8 Best Foods to Bring down or Stabilize Your Blood Sugar
Advertisement
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when your blood sugar or glucose is too high. If you have diabetes, your body either cannot produce enough insulin, or cannot use insulin properly. Since forever, there isn’t a cure for diabetes. Fortunately, what you eat can help you control or lower your blood sugar. Reducing sugar and other simple carbohydrates in your diet plays an important role in controlling blood sugar level. Experts agree that individuals living with type 2 diabetes can improve their symptoms with a few simple diet tweaks. Here are a list of 7 best foods that won’t spike blood sugar. Stock up on those foods and add them into your diet.
1.Okra
Okra is more than a delicacy that adds color and flavor to a meal. It’s long been served as health-conscious tool for diabetes control. It has properties of: •Vitamin V •Vitamin B •Potassium •Folic acid It’s low in calories and has a high dietary fiber content. Increased dietary fiber intake has been shown trusted source to promote better glycemic (GI) control and improve insulin sensitivity. Plus, the fiber in the fruit of okra assist in lower blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of sugar from intestines.
2.Fatty Fish
Seadfood like salmon and sardines are rich in protein, antioxidants, healthy fats and minerals. Protein can help increase the feeling of fullness, thus preventing pose-meal blood sugar spike. Most importantly, they do not contain carbohydrates. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish or seafood twice a week to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3.Garlic
A 2017 study in Food and Nutrition Research found that consuming between 0.05 to 1.5 grams of garlic (from supplements) a day was associated with reduced blood-glucose levels in Type 2 diabetes patients. Results from nine studies of garlic and diabetes showed that some compounds in garlic help reduce high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. However, if you plan to consume lots of garlic, consult your doctor in advance, since it can also contribute to gas, nausea, and heartburn (plus, bad breath).
4.Grains
Unlike refined grains (like white flour), whole grains are rich in fibers, which help slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Some common grains are Barley (GI = 22), quinoa (GI = 53), brown rice (GI = 50), buckwheat (GI = 49) and whole-grain bread (GI=70).
5.Nuts
Add 2 ounces of almonds to the daily diet improve glucose control for patients with type 2 diabetes. Nuts are high in unsaturated fats, which may play a role in blood sugar control through reduced insulin resistance. Nuts are also high in fiber, healthy fats, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium. The list of nuts goes on - Almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans.
6.Beans
Beans are another healthy choice for people with diabetes, because the fiber contained in beans help slow digestion, reduce blood sugar from spiking, and improve blood sugar response after meal. Beans are also nutrient dense. Try having a chickpea hummus to dip veggies into.
7.Broccoli
Broccoli is low in carbs and high in fiber. Hundred grams of broccoli only contains 7 grams of carbohydrates.It has a very low Glycaemic Index of 15. The study published in the International Journal of Food Science Nutrition studied the effect of broccoli sprouts on insulin resistance in type-2 diabetic patients. It’s also dense with antioxidants and minerals that assist with so many body functions.
8.Apple Cider Vinegar
The benefits of apple cider vinegar are so abundant that researches use it as natural remedy for numerous issues. There is evidence show that apple cider vinegar can lower blood sugar (glucose) by helping reduce the body’s rate of glucose production and absorption, which is so effective that it may work in a similar way to anti-diabetic medication.