Recommended foods for diabetes

Brewer’s Yeast

Brewer’s yeast is a wonder food. It is rich in traces of mineral chromium. This mineral helps the pancreas produce more insulin. It is one of the best supports for normal handling of sugar by the body. According to an article by Dr. Richard J. Doisy and others, which appeared in the Medical World News, Brewer’s yeast has lowered the insulin requirements of many diabetes patients.

Broccoli

Broccoli, a close relation of the cauliflower, has long been a popular food in Europe. This vegetable has proved to be an effective anti-diabetic food. It is rich source of chromium, a trace mineral that seems to lower blood sugar. This trace mineral regulates blood sugar, thereby often reducing the medication and insulin needs of diabetes. In cases of mild diabetes, chromium may prevent the onset of the full-fledged disease. If a person’s glucose tolerance is on border, chromium can help control it. Even low blood sugar levels can be brought to normal with chromium.

Curd

Curd injects friendly bacteria in to the digestive system that stimulate the pancreas. It also washes the pancreas of its acids and wastes. These cleansing actions enable the pancreas to perform much better and thereby help in the production of insulin.

Garlic

In scientific trials garlic and its constituents have been found to lower blood sugar in diabetes. This vegetable is rich in potassium, which effectively replaces the large quantities of potassium lost in the urine of diabetics. It also contains zinc and sulphur, which are constituents of insulin. Some authorities believe that low levels of zinc may be one of the factors responsible for the onset of diabetes. Garlic also contains manganese, a deficiency of which can contribute towards diabetes.

Garlic constituents appear to act by blocking the inactivation of insulin in the liver. The result is higher blood insulin levels and lower blood sugar.

Garlic has other benefits for diabetes besides lowering blood sugar. It prevents arteriosclerosis, which is a common complication of diabetes and relieves body paid. Diabetics can take the equivalent of one or two cloves of garlic a day in any form they like, either raw or cooked in food or as capsules. Garlic milk, prepared by adding four cloves of crushed garlic to 110 ml of milk, is one good way of taking garlic. The best way, however, is to chew raw garlic thoroughly first thing in the morning.

Bengal Gram

Bengal gram, also known as chickpea, is a widely used important component of Indian diet. It is a valuable anti-diabetic food. Experiments have shown that the oral ingestion of the water extract of Bengal gram increases the utilization of glucose in diabetics as well as normal people. In a study conducted at Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, the requirement of insulin of chronic diabetes patients decreased from 40 units a day to 20 units, when kept on a diet which included liberal supplements of Bengal gram extract.

Diabetic patients who are on a restricted diet, which does not severely limit the intake of carbohydrates but includes liberal amounts of Bengal gram extract, have shown considerable improvement in their fasting blood sugar levels, glucose tolerance, urinary excretion of sugar and general condition.

Bitter Gourd

The bitter gourd is a common vegetable cultivated extensively. It has excellent medicinal virtues. This vegetable has been used as fold medicine for diabetes from ancient times. Research has established that it contains insulin like principle designated as plant-insulin, which has been found beneficial in lowering blood and urine sugar levels.

Bitter gourd is thus and effective anti-diabetic food and should be included liberally in the diet of a diabetic.

Juice of three or four bitter gourds taken every morning on an empty stomach has been found more effective than eating fruits. The seeds of bitter gourd can be powdered and added to regular meals. A decoction prepared by boiling chopped bitter gourd is water is equally effective, as is its dry powder mixed with liquid foods.

Bitter gourd is rich in all essential vitamins and minerals especially vitamins A, B1, B2, C and iron. Its regular use, therefore, prevents many complications associated with diabetes including hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and the defective metabolism of carbohydrates.

Black Gram

Black gram is a highly prized pulse in India. It is an anti diabetic food. Germinated black gram taken with half a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice, forms and effective remedy for treating mild types of diabetes. It should be taken once a day, for three to four months, with a restricted intake of carbohydrates.

In severe diabetes, regular use of this combination is an effective complement to other treatments. It is also a useful health food for preventing complications due to malnutrition in diabetes. Milk prepared by grinding sprouted whole black gram is also recommended for diabetics.

Groundnut

Groundnuts are valuable in diabetes. Eating a handful of groundnuts daily by diabetics will not only prevent malnutrition, particularly the deficiency of niacin, but also checks the development of vascular complications.

Foods that control diabetes

In 1550 BC, the famous Ebers Papyrus advised treating diabetes with high fiber wheat grains. Not much has changed since then. Plant foods are the drug of choice for treating diabetes. There are large numbers of scientific research findings to confirm the effectiveness of plant foods in managing this disease. Through the centuries, more than 400 plants have been identified, used, and prescribed as diabetic remedies.

Raw onions and garlic have been long been favorite anti-diabetic drugs in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The vegetable bitter gourd and the herb ginseng have been widely used for treating diabetes since the ancient time in India and China. Common mushroom is widely used in parts of Europe to lower blood sugar. Barely bread is a popular treatment for diabetes in Iraq. Other foods, used in different countries, in the treatment of diabetes include beans, cabbage, cinnamon, coriander seeds, cucumber, fenugreek seeds, Indian gooseberry and lettuce.

All these foods have anti-diabetic properties. Scientific research has confirmed that most of these foods, or their compounds, either lower blood sugar, or stimulate insulin production. Some of the more important foods that help to lower blood sugar or stimulate insulin production in diabetes patients are discussed here.

Artichoke is a tuberous root with a top like a sunflower. This vegetable contains good amounts of potassium, a fair amount of calcium and some iron and sulphur, all of which are needed by the body for maintaining good health.

Artichoke is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes because of its high insulin content. A fully ripe artichoke is said to contain more than two percent of insulin. Ripe artichokes are generally available only during autumn or fall. The insulin is converted into sugar in winter. Artichokes are most effective when eaten raw in salads. It cooking is required; they should be boiled, unpeeled, in a small quantity of water for about 10 minutes. Artichokes can be effectively combined with other vegetables.

CHOCOLATE CAKE

Delicous Chocolate Cake
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 c. strawberry apple butter
1 tsp. vanilla
5 tbsp. milk
3/4 c. Fudge Sweet Topping
5 tbsp. Fruit Sweet
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Combine eggs, butter, strawberry apple butter and vanilla. Place the covered jar of Fudge Sweet into hot water to thin. Add the milk, Fudge Sweet and Fruit Sweet to the butter mixture. Sift the flour and baking soda together and blend with the wet mixture. Pour into two greased and floured 9″ round tins or equivalent. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool. Top with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/4 c. margarine
1 tbsp. granulated fructose
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream together margarine and fructose, beat in egg, water and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in sifter. Sift dry ingredients into creamed mixture, stirring to blend thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonsful onto lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 30 cookies.

SUGARLESS CAKE

Delicious Sugarless Cake Recipe
1 c. dates, chopped
1 c. prunes, chopped
1 c. raisins
1 c. cold water
1 stick margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. plain flour
1 c. nuts, chopped
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla

Boil dates and prunes in the one cup of water for 3 minutes; add margarine and raisins and let cool. Mix flour, soda, salt, eggs, nuts, spices and vanilla. Add to fruit mixture. Stir to blend. Pour into baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Sugar Free Chocolate

Sugar Free Chocolate A Tasty Alternative

Everybody loves chocolate, but the sugar isn’t the best thing for our health.  Dark chocolate has many health benefits, but all the sugar in it is bad.  Sugar free chocolate is a great alternative for people who want to indulge and get the health benefits, without having to worry about taking in extra sugar.  We all know sugar is bad for us, but that doesn’t mean we want to give up everything we love.  Sugar free chocolate candy lets us eat the things we love while staying healthy.  If you love chocolate but are trying to stay away from sugar, be sure to try sugar free chocolate.

Sugar free chocolate comes in many delicious forms including sugar free chocolate bars, sugar free chocolate candy, and simple sugar free chocolates.  Many people assume that sugar free chocolate will taste bad, and will be unappealing.  Sugar free chocolate is actually very good, and will satisfy any chocolate craving.  Sugar free chocolate these days is very different from the chalky flavorless sugar free chocolate bars that most people remember.  Once you have tried sugar free chocolate you will be amazed at how great it is.  You will never go back to eating regular chocolate again.  Many people find that it is hard to even tell the difference between the sugar free chocolate, and the regular full of sugar chocolate.  So if you haven’t tried sugar free chocolate lately, indulge yourself and have some yummy sugar free chocolate candy today.

If you are trying to diet, you know how important it is to stay away from sugar.  The problem is that if you cut all your favorite things out of your diet, you will feel deprived.  Feeling deprived of your favorite foods is bad because it can easily cause you to overindulge later.  Sugar free chocolate is a great way to continue to eat your favorite food even while dieting.  Sugar free chocolate also helps you feel like you are part of the crowd, when everyone else is eating sugary desserts you can pull out sugar free chocolate candies.  Sugar free chocolate is a great way to make sure you stick to your diet.

Many people including diabetics must avoid sugar, so they often don’t get the chance to have tasty treats including chocolate candy.  Sugar free chocolate gives diabetics and other people not eating sugar the opportunity to eat chocolate bars and chocolate candies.  Sugar free chocolate lets you feel like you are indulging, without actually eating sugar and doing something bad for our health.

Sugar free chocolate is a great way to indulge anytime.  You can easily carry a sugar free chocolate bar in your purse for easy snacking, or sugar free chocolate candies in your desk for a after lunch dessert.  Having sugar free chocolate around you, will keep you from eating other fattening and high sugar desserts.  So be sure to stash sugar free chocolate anywhere you think you might be tempted, or anywhere you might want a special treat.

Diabetic chocolate

Chocolate for Diabetics (Eat Healthy – Eat Diabetic Chocolate)

With so many people suffering from diabetes, there has been a lot of debate about which foods diabetics can and cannot eat. When it comes to chocolate, people have a very important question to ask: how can they get their chocolate and, at the same time, eat little or no sugar? It would be unfortunate to give up chocolate and other candy for good. Fortunately, those suffering from diabetics, can enjoy an occasional chocolate. In the last several years, the sugar-free and diabetic chocolate market expanded. There are various diabetic chocolates and sugar-free versions of chocolate favorites. The taste of diabetic chocolate can seem a slightly different from the regular once, however, nowadays the situation improves. Fortunately, there are a number of companies that now produce great diabetic chocolate bars. You may have to shop around so that you find a brand manufacturing diabetic chocolate that taste right for you. You might find consumer reviews on diabetic chocolate helpful as well, although your own taste might differ.

Diabetic chocolate bars are good for diabetics because the sugar in diabetic chocolate is absorbed more slowly than sugar contained in many supposedly harmless foods, such as white bread and potatoes. This means that the blood glucose would not rise right away and the body has more time to process the sugar intake. However, diabetics should regulate amounts of diabetic chocolate, since any chocolate can lead to obesity, which in its turn can create additional problems for diabetics.

For an extra delay of sugar absorption, you should enjoy your diabetic chocolate bar together with other food, as a part of your meal or right after as a dessert. Other food in your stomach would help add this extra delay and the rise in blood sugar would occur more slowly. Still, even when consuming diabetic chocolate, the moderation is crucial. Chocolates created with diabetics in mind can be good or bad depending on the way they are consumed and depending on the overall diet. Chocolates for diabetics can be a marvelous and tasty edition to the diet or they can very well become a disastrous and dangerous meal for those who overindulge.
Diabetic chocolate usually contain polyol, which is a carbohydrate (i.e. sorbitol), excessive consumption of which can still raise glucose levels. Moreover, polyols can also work as a laxative, which can lead to a puffy, unpleasant sensation and digestive problems. Read the label and limit your consumption to no more than 50 grams of sorbitol or 20 grams of mannitol per day, so that you do not get diarrhea from your diabetic chocolate bar. Even diabetic chocolate require moderation similar to consumption of any chocolate and sweets.

Generally, diabetic chocolate is the answer to people suffering from diabetics – this chocolate can be a part of healthy diet and help add some variety and taste. Diabetics and chocolate can go together, which is a great relief, since candy and chocolate is among the most craved food items for those recently diagnosed with diabetics.