The day that you find out that yourself or a loved one has diabetes is a day after which nothing is quite the same again. Diabetics have to manage their disease by keeping a handle on their blood sugar levels; this is accomplished in large part by keeping a close watch on their diet. If you are diabetic, you want to be sure to get plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. There are foods which can help to keep your diabetes under control - these foods should be added to your diet. What are these ten foods? Keep reading this article to find out:
Two of the best fruits: Apples and Pomegranates.
Generally speaking avoiding anything white is preferable when you are diabetic. Apples have been proven to be very effective in treating diabetes due to the amount of pectin they have in them. The pectin helps the body detoxify itself and get rid of many harmful toxins and it helps decrease the amount of insulin the body requires.
Pomegranates are a very popular fruit in the Middle East and the Balkan region of Europe. This is also a fruit which has been finding more popularity in the U.S. and with good reason - studies have shown the sugar that this fruit contains does not have an effect on blood sugar levels. Additionally, diabetics who drank 6 ounces of pomegranate juice daily were found to have a lower risk of atherosclerosis.
A couple of spices: Cinnamon and Garlic.
Cinnamon is a near miraculous food for diabetics. Cinnamon contains MHCP which revitalizes fat cells, which helps them to properly respond to insulin by lowering blood glucose levels.
Garlic is another food which has been shown to have a positive impact on keeping diabetes under control. Garlic can lowed blood sugar levels measurably.
Best breakfast food: Oatmeal.
Yes, oatmeal is a carbohydrate but it is one of the best carbs you can eat, as long as you don’t get the sweetened kind. Oatmeal is high in fiber and it is slower to digest so it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels and it works better at keeping the blood sugar level constant over time.
The best vegetables: Green beans, Spinach and Broccoli.
These three vegetable have plenty of fiber and low carbohydrate content. This makes them great vegetables for the diet of a diabetic. While it’s OK to have potatoes, corn and peas every so often, these vegetables have a lot of starch (a carbohydrate). Be sure to load up on green leafy vegetables while keeping starchy ones to a minimum.
The must have in a diabetic diet: Protein.
The ideal diet for diabetics should contain somewhere between 12% and 20% protein. If you tend to have a snack before bed, it should definitely be protein. This will help your blood sugar level to stay consistent throughout the night.
Go for lean proteins like poultry, nuts, lentils, fish and soy. These are the best sources of protein for your diet.
There you have ten must-have foods for diabetics. These foods will help keep your blood sugar levels at a consistent level which will help decrease the need for medication and lower your risks for other health conditions associated with diabetes.
