Best Foods for Diabetes

I needn't explain the fact that in order to live a 'normal' and healthy life, a diabetic needs to bring about a series of drastic changes in his/her lifestyle so that he or she can avoid lesser complications and health issues in the future. The fact that your pancreas are unable to secrete adequate amount of insulin to convert the sugar into energy, you must try to consume foods that help your body to maintain a healthy balance of blood sugar in the body. The good news is that there are many healthy food choices for diabetics that can actually help you live a healthy life by helping your body balance your blood sugar levels. There are certain rules that you need to follow. These rules include minimizing the intake of food items rich in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fats. You must rather eat foods that are light, fresh and rich in fiber and enzymes. We shall discuss some of the most healthy food choices and snacks for diabetics as this article proceeds further.

List of top 10 Best Foods for Diabetes

While making the food choices, you must choose food items that are body friendly in nature over those food items that add on as a burden to the body. Sadly, the foods that are a complete burden on the body are the ones that appear to be more tempting and delicious. However, in order to live a healthy life, it is important to eat for your body and not for your tongue. Mentioned below are some of the good food options for diabetes. Have a look!

#1: Fresh Vegetables
Feeding your body a good amount of fresh and green veggies can prove to be a blessing for your overall health and fitness. I mean what is it that isn't good about veggies? They are blessed with all the essential nutrients that are required for the smooth functioning of the body. They are rich in complex carbohydrates which are good as they take more time to convert into fats as compared to simple carbohydrates which should be completely avoided in a diabetic diet. Vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum etc are good. Other starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas and corn should be avoided as they have high calories. You can take about 4-5 servings daily thereby reducing the amount of simple carbohydrates and unhealthy foods.

#2: Fresh and Healthy Fruits
Like always, how can we miss on munching on some yummy and healthy fruits? Fruits and vegetables go hand in hand when it comes to eating right. Like vegetables, even fruits are a powerhouse of high fiber and nutrients. They also help in detoxifying your body and help you cleanse your inner system. Although, you must stick to fruits that do not contain high levels of fructose. Fruits like oranges, sweet lime, all kinds of berries, papaya, apples, pears are fine. On the other hand, fruits like grapes, mangoes and bananas should be avoided. You can include about 3-4 servings of fruits in your daily diet.

#3: Cinnamon
You would be surprised to know, but studies reveal that cinnamon plays a very important role in lowering the blood sugar levels in the body. In fact, you will be surprised to know that about ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon daily is more than enough in controlling the blood sugar levels. You can either sprinkle the powdered form of cinnamon over your meat or salad, or have a nice cup of cinnamon tea and control your blood sugar naturally.

#4: Olive Oil
Try using olive oil for cooking purposes or just toss it over your salad dishes. It is proven that olive oil actually helps in minimizing the blood sugar levels in the body. Not only this, olive oil is also beneficial when it comes to reducing the chances of heart related problems, which can occur in a diabetic patient as a result of a potential complication. Olive oil is known to have good fats that actually help in making the person more healthy and active. Although, minimize its use because too much of oil isn't good for you.

#5: Yogurt
Eating low fat yogurt is one of the most healthiest snack option for a person suffering from diabetes. Not only is it healthy, it is also rich in calcium and is also known for its effectiveness in weight loss. It is important for a person suffering from diabetes to have a normal weight as excessive weight can lead to further complications in diabetes.

#6: Dry Fruits and Nuts
Like olive oil, even nuts like almond and cashews contain ample amounts of 'good fats' in them which can actually help in preventing heart problems. This becomes inevitable if the diabetes is not under control. Apart from healthy fats, nuts and dry fruits also consist of additional nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber. All this can actually contribute in maintaining your blood sugar levels, although make sure that you eat them in limited amounts as they are high in fats, though healthy.

#7: Fish
We all know that fish is a rich source of protein and also a good food choice when it comes to losing weight. Fish also consists of omega 3 fatty acids which are known for its natural curing and healing properties. They help in preventing coronary artery disease, angina, liver diseases, and other health conditions. Fishes like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are good source of these essential fatty acids. Eating this healthy diabetic food twice a week will prove to be very beneficial.

#8: Cereals and Whole Grains
You have won half the battle if you start your day with a bowl of whole grain cereals. Studies reveal that people who eat cereal in their breakfast actually eat less the rest of the day. Not only are cereals low on fat and calorie, they are immensely rich in fiber to make the digestion process easy. So eat a combination of cereals with some milk and strawberries and enjoy eating healthy!

#9: Beans
Another amazingly nutritious and definitely one of the best food choices for a person suffering from diabetes are beans. They are a rich source of protein and have a lot of dietary fiber. Because of the protein they make you feel fuller for a long time, preventing the extra snacking and munching, which eventually leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Therefore, the next time you want to eat healthy and feel fuller, get a can of beans and toss them in your salad to make it more yummy, healthy and nutritious.

#10: Lean Poultry Meat
For a complete non-vegetarian like me, imagining a day without meat is a nightmare. If that is the case with you as well, then this would probably be one of the best food items for you in the list. Poultry meat like chicken or turkey are lean and low on calories as compared to the red meats that we are used to eating. So the next time you want to eat meat, you know you have a yummy chicken or turkey breast waiting for you.

I hope after reading this article you would have overcome the so-called misconception that good foods for diabetes include boring foods. You can experiment with the aforementioned food items and create some interestingly healthy snacks for diabetes. Just watch out on the quantity and the total calories in the portion that you are consuming. Remember, to live a healthy life there should be a balance of everything, and that balance should be there in your eating habits as well. So eat healthy and live healthy. Take care.