One of the most serious diseases of our time is diabetes mellitus. This ailment belongs to endocrine diseases, and it is associated with impaired absorption of glucose against the background of a lack or excess of insulin in the body. The course of diabetes mellitus is chronic. To avoid complications, a diabetic must adhere to a specific diet. The attending physician, as a rule, announces to the patient the list of products permitted for use.
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Foods allowed for diabetes
The first thing to remember for a diabetic is that natural fruits and vegetables are much more beneficial than juices. But, despite severe dietary restrictions in diabetes mellitus, patients want a normal lifestyle, variety in the diet. Vitamins are essential for a sick person. Natural acids help to cleanse the body, prolong the youth of cells. But not all products are useful in this case. Many of them contribute to a sharp rise in blood glucose levels, which negatively affects the patient’s body. Vegetables and fruits are mostly carbohydrates. The negative impact is related to the amount of carbohydrates in the food.
This relationship was first discovered by Canadian University of Toronto professor David J.A. Jenkins in 1981. He found that glucose levels change at different rates with different foods.
Jenkins conducted a series of studies that resulted in the concept of the glycemic index (GI). If the GI is high, then the use of such a product will significantly and quickly increase the glucose content in the blood. It’s not just the amount of carbohydrates that affects your GI value. Also, the method of preparation, the shelf life, and the temperature of the dish served are integral factors. A person with diabetes should choose foods with a low carbohydrate load for their diet.
Vegetable juices for diabetes
In the modern world, the choice of drinks for people with diabetes is quite wide. In this disease, tomato, cucumber, carrot juices are allowed. Pomace from cabbage, broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, celery, legumes, radishes, raw potatoes will not have a negative effect. Due to the fact that most vegetables contain a small amount of carbohydrates, squeezes from them are more suitable for diabetics. With minimal processing and exposure to vegetable fibers, the GI will also be minimal. If fiber is removed from vegetables, the sugar concentration increases, which in turn will adversely affect the patient’s health.
When choosing juice from vegetables, you should pay attention to the amount of fiber, heat treatment.
Tomato juice and diabetes
One of the most essential juices for diabetics is tomato juice. Tomatoes contain B vitamins, vitamins C, PP, H, A, beta-carotene, and a large amount of minerals. Of course, fresh juice will be more useful. But, an industrially prepared drink can also be consumed. The GI index for tomato juice is only 15 units, the sugar content is minimal. For diabetics, tomato juice helps:
- Improve metabolism;
- Remove excess cholesterol;
- Rid the body of toxins;
- Improve the functioning of the endocrine system;
- Improve the functioning of the nervous system;
- Stabilize the digestive function.
At the same time, the use of such juice will not affect the blood sugar level. Its action is fortifying. But there is a limitation. When using a tomato drink for diabetics, there are a number of contraindications:
- Peptic ulcer;
- Gastritis;
- Pancreatitis;
- Kidney disease;
- Cholelithiasis;
- Gout.
For all the benefits of tomato juice for diabetics, its rate should not exceed 600 g / day.
Carrot juice for diabetes
Carrots are an important product on the diabetic’s menu. It contains many useful substances and is available all year round, brings variety to the first and second courses, and is also used to make juices. It is better for diabetics to eat carrots raw. After processing, for example, cooking, its GI index rises sharply. Carrot juice inhibits the absorption of glucose, normalizing its level in the blood. Along with this, a number of other effects are achieved:
- Immunity is strengthened;
- Vision is preserved;
- The condition of the skin is normalized;
- Reduces cholesterol levels.
The norm of carrot juice for diabetes per day is 200-250 ml.
Cabbage drink for diabetics
The minimum of sugar, starch, low calorie content and rich chemical composition have made cabbage one of the most important vegetables on the diabetic menu. In folk medicine, cabbage juice is widely used. This is due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial action. Drinking cabbage juice lowers blood sugar levels, reduces weight, helps fight excess cholesterol, strengthens the immune system, and is used to prevent skin diseases in diabetes. Drinking such a drink is supposed to be ½ cup before eating.
To minimize discomfort, apple, lemon or carrot juices are added to it.
Fruit juices for diabetes
The safest and most useful fruit juices include drinks from:
- Grenade;
- Blackberries;
- Cranberries;
- Blueberries;
- Pears;
- Apples.
These drinks have the lowest glycemic index values. Persimmon juice also has good qualities for diabetics. One must be careful with juices containing bananas, peaches, cherries, grapes and figs. And it is better to limit the use of such drinks. These fruits are very sweet and contain a lot of starch. Fruit nectars, when abused, have a number of negative effects. This is due to the high content of fructose in them. Such negative consequences include an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides in the human body, which leads to the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques, fatty liver. Liver failure may also develop, uric acid clearance may decrease, which will affect the work of the joints.
It is better to limit or completely eliminate the use of juices from peaches, bananas, grapes.
Apple juice and diabetes
One of the permitted juices for diabetes mellitus is apple juice. For making juice at home, it is best to choose sour green apples. These fruits contain pectin. It lowers glucose levels. Drinking apple juice helps to cleanse the blood, reduce excess weight, eliminate anemia, help with vitamin deficiency and lung diseases. Contraindications for the use of this drink for diabetics are gastritis and pancreatitis.
The pectin found in apples lowers glucose levels.
Pomegranate juice for diabetes
The pomegranate contains:
- Vitamins: group B; C, A, E, PP;
- Pectin;
- Micro and macro elements;
- Amber, malic, citric, cherry organic acids;
- Polyphenols.
Pomegranate juice not only saturates the sick person’s body with useful substances, but also increases the level of hemoglobin, removes cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, relieves puffiness, has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, slows down cell aging. Pomegranate contains both sugar and antioxidants, so its juice does not negatively affect glucose levels. In this case, you should not abuse such juice in case of gastrointestinal diseases. It is also worth remembering that excessive consumption of pomegranate juice can ruin tooth enamel.
Pomegranate contains a variety of antioxidants that can help fight diabetes.
Citrus juices for diabetes
When choosing citrus juices, diabetics should adhere to the same principle: the more fructose, the more dangerous the product. The most optimal solution would be to opt for grapefruit and lemon juices. American scientists have established and clinically proven the fact that the use of grapefruit in combination with traditional treatment doubled the effectiveness of therapy. Grapefruit has some beneficial properties for diabetics. It slows down the absorption of nutrients from food, so the glucose level rises more slowly, the feeling of fullness becomes long-lasting. Also, the ability of grapefruit to stimulate the production of insulin from the pancreas contributes to lowering blood glucose. This fruit contains a substance called naringin. Naringin is just responsible for the very unforgettable bitterness of the fruit. For people with diabetes, this substance has proven to be very useful in therapy, as it improves the absorption of insulin in the body.
Grapefruit increases the effectiveness of diabetes treatment.
Diabetes Drinks
People with diabetes should remove from their diet all sweet nectars and juices, such as plum, grape, apricot, peach, raspberry, currant, cherry, gooseberry juices. You need to be careful with pineapple and banana juices. Pineapple juice can only be drunk with diluted water. Sugary drinks are allowed only in case of hypoglycemia, at the time of urgent need to raise the glucose level. Every year in our country, the number of people who fall ill with this complex disease is growing. This disease can and should be fought. It is necessary to consult with your doctor and take a responsible approach to your diet during the period of this disease.