Healthy Foods for Diabetes

Is the Diabetes Food Pyramid really the guide you need for choosing Healthy Foods for Diabetics every day?

Many people struggle to find the right balance between taste and nutrition, but the solution can be simpler than it seems. Here you will discover practical tips that make eating well easier.

Diabetes Food Pyramid

The diabetes food pyramid is a guide to eating healthy and foods low on the glycemic index to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. These foods do not spike sugar levels by supplementing too much glucose and nor do they let sugar levels drop quickly in the duration between meals.

Too high or too low sugar levels are both dangerous for a person and need to be avoided; fluctuating sugar levels cause harm to health and aggravate the symptoms of the problem.

The diabetes food pyramid suggests the quantity of food, and the number of servings from each food group during the day, to provide a complete diet plan that avoids fluctuations in sugar levels and maintains them steady and within a healthy range.

This diabetes food pyramid suggests a diet plan mentioning foods from different groups and also the number of their servings. If a person follows this pyramid and eats the number of servings as per the lower range, they will gain 1600 calories in a day; a person eating as per the higher range will get 2800 calories in a day.

The diabetes food pyramid has been designed keeping in mind the troubling side effects of the disease, too.

People who have diabetes generally feel weak, lethargic, and exhausted; pain in the legs and poor immunity are other side effects of the problem; urinary disorders like frequent urination or low urine output; and poor healing and poor nerve functions also seriously trouble diabetics.

The food plan and types of foods suggested in the pyramid can relieve the symptoms of the disease to a large extent and provide all-around relief.

For more on diabetes, check out:

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Healthy Foods for Diabetics

Grains and Cereals – Remedy for Diabetes

Grains and cereals are the base of the diabetes food pyramid, which means that a person should eat these types of foods in higher quantities than others. Grains like oats, rye, whole wheat, buckwheat and barley, and brown rice are commonly used grains; quinoa and millet are also very useful grains for people with diabetes.

These supply fibre and minerals and supplement healthy carbs which do not spike sugar levels. Along with grain, ins include cereals, wholegrain bread, and pasta to form the core of your diet.

As per the diabetes food pyramid, one should eat 6-11 servings from this food group during the day. One serving may account for one piece of wholegrain bread, half a pita bread, 6 6-inch tortillas, three-fourths cup of dry cereals, half a cup of cooked grains, or one-third cup of rice or pasta.

Eat Vegetables – Natural Remedy to Control Diabetes

Vegetables, this food group is above the base group in the diabetes food pyramid, which makes it the most important part of the daily diet. These are low-fat and should be used as part of meals or snacks quite frequently during the day. These are high fibre and high in vitamins and minerals.

Swiss chard, spinach, carrots, turnips, tomato, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, cucumber, and lettuce are a few commonly used vegetables for people with diabetes.

You can include 3-5 servings of vegetables in your daily diet to gain nutrition and fibre. One serving for vegetables is one cup of cooked vegetables or half a cup of uncooked vegetables. If you are eating raw vegetables as salad ingredients, include half a cup of these per serving.

Fruits – Natural Diabetes Treatment

Fruits form the third layer of the diabetes food pyramid. All fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals, some contain a good amount of fibre as well, but these are relatively higher on the glycemic index; therefore, these are included in lesser quantities in the diet of a person with diabetes.

Fruits like apples, bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, berries, oranges, lemon, etc. are good to eat.

One can include fruits in a daily diet, 1-3 servings per day, where one serving contains half a cup of canned fruits, one small piece of fruit, one cup of diced fruits like melon, or 1 cup of berries.

Meats and Beans – Remedy to Treat Diabetes

Meats and beans are the second-highest layer of the diabetes food pyramid. Protein obtained from veggie sources is considered better for health.

Foods like beans, tofu, peanut butter, and cottage cheese are excellent sources of plant-based protein. If you are a non-vegetarian, include lean meat, chicken breast, and fish in your diet.

These foods shall be consumed once a day between meals. One serving may contain a cup of cottage cheese or tofu, or half a cup of boiled beans, or an ounce of lean meat.

Dairy Products – Natural Remedy to Cure Diabetes

Dairy products are even higher than fruits in the diabetes food pyramid due to their high content of saturated fat. Only fat-free varieties of these foods shall be used.

Dairy products are good sources of calcium and vitamins like D and are good for improving metabolic functions, muscular endurance, and strengthening bones. Milk, chees, and yogurt in fat-free versions shall be used in the diet on a regular basis.

The diabetes food pyramid states that 1-2 servings of fat-free milk, yogurt, or cheese can be included in the regular diet of a person with diabetes. One serving provides one cup of fat-free milk or yoghurt and half a cup of fat-free cheese.

Alcohol, sweet foods like ice cream, cupcakes, etc., and muffins, donuts, etc., shall be used sparingly, just for a change of taste. These foods form the tip of the pyramid, as these are recommended to be used not more than one serving per week.