A lot of fruits and vegetables are available in this season, but many fruits and vegetables also harm diabetes patients. In such a situation, what food items should they consume? Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, which is most affected by food habits. You may be taking medicines or insulin, but what is included in your diet, what you eat and what not, matters a lot. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the consumption of fruits, vegetables and drinks in this season which have plenty of vitamins along with fiber and fewer chemicals is beneficial for diabetes patients.
Which fruits?
Diabetes patients are allowed to eat only a few selected fruits, out of which they can eat watermelon, berries, kiwi, and guava because their GI tag is low and they control the blood sugar level. These fruits contain many important nutrients, such as antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and potassium, which give you energy as well as coolness.
In summer, many types of berries are available in the market along with these fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, and mulberries. Berries contain a good amount of antioxidants and fiber, which does not allow blood sugar to increase. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetic patients should consume fruits and vegetables in whole form rather than juices.
What is in vegetables
Diabetic patients need to consume different types of vegetables. Therefore, in this season you should mainly include cucumber, bitter gourd, amla, coriander, gourd, ginger, and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
These vegetables keep your body hydrated, provide vitamin A, vitamin B, and fiber, and reduce calories, which keeps the blood sugar level under control. The antioxidants present in them boost immunity and improve digestion, and green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are low in calories. Therefore, they are best for diabetes patients.
Know about beverages too
We drink various types of beverages to keep the body cool in the summer season, but diabetes patients should choose these drinks wisely. For diabetes patients, it is best to drink salty lassi, bael syrup, sattu water, ginger and lemonade, and cucumber and mint syrup, because they contain natural fiber, iron, antioxidants, carbohydrates, and folate i.e. folic acid.
All these drinks are sugar-less, which keeps you cool and you can drink them without any worry. You can drink them by adding cold water, ice cubes, and cumin powder or by making them in the way you like. These beverages keep you hydrated and also provide essential nutrients, which help in controlling blood sugar levels.
Chemical control is the most important
Diet and nutrition expert Dr. Shikha Nehru Sharma says patients suffering from diabetes can control sweets, but chemical control in their diet is most important. In the summer, many refreshing drinks are available in the market in the name of zero calories, but they are rich in chemicals. Consuming them can be harmful to you. Apart from this, it is important to pay attention that whatever drinks or fruits you consume, there should be no amount of artificial sugar. Vegetable juice, buttermilk, and barley water are effective in controlling sugar for diabetic patients as compared to fruit juice. Also, in this situation, you should try that whatever you are eating, does not cause inflammation in the body.
(PC: ISTOCK)
