White Flour
Wheat is the most common cereal used throughout the world for making bread. It is a good source of energy. With its essential coating of bran, vitamins and minerals, it is an excellent health-building food.
Wheat is usually ground into flour for use as food. However refined wheat flour constitutes a serious health hazard of the various processed foods being used today for their delicious taste, white flour (maida) is especially harmful.
The colossal loss of vitamins and mineral in refined wheat flour has led to widespread prevalence of constipation and other related disgestine disturbance and nutritional disorders, particularly diabetes. The consumption of white flour is thus an important contributory cause of diabetes, and its aggravation, if the disease has already developed.
White Salt
Common salt or sodium chloride is a major factor in maintaining the acid base equilibrium of the body. It is also essential for the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Thus, while a certain amount of salt essential for the body system, it is required in very small quantities, ranging from 10 to 15 g per day.
Excessive use of salt puts extra burden on the kidneys, may cause high blood pressure, which is closely linked with diabetes. Excessive intake of salt promotes water retention in the body, which in due course may lead to obesity, which is a potent cause of diabetes. Too much salt is thus harmful and may promote or hasten the onset of diabetes.
Salt (sodium chloride) and sodium preservatives are added to most processed foods. A sodium-controlled diet must avoid or limit salted snacks; pickles and many others processed convenience foods.
Tea and Coffee
Drinking tea and coffee is a serious health hazard for the diabetic. The most alkaloid principle in both tea and coffee is caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive drug similar to cocaine in as much as it stimulates the central nervous system. While these effects are short-lived, it has been observed that they lead to withdrawal symptoms of irritability, lethargy, headaches and anxiety.
The daily intake of tea and coffee causes indigestion and gas formation, diarrhea, and constipation. They also increase the blood sugar level, which may lead to diabetes or aggravate its symptoms where the disease is already present.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Berry Berry Good for You - Diabetes and Berries
Studies show when it comes to better health, you just can’t beat berries.
As delicious as they are nutritious, fresh berries of all kinds are high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and powerful phytochemicals that have been proven to reduce the risk for everything from heart disease to memory loss and cancer.Berries are also terrific to include in a diabetes diet.
While all fruit contains sugar in the form of fructose, at least two servings of healthful fruit should be included in your diabetes meal plan each day. The key to maintaining your blood sugar is to enjoy fruit (like all carbohydrate rich foods) in moderation and to use portion control.
Berries are a great nutritional bargain because in addition to being low in fat and calories, when adjusting for fiber they are the lowest carbohydrate fruits you can eat. This puts them low on the glycemic index (the rate at which they raise your blood sugar) – not only compared to most other fruits – but to many other foods, making it easy to fit berries into a carb-conscious diet.
A Handful of Great Berries
Of all berries, strawberries have the least amount of calories and the lowest carbohydrate density with a slim 45 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrate, and 3 grams of fiber per cup. In fact, according to the diabetic exchange list you may enjoy an entire 1 1/4 cups of sliced strawberries per single fruit serving. What's most impressive is that this serving delivers over 200% of your daily dose of vitamin
Luscious delicate raspberries are the high-fiber berry leader with a whopping 8 grams of fiber in every cup. With only 64 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrate per single cup serving it makes raspberries calorie per calorie one of the highest fiber foods you will find.
Blackberries are simply too good to resist. The diabetic exchange for blackberries is a 3/4 cup serving, but with only 75 calories, 18 grams of carbohydrate and 8 grams of fiber per cup, I say splurge and enjoy the whole cup! Blackberries also deliver 50% of your daily dose of vitamin C and are high in potassium which helps control blood pressure.
Last, but not least, July is National Blueberry Month – and blueberries definitely deserve their own month! A 3/4 cup serving of fresh or frozen blueberries contains only 60 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrate, and 3 grams of fiber, but far more impressive blueberries have more anti-oxidant power than any other fruit on the planet! Great for your eyes, memory and heart they are a true health bargain.
Six Sweet Ways to Enjoy Berries
Make a sundae by layering light yogurt and berries in your favorite parfait glass.
Sweeten cottage cheese with sugar substitute and cinnamon and top with fresh berries.
Add sliced berries to spinach for a delicious and colorful salad.
Blend together reduced calorie cranberry cocktail, frozen berries, and ice, for a terrific fruit freeze.
Blend together fruit, 1 % milk, sugar substitute, and ice for a great fruit "shake".
[Author: Marlene Koch, RD at: http://www.destinationdiabetes.com]
*Sleep Problems? Check out Sleep Help 4u.com
As delicious as they are nutritious, fresh berries of all kinds are high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and powerful phytochemicals that have been proven to reduce the risk for everything from heart disease to memory loss and cancer.Berries are also terrific to include in a diabetes diet.
While all fruit contains sugar in the form of fructose, at least two servings of healthful fruit should be included in your diabetes meal plan each day. The key to maintaining your blood sugar is to enjoy fruit (like all carbohydrate rich foods) in moderation and to use portion control.
Berries are a great nutritional bargain because in addition to being low in fat and calories, when adjusting for fiber they are the lowest carbohydrate fruits you can eat. This puts them low on the glycemic index (the rate at which they raise your blood sugar) – not only compared to most other fruits – but to many other foods, making it easy to fit berries into a carb-conscious diet.
A Handful of Great Berries
Of all berries, strawberries have the least amount of calories and the lowest carbohydrate density with a slim 45 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrate, and 3 grams of fiber per cup. In fact, according to the diabetic exchange list you may enjoy an entire 1 1/4 cups of sliced strawberries per single fruit serving. What's most impressive is that this serving delivers over 200% of your daily dose of vitamin
Luscious delicate raspberries are the high-fiber berry leader with a whopping 8 grams of fiber in every cup. With only 64 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrate per single cup serving it makes raspberries calorie per calorie one of the highest fiber foods you will find.
Blackberries are simply too good to resist. The diabetic exchange for blackberries is a 3/4 cup serving, but with only 75 calories, 18 grams of carbohydrate and 8 grams of fiber per cup, I say splurge and enjoy the whole cup! Blackberries also deliver 50% of your daily dose of vitamin C and are high in potassium which helps control blood pressure.
Last, but not least, July is National Blueberry Month – and blueberries definitely deserve their own month! A 3/4 cup serving of fresh or frozen blueberries contains only 60 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrate, and 3 grams of fiber, but far more impressive blueberries have more anti-oxidant power than any other fruit on the planet! Great for your eyes, memory and heart they are a true health bargain.
Six Sweet Ways to Enjoy Berries
Make a sundae by layering light yogurt and berries in your favorite parfait glass.
Sweeten cottage cheese with sugar substitute and cinnamon and top with fresh berries.
Add sliced berries to spinach for a delicious and colorful salad.
Blend together reduced calorie cranberry cocktail, frozen berries, and ice, for a terrific fruit freeze.
Blend together fruit, 1 % milk, sugar substitute, and ice for a great fruit "shake".
[Author: Marlene Koch, RD at: http://www.destinationdiabetes.com]
*Sleep Problems? Check out Sleep Help 4u.com
Monday, March 23, 2009
Manganese, Magnesium and Chromium: food for thought!
Manganese
- Manganese is vital in the production of natural insulin and therefore important in the treatment of diabetes. It is found in citrus fruits, in the outer covering of nuts, grains and in the green leaves of edible plants.
The loss of magnesium in diabetic ketosis has been known for many years. About 37 percent of infants born to diabetic mothers have been found to be lacking in this mineral. It has also been found that children aged five to 18 years with well-controlled type-1 diabetes have lows serum magnesium values.
Magnesium
- Magnesium also decreases the need for vitamin B6 and if it is increased in the diet, the amount of xanthurenic acid in the blood is reduced, even without vitamin B6 supplement. Moreover, magnesium is also necessary to active enzymes containing vitamin B6.
Blood magnesium being particularly low in diabetic, it may be reasonably inferred that diabetes can result from a combined deficiency of vitamin B6 and magnesium. It may therefore, be advisable for any person with diabetes or a family history of the disease to take the at least 500 mg of magnesium and 10 mg of B6 daily.
Magnesium is widely distributed in foods. It forms part of the chlorophyll in green leaves. Other good sources of this mineral are nuts, Soya bean, alfalfa, apple, fig, lemon, peach, almond, whole grains, brown rice, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.
Chromium
- According to Dr. Richard A. Anderson, at the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, whatever the blood sugar problem, chromium tends to normalize it. Dr. Anderson believes that increased prevalence of type-2 diabetes is partly due to a deficiency of chromium in the diet.
Chromium has been found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Columbia University scientists, in a study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition established chromium’s benefits for type-2 diabetes. They confirmed that chromium enhances insulin production in the body. Some other researchers have also confirmed that chromium helps stabilize blood sugar and increases energy.
Studies have also revealed that chromium supplements control total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and raise the good or HDL cholesterol. In some patients with impaired glucose tolerance, especially children with protein malnutrition, glucose tolerance showed improvement after they were given chromium supplements.
The recommended daily allowance of chromium is 50 to 100 micrograms. Some foods rich in chromium, besides broccoli, are whole grain cereals, nuts, mushrooms, rhubarb, Bengal gram, kidney beans, Soya beans, black gram, betel leaves, bottle gourd, corn oil, brewer’s yeast, pomegranate and pineapple.
[For more information and support go to: http://diabetes-help-4u.blogspot.com]
- Manganese is vital in the production of natural insulin and therefore important in the treatment of diabetes. It is found in citrus fruits, in the outer covering of nuts, grains and in the green leaves of edible plants.
The loss of magnesium in diabetic ketosis has been known for many years. About 37 percent of infants born to diabetic mothers have been found to be lacking in this mineral. It has also been found that children aged five to 18 years with well-controlled type-1 diabetes have lows serum magnesium values.
Magnesium
- Magnesium also decreases the need for vitamin B6 and if it is increased in the diet, the amount of xanthurenic acid in the blood is reduced, even without vitamin B6 supplement. Moreover, magnesium is also necessary to active enzymes containing vitamin B6.
Blood magnesium being particularly low in diabetic, it may be reasonably inferred that diabetes can result from a combined deficiency of vitamin B6 and magnesium. It may therefore, be advisable for any person with diabetes or a family history of the disease to take the at least 500 mg of magnesium and 10 mg of B6 daily.
Magnesium is widely distributed in foods. It forms part of the chlorophyll in green leaves. Other good sources of this mineral are nuts, Soya bean, alfalfa, apple, fig, lemon, peach, almond, whole grains, brown rice, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.
Chromium
- According to Dr. Richard A. Anderson, at the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, whatever the blood sugar problem, chromium tends to normalize it. Dr. Anderson believes that increased prevalence of type-2 diabetes is partly due to a deficiency of chromium in the diet.
Chromium has been found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Columbia University scientists, in a study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition established chromium’s benefits for type-2 diabetes. They confirmed that chromium enhances insulin production in the body. Some other researchers have also confirmed that chromium helps stabilize blood sugar and increases energy.
Studies have also revealed that chromium supplements control total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and raise the good or HDL cholesterol. In some patients with impaired glucose tolerance, especially children with protein malnutrition, glucose tolerance showed improvement after they were given chromium supplements.
The recommended daily allowance of chromium is 50 to 100 micrograms. Some foods rich in chromium, besides broccoli, are whole grain cereals, nuts, mushrooms, rhubarb, Bengal gram, kidney beans, Soya beans, black gram, betel leaves, bottle gourd, corn oil, brewer’s yeast, pomegranate and pineapple.
[For more information and support go to: http://diabetes-help-4u.blogspot.com]
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