healthy treats to this extent, Adams offers, “I loved salt and sugar and often used candy to revive me when I felt lethargic. But I discovered the human palate is amazingly adaptable, and after two weeks without salt or sugar, I no longer craved them.”
If you believe tasting is believing, give one of Adams’ favorite recipes a try:
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams’s Recipe for Kale Berry Salad with Coconut-Date Dressing
From the 2016 School Settlement Association Inc. Cookbook
- 1/2 bunch of kale, chopped (approximately 6-8 leaves)
- 1/2 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup almonds (toasted, if preferred)
- 1 cup of blueberries
- 1/2 cup of strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 1 cup dates, pitted
Use a chef’s knife to slice out kale stems, or pull the leaves from the ribs with your fingers. Chop the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine the kale, avocado, almonds, blueberries, and strawberries. In a blender, pulse coconut water and dates until smooth. Lightly toss the dressing into the salad. Serves 1.
The 2016 School Settlement Association Inc. Cookbook is a community fundraiser to raise contributions and educate the public about the need for a new community center at the current School Settlement Association site. School Settlement is the longest continually operating settlement house in Brooklyn and among the oldest in the nation. Established in 1901, it has helped to raise over five generations of residents in Williamsburg/Greenpoint Brooklyn. You can purchase a cookbook at: www.stnicksalliance.org/cookbook.
