Choosing healthy foods is crucial if you have diabetes. Some are superior to others. There are no absolute restrictions. Even something you might consider “the worst” could occasionally be enjoyed in little doses as a treat. However, they won’t improve your nutrition, and sticking primarily to the “better” selections will make managing your diabetes more manageable. Your diet affects how successfully you control your diabetes, how well you feel, and how much energy you have. Today we will talk about five types of food that you can add to your diabetes diet.
If you have diabetes, you can book an appoinment with a doctor at the SL Raheja hospital through the Credihealth website.
What does a diabetes diet mean?
Simply keeping to regular mealtimes and consuming the healthiest foods in moderation constitutes a diabetes diet. A diabetes diet is a balanced, calorie- and fat-free eating regimen naturally high in nutrients. Vegetables, whole grains, and fruits are essential components. In actuality, a diabetes diet is the healthiest diet for the majority of people.
Why do you need a diabetes diet?
Extra calories and fat cause your blood sugar to spike, which is not what you want. If blood glucose levels aren’t controlled, it can cause significant issues, including high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which, if it persists, may result in long-term concerns like nerve, kidney, and heart damage.
Making thoughtful meal selections and keeping track of your eating patterns will help you keep your blood glucose levels within a safe range. You can help lower your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol by losing 5% to 10% of your overall body weight.
Your attitude, energy, and sense of wellness can improve significantly by losing weight and making healthier food choices. Diabetes increases a person’s chance of mental health problems like depression and nearly doubles their risk of acquiring heart disease.
However, type 2 diabetes can generally be avoided and even treated in certain situations. Even if you already have diabetes, it’s never too late to change for the better. You can lessen your symptoms by eating better, moving around more, and getting in shape.
Five types of foods to add to your diabetes diet
Here we have listed the five types of foods that you can add to your diabetes diet.
-
fruits and vegetables
You can still eat fruit even if you have diabetes. Fruit and vegetables are naturally low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also provide every meal flavor and variety.
All types of food, be it fresh, frozen, dry, or canned, count. To get the most variety of vitamins and minerals, choose a rainbow of colors. Fruit juices and smoothies should be avoided as they don’t include as much fiber.
You might skip fruit and vegetables if you’re trying to reduce the carbohydrates consumed. But it’s crucial to include them daily in your diet. You can experiment with lower-carb options. Fruits and vegetables can help prevent some malignancies, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, all of which are illnesses that are more likely to affect people with diabetes.
How can you add fruits and vegetables to your diabetes diet?
- Breakfast ideas include unsweetened yogurt drizzled over sliced melon or grapefruit, a bowl of berries, apricots, fresh dates, or prunes.
- Add carrots, peas, and green beans to your pasta bake.
- Add a handful of spinach, peas, or onions to chicken, lamb, or rice.
- For vegetables with fewer carbohydrates, consider lettuce, celery, cucumber, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and mushrooms.
- For fruit selections with fewer carbohydrates, consider avocados, peaches, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, and watermelon.
-
Starchy foods
Potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, and plantains are starchy foods. They contain carbohydrates, are converted to glucose, and are used as fuel by our cells.
Some starchy meals have the drawback of rapidly raising blood glucose levels, which might make it more difficult to control your diabetes. These foods have what is referred to as a high glycaemic index (GI); we have a tonne of details on this.
Some specific starchy meal alternatives are healthier and have a more gradual impact on blood sugar levels. These include wholegrain bread, whole-wheat pasta, and basmati, brown, or wild rice, all of which have a low glycaemic index (GI).
How can you add starchy foods to your diabetes diet?
- Two pieces of multigrain bread with Marmite or peanut butter and a small spread.
- Use brown rice, pasta, or noodles in risotto, salads, or stir-fries.
- Baked sweet potatoes with the skin on; garnish with beans or cottage cheese.
- Cooked cassava with lemon and chili flavoring.
-
Protein foods
Protein-rich foods like meat and fish help maintain your muscles’ health. Less red and processed meat is necessary for a healthy diet because these meats have been connected to heart disease and cancer. Omega-3 oil, abundant in oily fish like mackerel, salmon, and sardines, can aid in protecting the heart.
How can you add protein foods to your diabetes diet?
- They replace part or all of the meat in a casserole with beans and pulses.
- Eggs that are boiled, scrambled, poached, or dry-fried.
- Make your fishcakes, fish pie, or grilled fish with masala.
- Grilled, roasted, or stir-fried chicken.
-
Dairy foods
Calcium and protein are abundant in milk, cheese, and yogurt, which are excellent for your bones, teeth, and muscles. However, some dairy products are heavy in fat, incredibly saturated fat, so pick lower-fat substitutes.
In lower-fat versions of dairy products like yogurt, look for added sugar. If you want it sweeter, choose unsweetened yogurt and add some berries. Choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified soy milk if you prefer a dairy substitute.
How can you add dairy foods to your diabetes diet?
- Try unsweetened or natural yogurt with fruit or on curry. A glass of milk plain, flavored with a bit of cinnamon or added to porridge.
- Carrot sticks with cottage cheese scooped on top.
- A bowl of breakfast cereal with skim or semi-skimmed milk in the morning.
- A cheese sandwich with salad for lunch.
-
Oils and different kinds of butter
While less saturated fat is necessary, we still need some fat in our diet. This is so that the risk of heart disease and stroke can be increased. Some saturated fats can raise blood cholesterol levels. Butter, palm nut oil, and coconut oil are less healthful alternatives.
Foods like olive oil, vegetable oil, rapeseed oil, spread prepared from these oils, and nut butter is examples of healthier saturated fats.
How can you add oils and butter to your diabetes diet?
- Olive oil drizzled over your salad.
- Toast with peanut butter on whole grain.
Conclusion-
The easiest method to maintain control over your blood glucose level and avoid diabetic problems is to stick to your healthy eating plan. You can also modify it to meet your objectives if you need to lose weight.
A diabetes diet has additional advantages besides helping you control your blood sugar. Following a diabetes diet is believed to lower your risk of cardiovascular illnesses and specific types of cancer because it suggests eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Additionally, low-fat dairy products can lower your risk of poor bone mass. You can book a consultation with a doctor at the SL Raheja hospital through the Credihealth website if you want to know more regarding your diabetes diet.
