American Diabetic Association Diet

Diabetes was once considered to be a rich man’s disease but now it is so common that it can affect almost any person. In diabetes, human body produces very little or no insulin. This increases the blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels can be controlled by a healthy diet. And therefore, the American diabetic association has recommended a diet plan for diabetic patients. The American diabetic association diet plan is quite healthy and useful not only for diabetic patients but also for the people not suffering from diabetes. For diabetic people, American diabetic association diet plan helps in preventing the progression of disease by reducing blood sugar levels. For non-diabetic people, this diet plan reduces the risk of developing diabetes. The American diabetic association diet comprises of foods from all the groups. This diet plan recommends the food high in mono unsaturated fats or polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Most of the calories recommended in American diabetic association diet come firstly from carbohydrates, secondly from fats and lastly from proteins.

The American diabetic association daily diet plan recommended for diabetic people includes:

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended. Include leafy and non-starchy vegetables like spinach, broccoli and carrots in your diet. Eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Whole Grains: The foods coming under this category includes cereals, bread and pasta. Eating six portions of whole grains every day is recommended.
• Dairy Products: Foods coming under this category include eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Eating non-fat cheese and non-fat yogurt and drinking skim milk are recommended.
• Meat, Fish or Chicken: Eating two portions of meat, fish or chicken every day is recommended.

All people are different and so are their requirements. Some people may require high calories consumption. Therefore, different American diabetic association diet plans are recommended for such people.

The recommended American diabetic association daily diet plan for the people who require 1200-1600 calorie consumption include:

• Three portions each of fruits and vegetables
• Two portions each of milk, yogurt and meat
• Three portions of fats
• Six portions of starches

The recommended American diabetic association daily diet plan for the people who require 1600-2000 calorie consumption include:

• Three portions of fruits
• Four portions of vegetables
• Two portions each of milk, yogurt and meat
• Four portions of fats
• Eight portions of starches

The recommended American diabetic association daily diet plan for the diabetic people who require 2000-2400 calorie consumption include:

• Three portions of fruits
• Four portions of vegetables
• Two portions each of milk, yogurt and meat
• Five portions of fats
• Eleven portions of starches

You may be wondering what about the sweets? Yes of course! The American diabetic association diet recommends eating sweets but in limited amounts. It’s a wrong belief that diabetic people can’t eat sweets. They can eat sweets but within their limits. If you want to avoid sugar, you can eat low-calorie sweets or artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar. Before following any of these diabetic diet plans it’s advisable to consult your health care provider, as he knows you better.