While there’s no substitute
for a balanced diabetic diet, adding certain foods may help those with diabetes
keep sugar levels in check. These foods include;
1. Cinnamon: One of
cinnamon’s most impressive health benefits is its ability to improve blood
glucose control. For example, just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day has
previously been shown to significantly reduce blood sugar levels,
triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels in people
with type 2 diabetes. The more you can make use of natural therapies such as
nutrition and exercise, the better your health will be. However, as helpful as
supplements like cinnamon can be, they should not be misconstrued as cures.
They are not substitutes for proper diet and lifestyle choices. You cannot
properly address your diabetes if you still maintain a sedentary lifestyle and
poor dietary choices — cinnamon supplementation or not!
2. Blueberries: The American
Diabetes Association names blueberries as a “diabetes superfood” because
blueberries are packed with nutrients, such as fiber and antioxidant vitamins,
which provide several key benefits for dealing with diabetes. Blueberries may
help your body process glucose for energy efficiently, both increasing its
sensitivity to insulin and managing blood sugar, which can help you fight
diabetes. A University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study presented April
19, 2009 at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans notes that
laboratory rats that were fed blueberries crushed into a powder showed improved
insulin sensitivity, even when eating a high-fat diet along with the
blueberries. Since most people with type 2 diabetes struggle with insulin
resistance, greater sensitivity to insulin can help manage the disease.
3. Beans: Beans are a healthy
choice for anyone—they’re low in fat, and offer protein and a variety of
vitamins and minerals. But they may have extra benefits for people with diabetes
because they’re high in soluble fiber. Beans can reduce your need for insulin
medications. Dr. James Anderson, one of the early research pioneers on the
health benefits of fiber, found that people with Type 1 diabetes were able to
reduce their need for insulin by 38% just by eating beans. And for those with
type 2 diabetes, eating beans not only reduced their need for insulin and other
diabetic medications but, in some cases, almost eliminated the need for
supplemental insulin.
4. Broccoli: Eating broccoli
could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research
suggests. A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in
the vegetable, called sulforaphane. It encourages production of enzymes which
protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which
cause significant cell damage. The Warwick team, whose work is reported in the
journal Diabetes, tested the effects of sulforaphane on blood vessel cells
damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), which are associated with
diabetes. They recorded a 73% reduction of molecules in the body called
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).
5. Cucumbers: Beta cells
within the pancreas produce the hormone insulin.Cucumber is found to get a
hormone required by the beta cells in the insulin production. Moreover, the
Glycemic Index of cucumbers is found to be zero. Why Cucumbers have not a
glycemic index listed? Does this imply that they don’t raise blood sugar? No.
It only denotes that under the “rules” for the meaning of the glycemic index,
it is too hard to get an accurate number. It is because you’ll need to eat a
very big amount of the food to get 50 grams of carbohydrate at a time to be
tested. Usually, the lower the amount of carbohydrate in a vegetable and the
more fiber it has, the less the rise in blood glucose will be.
6. Cabbage: Cabbages are very
low in kilojoules and high in fiber, which translates to weight loss, a crucial
factor in the fight against diabetes. Cabbages are a rich source of vitamin C,
which reduces the risk of developing diabetes. Red cabbage is rich in
anthocyanins, a natural pigment that boost insulin production. Fermented
cabbage, also known as sauerkraut, have higher levels of anticancer compounds,
due to fermentation. A word of caution: sauerkrauts are high in sodium.
7. Red Grapefruit: Sweet,
juicy, and delicious, the ruby red grapefruit packs more antioxidant power and
possibly more heart benefits than the white grapefruit. In a preliminary 30-day
test of 57 people with heart disease, those eating one red grapefruit daily
decreased their LDL (bad) cholesterol by 20 percent and decreased triglycerides
by 17 percent. In contrast, those eating a white grapefruit reduced LDL by 10
percent with no significant change in triglycerides, compared with a group of
people who didn’t eat the fruit. Include the vitamin C-rich grapefruit as a
juice, in salads, or by itself. The only way the body can get vitamin C is
through food, such as citrus fruits, or supplements.
8. Fish: Seafood lovers rejoice!
Fish is a great addition to your meal plan, especially omega-3-rich fatty fish,
such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and herring. Omega-3s, a type
of polyunsaturated fat, which is healthful, can help lower triglycerides.
According to Healing Gourmet: Eat to Beat Diabetes (McGraw-Hill, 2006),
omega-3s can also help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and reduce
the risk of blood clots. Although fish is good for you and is considered a
lean-meat substitute for its high protein, concerns have been raised about
harmful mercury levels and other toxins found in some fish.
9. Flaxseed: Flaxseed is the
new “it” superfood, noted for its alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a fatty acid that
can be converted into omega-3 fatty acids, which offer similar benefits as the
omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish. ALA omega-3s are known for
helping to lower triglycerides, reduce inflammation, and decrease the risk of
heart disease. Flaxseed has emerged as a must-eat power food for overall
health. High in both soluble and insoluble fiber, flaxseed is also a good
source of lignans, a phytoestrogen that is considered another type of
antioxidant.
10. Spinach: Spinach, kale,
chard, and other leafy greens are loaded with vitamins, such as folate;
minerals, such as magnesium; a range of phytonutrients; and insoluble fiber —
all of which have virtually no impact on your blood sugar level. Mark Hyman,
MD, author of The Blood Sugar Solution (Little, Brown and Company), calls leafy
greens “free foods,” which means you should eat as many of them as you can.
Bonus: The fiber in leafy greens will slow absorption of any carbohydrates
(e.g., potatoes or bread) they’re paired with, resulting in a healthier overall
glycemic load.
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