{"id":13180,"date":"2021-11-02T09:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T16:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/?p=13180"},"modified":"2021-10-17T09:28:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-17T16:28:00","slug":"diabetic-friendly-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/diabetic-friendly-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetic-Friendly Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-7px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Image by ratmaner via <\/span>Shutterstock<\/span><\/a>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” min_height=”1730.1px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Deciding what to eat when struggling with diabetes can be tricky. It\u2019s important to incorporate key nutrients in your diet while also maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. You\u2019ll want to center your diet mainly around fruits, vegetables, starches, and lean protein. Fresh fruits that are low on the glycemic index, such as blueberries, can be a great sweet treat for diabetics while also providing fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh veggies, such as leafy greens, are also rich in fiber and can be consumed raw or cooked. A lot of people assume all carbohydrates and starches are bad for diabetics, which isn\u2019t necessarily true. Our bodies need carbohydrates to function, just make sure you\u2019re eating whole grains such as rice, oatmeal, and quinoa. When it comes to protein, it\u2019s important to purchase pasture-raised meat and wild-caught fish to get the best quality nutrients. I\u2019ve created a list below which discusses the top diabetic-friendly foods you\u2019ll want to pick up on your next grocery trip.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
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  1. Fatty Fish<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel are full of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These fats help promote heart and brain health while also regulating your blood sugar. Try to avoid fried fish, which contains saturated and trans fats. Instead try baking or grilling your fish.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ min_height=”151.1px” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]

    \u00a02. Beans<\/span>\n\nKidney beans, pinto beans, and black beans are a great source of plant-based protein jam-packed with iron, potassium, and magnesium. Beans are a complex carbohydrate, so they\u2019re digested slower and therefore help maintain blood sugar levels. You can easily incorporate beans into a variety of meals such as chili or a salad, just make sure there aren\u2019t any unnecessary added salts.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    3. Avocados\n\nRich in fiber and unsaturated fats with less than 1 gram of sugar per serving makes avocados the ideal snack for diabetics. Similar to beans, the high-fat content in avocados slows the digestion of carbohydrates, which in turn helps keep blood sugar levels stable. Try adding some avocado as a side to your eggs for breakfast or chopping it up into a salad.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    4. Walnuts<\/span>\n\nWalnuts are high in fiber and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), while low in net carbs. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> has shown that eating walnuts may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels. Try sprinkling some unsalted raw walnuts onto your oatmeal or salad to get your daily dose of nuts.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    \u00a05.\u00a0Sweet Potatoes<\/span>\n\nIf you\u2019re craving something sweet or starchy, sweet potatoes are a great option for diabetics in moderation. Sweet potatoes have a lower glycemic index than white potatoes, plus they\u2019re rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. Japanese sweet potatoes and purple sweet potatoes are the best options for diabetics, and remember to boil the potatoes to get the most nutrients.<\/span>\n\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

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    Sources:<\/span>\n\nAmerican Diabetes Association. Healthy Food Choices Made Easy. Retrieved <\/span> from <\/span>https:\/\/www.diabetes.org\/nutrition\/healthy-food-choices-made-easy<\/span><\/a>\n\nNazario, B. (2018, December 10). Diabetic Food List: Best and Worst Choices. <\/span> Retrieved from <\/span>https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/diabetes\/diabetic-food-list-best-<\/span> <\/a>worst-foods<\/span><\/a>\n\nSissons, B. (2019, February 12). 10 best foods for diabetes: What to eat and <\/span> avoid. Retrieved from <\/span>https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/324416<\/span><\/a>\n\nSpritzler, F., & Kelly, E. (2020, September 21). The 16 Best Foods to Control <\/span> Diabetes. Retrieved from <\/span>https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/16-best-<\/span> <\/a>foods-for-diabetics<\/a><\/span>\n\nWare, M. (2019, April 18). 10 diabetes superfoods: Walnuts, avocado, Ezekiel <\/span> bread, and more. Retrieved from <\/span> https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/317112<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\n\nWhelan, C. (2019, July 1). Are Sweet Potatoes a Healthy Food Choice If You <\/span> Have Diabetes? Retrieved from<\/span> https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/diabetes\/sweet-potato-diabetes<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”] \n\n \n\n \n

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      A lot of people assume all carbohydrates and starches are bad for diabetics, which isn\u2019t necessarily true. Our bodies need carbohydrates to function, just make sure you\u2019re eating whole grains such as rice, oatmeal, and quinoa. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[168,7,9],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Diabetic-Friendly-Foods.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3hcyF-3qA","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13180"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13180"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14189,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13180\/revisions\/14189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dianagregory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}