Foods That Lower Blood Sugar

Diabetes Tips on Eating for Better Blood Sugar

Diabetes tips can run the gamut, but our top tip (and most doctors' top tips) is to create a diet filled with foods that lower your blood sugar and help control it, too. Sure, it sounds tricky, but it really needn't be. That s because there s an easy!to!follow nutritional formula that can help do the trick and keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and body weight in check. So, what is that formula" There are three parts#

Di$ide %dd Subtract

&y dividing up the portions on your plate in a better way, adding certain healthy foods, and subtracting blood!sugar! unfriendly choices, you'll be well on your way to en'oying gaining better control of your blood sugar.

Divide Up Your Plate

(any people gi$e o$er half of their dinner plate to a meat!based main course. &ut you'll want to read'ust that thinking. )alf of your plate should be produce* the other half can be di$ided between protein (like lean chicken) and high!fiber starches (like whole!wheat pasta or potatoes with the skins on).

Add This

ood Stuff

To really control your blood sugar, you need to focus on foods that your body digests slowly, so that blood sugar is then released into your bloodstream slowly and steadily. &ut go the e+tra mile, and make sure the foods you choose are nutritious, too. )ere are some good e+amples of foods that can lower your blood sugar#

Beans !! ,ot only are beans (like kidney and pinto) a low!fat, nutritious source of protein, but they're also high in fiber. %nd that's 'ust what you want, because high!fiber foods slow down digestion. !Find out wh" legu#es are especiall" great for blood sugar$% &hole grains !! -ike beans, whole grains are nutrient!rich, high in fiber, and low on the glycemic inde+. Translation# They digest more slowly than refined and processed grains, keeping your blood sugar steady!as! she!goes. Fresh fruits and vegetables !! (any fruits and $eggies are high in fiber. &ut 'ust as important, they're typically low in calories, thanks to their high water content, so they help you manage your weight, too. %dd in the fact that produce is rich in inflammation!.uelling antio+idants, and you'$e got more than enough reason to fill up half your plate with things like broccoli, leafy greens, /ucchini, bell peppers, onions, string beans, eggplant, and the like. %nd a delicious piece of fresh, ripe fruit is a satisfying ending to any meal. !Learn about the greens that '( blood sugar da#age$%

0or more diabetes tips, $isit our Diabetes 1enter.

Fish !! &ecause high blood sugar can put your heart health at risk, you'll want to do e$erything you can to protect your heart. %nd that means choosing healthful lean protein for your diet. 0ish 'ust happens to fit the bill and also brings the added benefit of heart!healthy omega!2 fatty acids to the table. Low)fat dair" !! This is another good choice for lean protein. %nd new research suggests that higher dairy intake may help pre$ent type 3 diabetes onset4 *uts !! This is the snack that really satisfies. ,e+t time you get a cra$ing for potato chips, grab a handful of nuts instead !! preferably unsalted. ,uts fill you up with fiber and load you up on omega!2 fatty acids as well.

Fill "our fridge )) and "our tu##" )) with these other tast" foods that will lower "our blood sugar$

Subtract These Trouble +a,ers

5kay, you're adding great stuff to your plate. &ut something's gotta gi$e, or your plate is going to spill o$er, along with your waistline. So here are the items you should be eating less of !! for the sake of your blood sugar#

-efined grains !! 6hite breads, white pasta, white rice, refined!flour pastries . . . they all get digested .uickly by the body, sending your blood sugar on a roller!coaster ride. Switch to whole grains. Sugar" foods !! -ike refined flour, sugar is digested in a snap, flooding your bloodstream with glucose. Sugar is not completely off the table. 7ust make it the occasional treat, because the real goocher with sugar is the calories. !-ead these #"th)busting facts about sugar and diabetes$% -ed #eat !! 1utting back on the cow will reduce your intake of saturated fat !! the bad!for!your!heart kind that can pad your waistline. The 859 Docs recommend that everyone reduce red meat intake to one :!ounce ser$ing per week or less. Fried foods !! 0rench fries, onion rings, and other fried foods are yet another source of saturated fat that you'll want to a$oid. ;lus, these are energy!dense foods, which means that you're likely to get more calories than your body needs !! another big no!no when it comes to blood sugar.

The bottom line is that eating too much of anything !! e$en healthful foods !! is bad news for your body. 6hen you take in more calories than you need, your body has more blood sugar than it can use. !&atch this video for tips on choosing s#art portion si.es$% Print this blood)sugar)friendl" shopping list for "our ne/t grocer" store run$ (arch, 3<=< S59>1? ! http#@@www.sharecare.com@health@type!3!diabetes@article@controlling!blood!sugar