Importance of a Diabetes Menu
Healthy life greatly depends on what you eat and a healthy diet is the foundation for a balanced and healthy living.
Eating balanced and healthy food is extremely important for everyone, more so for diabetic patients.
Following a diabetes menu helps largely in maintaining blood sugar levels, and keeping it under control.
However, many of us do not know what is the right kind of food we must eat in order to keep the blood sugar levels under control.
Protein: Protein is an indispensable part of diabetes menu.
People suffering from diabetes must eat the right amount of protein in their everyday meal.
Protein is one of the most important nutrients that help in building muscles and bones.
Proteins also help in providing the necessary amount of energy for your body.
Some of the healthiest foods that should be a part of your daily menu include lean foods such as low fat milk and skinless turkey.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are loaded with proteins, so make it a point to add vegetables and fruits as part of your diabetes menu.
Apart from these legumes, nuts and soy foods are also rich in protein.
Avoid eating packed foods and junk food.
It is recommended to create a set menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and follow it diligently.
You can add potato salad; pueblo squash stew Spanish omelet, green salad, grilled chicken sandwich, yogurt, grilled Pacific swordfish and lime marinated shrimp to your diabetes menu.
Carbohydrates: This is one of the major food categories that have to be included in the right quantity in the diabetes menu, particularly for Type 2 diabetes.
Carbohydrate is a major source of energy for the body.
There are two types of carbohydrates namely simple and complex.
Simple carbohydrates include glucose, lactose, fructose and sucrose.
These are found in fruits and refined sugar.
On the other hand, complex carbohydrates are starches, which are found in beans, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.
Complex carbohydrates are good for diabetic patients as the body digests them gradually there by generating and providing the necessary energy.
Complex carbohydrates have high fiber content.
It is essential to eat the right amount of carbohydrates along with protein and fat.
Carbohydrates have an immediate effect on the blood sugar levels as they are broken down directly during the process of digestion into sugar, so it is very important adding the right quantity of carbohydrates.
Fruits, bread, pasta, cereal, rice, starchy vegetables, milk and yogurt are rich in carbohydrates and can be included in the diabetes menu.
Meat, cheese and eggs are carbohydrate free, so you can have these for snacks.
Diabetes menus can be flexible.
The main thing to be noted while preparing food for a diabetic is that it should be low in sugar and at the same time rich in proteins and vitamins.
Do not get carried away by labels that say sugar free.
A diabetic cookbook is the best source to learn more about diabetes menu.
These books tell us what to include in our daily diet and what must be avoided.