Are There Smart Fruits and Vegetables to Help You Have Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

The food pyramid indicates the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. These are excellent sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. If you are suffering with type 2 diabetes you will want to choose the ones that have a low glycemic index.

So, what are the smart fruits and vegetables suitable for diabetics... whether your have type 1 or type 2?

To start with it is always best to select fresh fruit and vegetables rather than canned or frozen vegetables. Eating these foods raw will give you the highest benefits... cooking, canning and freezing reduces the amount of nutrients they provide.

Fruit juices tend to contain a substantial amount of sugar and, as well, lack fiber. Often one glass of juice is equal to 4 or more pieces of fruit... this is why your blood sugar levels soar after drinking juice.

Fruits and vegetables to avoid include:

• potatoes
• carrots
• peas
• parsnips
• beans
• beet
• watermelon
• mangoes
• banana
• jack fruit
• grapes
• strawberries, and
• sugar cane

Fresh Fruits and vegetables you should eat include:

• apples
• limes
• peaches and
• grapefruit

Outside of potatoes, carrots and peas, most other vegetables can be beneficial in helping you to have lower blood sugar levels.

Your daily requirement for fruits and vegetables should be divided between your three main meals and two snacks. Recent studies have shown obesity levels are lowest among those who eat seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day

Here is some important information you should know about fruits, vegetables and diabetes:

• a cup of steamed broccoli contains 44 calories, 4.5 grams protein, 8 grams carbohydrates, 0.5 grams fat, and 4.7 grams of fiber
• a large apple contains 125 calories,.4grams protein, 32 grams carbohydrate, 0.7 grams of fat, and 4.2 grams of fiber

Both these are full of carbohydrate but also contain fiber. Fiber does great things for your body and, in this case, it helps to regulate your blood sugar level.

Although many diabetics shy away from vegetables, a diet with extra vegetables is essential to controlling your diabetes. And guess what: they are mostly carbohydrate, although vegetables contain some plant protein also.

There are some food combinations that works together to help control your blood sugar levels. One of these combinations includes a green salad with kidney beans and raw vegetables.

Apples are a great fruit to eat to help you fight diabetes. The old saying: "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" has a lot of truth in it when it comes to diabetes. Apples have the unique ability to remove toxins from your body and the digestive process usually uses up more calories than those contained in one apple. The apple has also been known to lower insulin requirements... and depression and weight loss can also be positively affected by eating apples.

Grapefruit has significant benefits for good health. Holistic healers feel that 3 servings of grapefruit per day gives great assistance with lower blood sugar levels.

Knowing how your body is affected by various fruits and vegetables can really help you to have lower blood sugar levels.

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?

To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions... its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes.
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