Diabetic Diet – Vital Nutrients for a Better Health
Diabetes is one of the diseases that the best way to deal with is by means of having a healthy and balanced diet.
There is no such thing as one diet fits all and this is the same with a diabetic diet.
An ideal diet for a person with diabetes is something that fits his or her lifestyle and choice.
It would be much easier to follow a diet that includes foods that you like and you are willing to try.
It may be true that if you are diabetic, you may have to avoid certain foods but it doesn’t mean you can enjoy your meals anymore.
A very important part of a diabetic diet is to ensure that you include the essential nutrients needed in the food.
Although there are different ways of planning a diabetic diet, it is important that a diabetic understands the proportion and nutritional value of the food that is he or she is eating.
The follow nutrients should be part of a diabetic diet:
Complex high-fiber carbs
Fiber content is one of the best tools in fighting against diabetes because it is able to slow down digestion and absorption of carbs and it increases insulin sensitivity in tissues thus avoiding the rise in blood sugar levels.
It is recommended that a diabetic avoids refined carbs.
Excellent sources of this are oats, peas, legumes, whole grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables.
Omega 3
Omega 3 is good for the heart indeed as it protects us from the hardening of our arteries.
Omega 3 is commonly found in fish oils which you can get from eating salmon, herring, mackerel and tuna.
Omega-6 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids actually help in fighting against diabetes neuropathy.
Great sources of this crucial nutrient are in borage oil and blackcurrant oil.
Alpha-lipoic acid
The alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that helps in glucose uptake.
For diabetic patients that are suffering from diabetes nerve damage, alpha-lipoic acid may help.
If you also follow a good diabetic diet, you also lessen the risk of developing complications of diabetes such as blindness, nerve damage and other heart diseases.
The Final Word
A lot of people may be wondering why diets are a very crucial part in diabetes.
Aside from the fact that having a balanced diet is beneficial, diabetes has no cure which is why the best way to manage it is by eating the right kinds of foods.
