14 Fantastically Healthy Foods for Diabetes
From: www.prevention.com
Stock your fridge and pantry with these blood sugar-friendly staples
Diabetes Power Foods. When you think of managing blood sugar, odds
are you obsess over everything you can't have.
While it's certainly important to limit no-no ingredients (like white,
refined breads and pastas and fried, fatty, processed foods), it's just
as crucial to pay attention to what you should eat. We suggest you start
here. Numerous nutrition and diabetes experts singled out these power
foods because 1) they're packed with the 4 healthy nutrients (fiber,
omega-3s, calcium, and vitamin D) that make up Prevention's Diabetes
DTOUR Diet, and 2) they're exceptionally versatile, so you can use
them in recipes, as add-ons to meals, or stand-alone snacks.
1. Beans
Beans have more to boast about than being high in fiber (plant compounds
that help you feel full, steady blood sugar, and even lower cholesterol;
a half cup of black beans delivers more than 7 grams). They're a
not-too-shabby source of calcium, a mineral that research shows can help
burn body fat. In 1/2 cup of white beans, you'll get almost 100 mg of
calcium—about 10% of your daily intake. Beans also make an excellent
protein source; unlike other proteins Americans commonly eat (such as
red meat), beans are low in saturated fat—the kind that gunks up arteries
and can lead to heart disease.
How to eat them: Add them to salads, soups, chili, and more. There are
so many different kinds of beans, you could conceivably have them every
day for a week and not eat the same kind twice.
2. Dairy
You're not going to find a better source of calcium and vitamin D — a
potent diabetes-quelling combination—than in dairy foods like milk,
cottage cheese, and yogurt. One study found that women who consumed
more than 1,200 mg of calcium and more than 800 IU of vitamin D a day
were 33% less likely to develop diabetes than those taking in less of
both nutrients.
You can get these nutrients from other foods, but none combine them
like dairy does. Stick to fat-free or low-fat versions of your favorite
dairy foods—"regular" has a lot of saturated fat.
How to eat it: Drink milk with some meals instead of soda or sugary
juices, have yogurt or cottage cheese as a snack or dessert, and use
milk to make oatmeal or thicken certain soups.
3. Salmon
Nutritionists can't recommend this seriously healthy fish enough. It's
a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (3 ounces provides as much as
1,800 mg), healthy fats that reduce the risk of heart disease, whittle
your waistline, reduce inflammation, and improve insulin resistance.
Salmon is also one of the best nondairy sources of vitamin D around.
How to get it: Sauté a salmon fillet for dinner instead of chicken or
meat once or twice a week (it's easy to season and toss in the oven),
or add canned salmon to salads or omelets.
4. Tuna
Another amazingly healthy fish, a 3-ounce piece of tuna contains
1,300 mg of omega-3s and a respectable amount of vitamin D to boot.
But tuna can be high in mercury, a compound that may cause neurological
problems in huge doses. To be safe, buy canned light tuna instead of
albacore and limit your tuna intake to 12 ounces a week.
How to eat it: Make tuna salad sandwiches, pile on whole wheat crackers
as a snack, or throw steaks on the grill instead of burgers.
5. Barley
One of the healthiest grains you're probably not eating, barley is rich
in a specific kind of soluble fiber called beta-glucan. Research shows
beta-glucan can lower total and LDL cholesterol by preventing your
body's ability to absorb it; one review found that consuming just
3 grams a day—about the amount in a single barley serving—can lower
cholesterol by 8%.
Thanks to its fiber abundance, barley can also help steady your blood
sugar while filling you up—a weight loss bonus. The grain even boasts
a modest amount of calcium.
How to eat it: Look for hulled barley, which isn't as refined as the
pearl barley that supermarkets typically carry (you may need to visit
a health food store). Soak it overnight before cooking, then add to
soups, stews, or rice pilaf.
6. Oats
Like barley and beans, oats are a diabetes power food because of their
fiber content—a half cup of instant oats provides 4 g. Research shows
that oat lovers can also lower total and "bad" LDL cholesterol and
improve insulin resistance. All the soluble fiber oats contain slows
the rate at which your body can break down and absorb carbohydrates,
which means your blood sugar levels stay stable.
How to eat them: The easiest way is straight from your cereal bowl,
but you can also sneak oats into all kinds of recipes, from pancakes
to meat loaf to cookies.
7. Berries
Berries are nature's candy—but unlike sugary confections from the
checkout aisle, they're loaded with fiber and antioxidants called
polyphenols. A cup of blackberries supplies 7.6 g of fiber; blueberries
contain 3.5 g. Berries' antioxidants are also good for your ticker:
One 2008 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found
that people with heart disease risk factors who ate berries for
8 weeks had a drop in blood pressure and a boost in "good" HDL cholesterol.
How to eat them: Wonderful alone, berries are also tasty when stirred
into oatmeal, ice cream, or even salads. Fresh berries freeze well, so
if you're not going to eat them right away, store them in your freezer
so you always have some on hand.
8. Dates
These chewy fruits aren't much to look at—plain and brown and a little
sticky. But pop one in your mouth and you'll be rewarded with a sweet
taste and delightful texture. Their palate-pleasing nature, combined
with a generous supply of fiber (7 dates supply 4 g), makes them a
perfect diabetes-friendly snack. They're also jam-packed with
antioxidants—with more per serving than grapes, oranges, broccoli,
and peppers, according to one study.
How to eat them: Stuff dates with pecan or walnut halves for a
satisfying snack, or toss them into breads and cookies.
9. Greens
You're probably thinking of lettuce, but this category of veggie — a
staple of Southern cooking—is incredibly diverse, with choices such
as turnip, mustard, and beet greens, as well as chard. All are
outstanding sources of fiber (1 cooked cup of any of the aforementioned
supplies between 3 and 6 g) and calcium (100 to 250 mg per cup).
Greens may also be good for your heart, thanks to the folate they
contain. This B vitamin appears to lower levels of homocysteine, an
amino acid that in high amounts can raise heart disease risk. Research
shows getting 400 mcg of folate a day can lower homocysteine by 25% (a
cup of cooked turnip greens contains 170 mcg).
How to eat them: Unless you've grown up with greens, you may consider
them an acquired taste, but prepared just right, they're delicious! Use
them in entrées, sandwiches, and salads. Or simply toss mustard, collard,
or beet greens with artichoke hearts and sauté in olive oil.
10. Lentils
Like their bean cousins, lentils are loaded with fiber—1 cup cooked
contains a whopping 16 g. That same cup also delivers close to 360 mcg
of folate, just shy of the 400 that adults need each day. If you're
not a meat person, lentils are a good alternative source of protein;
they also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.
How to eat them: Add to soups and pastas for extra texture, or enjoy
as a side dish in lieu of beans. Feeling more adventurous? Try a spicy
Indian dish that uses lentils as a staple ingredient, like tadka dal,
made with green chiles and garlic.
11. Flaxseed
They may be tiny, but the seeds of the flax plant pack a big health
punch. Flaxseed is best known as a source of fiber and alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA), which your body converts to omega-3s EPA and DHA. In several
large studies, researchers have found a link between increased ALA intake
and lower odds of heart disease, heart attack, and other cardiovascular
issues. These magic seeds also show promise for lowering cholesterol and
blood sugar.
How to eat them: Add ground flaxseed to all kinds of food, such as
oatmeal, low-fat cottage cheese, and fruit smoothies.
12. Walnuts
Just 1 ounce of these healthy nuts (about 14 halves) delivers almost
2 g of fiber plus 2.6 g of ALA, the omega-3 precursor. But you get
about 185 calories in that same ounce, so count out a proper portion
if you're watching your weight.
How to eat them: Aside from a stand-alone snack, chopped walnuts make
a great topping for salad and add a bit of crunch to cookies and
brownies.
13. Runner-Up: Peanut butter
Believe it or not, some studies have linked peanut butter to reduced
diabetes risk. The fiber content (2 tablespoons has almost 2 g) may
have something to do with it. And since this classic comfort food
contains mostly monounsaturated fat, it's considered heart healthy.
The calories are on the high side, however, so pay attention to the
serving size.
14. Runner-Up: Dark chocolate
Rich in antioxidant flavonoids, this deceptively decadent sweet may
help improve your good and bad cholesterol and reduce your blood
pressure. One ounce contains 136 calories and 8.5 g of fat, so nibble
just a little. A great combination: shaved or melted dark chocolate
over raspberries or strawberries for a light and healthy dessert.
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