Long term research has proven that a low fat diet is a good diet for diabetics, among other people. This same research also showed that a Mediterranean style diet is almost twice as good for diabetics.
Thirty percent of the participants who ate the low fat diet were successful in controlling their condition to the point of getting off all medications. That number was fifty six percent for the winning group. If the study had been of longer duration, even more of the participants, in both groups, would have, presumably, enjoyed similar success.
The Mediterranean diet is simply a general term for the kind of food people eat in Mediterranean locales. For years, it was commonly accepted, among researchers, that this diet was very effective at regulating blood sugar. Now, this long term study, published in the Annals Of Internal Medicine, provides scientific confirmation.
What is this ideal diet for diabetics comprised of? Lots of vegetables & fruits, along with whole grains. Healthy fats, for instance, olive oil is fine. That is used for flavoring the lean protein, like poultry, nuts and fish. Up to half the calories could come from carbohydrates. Women had 1500 calorie limits while the men enjoyed 1800. A serving of red wine with the meal was optional; but at 200 calories a serving, many dieters preferred larger meal portions, instead.
Diabetics tend to drink diet sodas which have chemical sweeteners that are much worse for their condition than sugar products. The best drinks for diabetics is pomegranate juice and purified water. An early study on pomegranate juice has indicated that daily consumption of 6 ounces for 30 days, starts to hinder the formation of Atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries — which is involved in 80% of diabetic patients deaths. The miracle drink, green tea has been shown to be helpful for diabetics, but consumption should be limited to 1 cup a day, since it has caffeine, which can be harmful to diabetics.
Red meat is not a large part of the Mediterranean diet. Diabetics should not consume white flour products. Whole grains, on the other hand, have been proven to prevent the risk of diabetes.
