Foods That Helps Reduce Blood Sugar

Diabetics need a regulated diet to keep their glucose at the correct levels. Foods that help prevent diabetes are many of the same foods you would partake of in a healthy diet. Specific foods help prevent diabetes by regulating blood sugar. Diet along with regular exercise helps prevent diabetes.

Certain foods have been shown to help lower blood glucose levels. The best way to tell which foods really help you, check your glucose levels will be better.

Here are two foods that have had many studies that have resulted in lowering blood glucose levels.

Sensible eating helps manage diabetes

Apple Cider Vinegar

Given the importance of maintaining acceptable blood glucose concentrations, there is much interest in identifying foods and diet patterns that will help individuals with diabetes manage their condition. Based on previous data indicating that vinegar ingestion at mealtime reduces postprandial glycemia.

"Scientific studies over the past 10 years show benefits from vinegar consumption," says Carol Johnston, Ph.D., head of the nutrition department at Arizona State University, Tempe. Vinegar decreases both fasting and postprandial (after-meal) glucose levels.
"It's inexpensive and can be easily incorporated into the diet. Used in combination with diet and exercise, it can help many people with type 2 diabetes." she says.

In a study, Johnston found that taking 2 tablespoons of apple-cider vinegar along with 1 ounce of cheese before bedtime led to a 4 to 6 percent decrease in fasting blood sugar levels, according to an article in Diabetes Care (November 2007).
Johnston recommends also using vinaigrette dressings drizzled over steamed veggies, such as cauliflower. Another option is to dip small, thin slices of whole-grain bread into a mix of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Or, better, try sourdough bread, which contains a substance that also seems to mediate blood sugar response.

The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, which has been attributed to reduced starch digestion and or delayed gastric emptying (slower rate of stomach emptying).

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is best known as a spice, sprinkled on toast and lattes. But extracts from the bark of the cinnamon tree have also been used traditionally as medicine throughout the world.
Adding cinnamon to your meals is a great way to increase flavor, and possibly help glucose levels at the same time! Remember if you take supplements, they are not a replacement or substitution to your prescribed medication.

According to the study conducted by Dr. Richard A. Anderson, Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, demonstrate that intake of 1 to 6 gr. of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes and suggest that the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

But... Very high quantities of cassia cinnamon may be toxic, particularly in people with liver problems. Because cinnamon may lower blood sugar, people with diabetes may need to adjust their treatment if they use cinnamon supplements. An ingredient in some cinnamon products, coumarin, may cause liver problems. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, cinnamon -- as a treatment -- is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

What are Foods That Helps Prevent Diabetes ? 

One of the first questions for people newly diagnosed with diabetes is 'what can I eat'.
Information can be very confusing with many news and healthy living magazines suggesting foods that can help diabetes.

"None of this is a magic potion for diabetes," says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Cathy Nonas, RD. It's still important for people with diabetes to eat a balanced diabetic diet and exercise to help manage the disease, she says.

If you are trying to follow a healthy diabetic diet, here are the tips that may help to keep your blood sugar in check.

Limit White Foods
Limit simple carbohydrates, starchy processed foods such as pasta, white loaf of bread and potatoes. Simple carbs spike blood glucose levels.

Limit High Fat Proteins
Keep intake of red meats and meat generally low. High excess fat meats, especially reddish meats, contain high degrees of saturated fat.

Low-fat Foods
The diet must be low in cholesterol as well as saturated fat. Full grains, vegetables and nuts are thought complex carbohydrates for a healthy diet plan.

Avoid Sugars
Stay away from white sugar, honey and highly processed sweets while also limiting levels of natural fruit and fruit juice.

Fiber
Fiber intake is very important to keep blood glucose levels regular in variety 2 diabetes. Fiber can be obtained from plant foods such as oats, brown almond, vegetables, beans, whole grains and soy products.

Foods that Regulate Blood sugar levels
Foods that help regulate blood glucose levels include chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, enugreek, stevia as well as bitter melon.

Finally..... Eat according to your blood glucose meter 

Everyone is different, so what works for one person is no guarantee it will work for another. It’s worth knowing and being aware of general guidelines and then testing to see how different foods affect your sugar levels.

One tried and tested method is to try different foods and meals by testing your blood sugar before eating (taking any medication as you usually would) and then testing your blood at two hour intervals.