Juicing Along the Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes

by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Longest Walk 3. Discussion »

PASQUA YAQUI INDIAN RESERVATION - Over two years ago when Dennis Banks was first diagnosed with diabetes, he decided he did not want to give himself shots of insulin for the rest of his life. He decided to explore an alternative. He heard about reversing diabetes and went on an aggressive diet to get his sugar blood level under control.

The diet involved a process known as juicing.

Juicing Workshop

After week one, Banks lost 17 pounds.

Within a month, he lost 30 pounds.

He lived only off natural juices for the first month of this regimented diet. Since then he has integrated healthy whole foods back into his diet, but Banks has kept juicing as part of his lifestyle and diet.

Concerned by the vast numbers of American Indians, who suffer from diabetes, Banks decided walk across America to bring awareness to the deadly disease. He launched the five and half-month, Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes, on February 14. This journey across America will conclude in Washington, DC on July 8.

Juicing Ingredients

Earlier this month, on a Saturday afternoon, Banks conducted a juicing workshop on the Pasqua Yaqui Indian Reservation, near Tucson. He solicited the assistance of the Longest Walk 3 cook, Dean Williams and Dr. Apryl Krause, manager of the diabetes program at the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe. A juicer, which was given to Banks during the first week of the Longest Walk 3 by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, was used in the workshop.

Vegetables used in the juicing workshop included, carrots, celery, asparagus, turnips and cabbage. Fruits used for juicing included: oranges, lemons, apples, strawberries and grapes.

“Here was someone who I have admired for a couple decades asking me to take him to buy the supplies for juicing,”

said Dr. Krause about Dennis Banks asking her to take her to a Tucson store for the supplies needed to juice.

“At first, I did not know if he was serious.”

Krause has her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Her discipline allows for the combination of natural healing methodologies with modern medical science. She is one of three naturopathic physicians employed by American Indian tribes in the United States.

The participants of the Longest Walk 3 watched a video on the juicing process. After several of the participants assisted Dean Williams cut raw vegetables and fresh fruits.

“Some of the pulp, which contains fiber, can be added back into the juice,”

commented Dr. Krause.

“Some people use the pulp to bake. Some people make carrot muffins with it.”

The following Wednesday, when the Longest Walk 3 was at the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe, there was a juicing demonstration conducted at the diabetes forum Banks facilitated for the tribal members.

Editor’s Note: Please consult a physician prior to going on a regimented diet that may involve the consumption of only natural juices to control diabetes or for weight loss for a prolong period of time. Experts advise diabetics to exercise caution when only fruit is used, as the natural glucose in fruit can raise blood sugar levels in humans.