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Posted Date : 18:01 (04/08/2017)

Last updated : 18:01 (04/08/2017)





Can Diabetic patients eat Mango, Banana & Jack fruit?

Pachampet Ramamurthy

Basically, diabetes is not a disease but only a deficiency. The condition where
either the body is not in a position to generate insulin or the body is not able to
make proper and full use of the generated insulin as required, is called
‘diabetic’. For the diabetic patients, the amount of sugar in the blood will
be more. Insulin loses its balancing mechanism. It is supposed to convert the
sugar in the body to energy. If it is not able to control the sugar level in the blood,
it will lead to high blood pressure and accumulation of fat deposits over the blood
vessels. Ultimately, it will cause blockage and even partial paralysis.

It is further described as ‘diabetes’ or ‘madhumegam’ or ‘piramium’or ‘sugar’. In


Sri Lanka, it is known as ‘sugar disease’.
More sugar in one’s blood will lead to frequent urination (polyuria), excessive
thirst (polydipsia) and appetite (polyphagia) symptoms.
Point to be noted is that if diabetes is diagnosed in the early stage, proper diet,
exercise and a few medicines would definitely remedy the situation. Some of
the vegetables and fruits would also help us overcome this condition as under:-
* The juice of amla and bitter gourd will benefit diabetic patients. A big size amla
and double the size bitter gourd should be ground and the essence must be taken in
empty stomach as a result of which it will maximise insulin secretion which will
help balance the level of sugar in our blood.
* Take 100 gm. newly sprouted flowers of avaram, 150 ml.water and boil the same
until the mixture becomes 100 ml. Take 5 amla fruits, remove the seeds and add
little water and extract 50 ml juice and mix with avaram flower juice -50 ml and
little bit of honey. Drinking this mixture will purify the pancreas and stimulate the
insulin secretion.
* We can mix mavilai kozhundu with tur dhal, boil the same and eat in order to
control the sugar level in our blood.
* Bermuda grass(Botanical name-Cynodon dactylon), nutmeg, keerais,
keezhanelli, neem flower, guava can be taken separately also. Neem flower can be
added while making rasam; nutmeg can be mixed while preparing dosas; banana
flower can be added while making kootu and also vadas. Avaram flower can be
boiled in milk and this can be drunk in the evening. Avaram flower can also be
added while making dishes. Similarly, bitter gourd can be used while making
poriyal or sambar also.
Tender coconut, coriander seed leaves, kovakkai, kovai pazham, papaya etc. can be
taken each per day to keep the sugar level under check.

* Likewise, boiled rice, brinjal, snake gourd, beans, banana stem, green dal,
pepper, cumin, nutmeg, big cumin, gingili oil, dried ginger, sukku, black plum,
pomegranate, lime, brown sugar, honey, buttermilk, kezhvaragu and wheat
products including coriander leaves can be taken along with our daily food.
* Either rice or wheat based food can be taken in a limited manner and that too,
when one feels hungry. Hunger and thirst should not be neglected. Buttermilk or
juice can be taken. Amala juice with avaram flower and coriander leaves can also
be taken. In vegetables, cabbage poriyal or soup is the best.
* Moongil rice ven pongal/ payasam is better for those who have become very thin
due to diabetes. Moongil arisi, thinai arisi, salam arisi can be taken 100 gm each to
prepare porridge out of it which will help one to regain good health and strength. It
will also help one to keep sugar level under control.
Swimming in lakes, tanks, wells and rivers including cycling and related physical
exertion will reduce the severity of the diabetes for a person. These exercises

will enable one to maintain good


health despite diabetes.
Food items that need to be avoided by the diabetic patients:-
Groundnut
Bengal gram
Plantain
Black eyed pea
Jack fruit
Potato
Yam
Rice
Mutton like non-vegetarian items
Pumpkin, white pumpkin, bottle gourd
Fruit juice, cold drinks, curd
Tomato, sugar, oil-based bhajji, bonda, masal vadai etc.
Besides the above specifics, one should avoid fatty foods but can take fish. Further,
one needs to ensure that constipation is not caused.

Faith is the recipe for success:- Former professor and both siddha and homeopathy
practitioner, Dr.Edward of Cuddalore is a living example in regard to his faith and
ability to manage diabetes with normal diet pattern. The common medical advice is
that banana is prohibited for diabetic patients. But Dr.Edward consumes some
bananas at 6 am daily and at 9 am he takes his breakfast. His sugar level, on an
average, is just 140 to 150. At the same time, he opines that if one
takes banana and breakfast together, the sugar level will certainly go up. Similarly,
he is of the view that jack fruit is not a ‘must avoid’ fruit. He takes the seeds of
jack fruit also after eating the jack fruit. Again he shares his personal experience
that mangoes, if taken with the skin, will not be harmful. Besides the above, he
takes mutton once a week and fish sambar frequently and he is not affected a bit
adversely. He is of the firm opinion that everything that we eat should be normal
and within limits.
However, the general preventive measures like avoiding kizhangu varieties of
vegetables, smoking and alcohol etc. and at the same time, giving equal importance
for physical exertion will definitely enable one to keep diabetics at bay.

Posted Date : 18:39 (05/08/2017)


Last updated : 18:39 (05/08/2017)



Amla to Turmeric - Natural food products that protect
liver

V Amalan Stanley

Till the affliction of liver related diseases most of us do not think about the
importance of keeping the organ healthy and functional. Do you know that
whatever we eat or consume (or even inject) will reach liver in one form or
another? What we consumed last as a food or the cool drink that we consumed
after completing a task or what we took as medicine, all these would have already
reached the liver in order to be metabolized. It metabolizes all that the body is
ingested with through different routes. That is why it is primarily important to
consume food products that benefit our liver and we should strictly avoid products
that would affect it, endangering our life. This is what clinicians emphasize.

Research findings inform that food products such as grapes, Vishnugranthi


(Evolvulus alsinoides), ginger, turmeric, amla, walnut, beetroot and egg help in
protecting the liver and its functions and particularly they are protective against
NAFLD, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that happens after forty, in general.
Onion and garlic, having high volatile compounds help in purification of liver by
removing toxic substances in the body. Let us read about some of the food
products that detoxify and protect liver and its functions. However, those who
suffer from liver related diseases are recommended to consult doctors towards
using these food products.
Ginger
Ginger enhances the taste of food we prepare. Further, it plays a key role in
protecting liver. It regulates digestive system and facilitates in metabolism of the
food products we consume. Those who suffer from Non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease are encouraged to include ginger in their food daily without fail.

Amla (Nellikkai)
Amla rejuvenates liver. It is used in Ayurvedhic practice towards curing
inflammation of liver. It also helps in curing jaundice. It has the ability to bring
down the level of cholesterol in the blood, a condition of hypolipidemia, thereby
reducing the burden of liver in metabolism.
Omega-3 rich foods
In order to protect liver it is recommended to take omega-3 rich products in our
daily food. It is rich in seer fish, egg and walnut. Fat accumulation in liver during
triglyceride synthesis can be prevented by omega-3 rich products. There is a
research going in relation to this aspect. Some of the hyperlipidemic subjects were
treated with 5 ml of omega-3 fatty acid, twice daily for 24 weeks. At the end of the
experiment it was found out through ultrasonagram that the fatty accumulation was
removed by omega-3 treatment.
Fragrant food products
The fragrant food products such as onion and garlic help in protecting liver through
their volatile active compounds. The reason for their fragrance is due to the
presence of sulphur. It helps in secretion of liver enzymes. These are the enzymes
that help liver in detoxifying the poisons in the body.
Vegetables
Some are not tolerant towards the smell of sulphur in onion and garlic. Therefore
they can eat other vegetables having sulphur compounds without having any strong
smell. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are also rich in sulphur. The
glucosinolates present in them facilitate secretion of liver enzymes that in turn
remove toxic substances in the body.

Strawberry
Polyphenols and anthocyanins are richly present in strawberries. They act against
inflammation and tumors and they are powerful anti-oxidants too. They prevent
liver in accumulating fats, thereby protecting the organ.
Beetroot
Flavonoids, a kind of colorant, present in beetroot help in protecting liver.
Drinking beetroot juice will protect our body from carcinogens that could lead to
cancer. Prolonged consumption of beetroot will protect us from liver damage.
Grapes
Sour grapes are rich in fiber content. It helps in proper functioning of intestines and
also to excrete poisonous substances in the liver. Naringenin, a kind of anti-
oxidant, helps in removing fat accumulation in the liver.
Vishnugranthi
Tea prepared using Vishnugranthi is good for liver. They are also used with salads
too. Its seeds contain Silymarin, which is an anti-oxidant and also there are
colorants that bring down inflammation of liver. They are able to remove toxic
substances in the liver and also help in preventing liver damage due to prolonged
use of Tylenol. They facilitate regeneration of liver cells and therefore able to
rejuvenate liver and its functions.
Turmeric
A list of natural food products having many health benefits will surely include
turmeric. Turmeric is used in treating liver diseases extensively
in Ayurvedhic system of medicine and also by Chinese traditional medicine for
centuries. It contains an active ingredient, Curcumin. It protects liver from fat
accumulation. Besides, there are many concoctions of juices and tea preparations
that help in purifying and protecting liver and its functions.

Colorful Juice
Required items: Carrot – 3, cucumber (small) – 1, lemon – ½ , Apple – 1
Method of preparation
Make juice by mixing all the above products. The juice should be consumed before
the anti-oxidants disintegrate and lose their potential. Liver gets purified by
drinking the juice twice daily.
Lemon – Green tea
Prepare half a cup of green tea and cool it down. To it add half lemon juice. Mix a
banana with it. Liver is purified if it is consumed daily. Green tea contains an
antioxidant called EGCG, which helps in protecting liver.
Ginger-turmeric juice
To half a cup of water, add half a teaspoon of turmeric, a small piece of ginger and,
half lemon juice. Mix them together. Drinking it purifies liver and intestines and
removes bile stones.
We do not really care about our liver that plays a key role in metabolism and
removal of toxic substances in the body. We tend to damage it by wrong food and
other habits as we are not aware of the fact that everything the body exposed to is
treated by liver. And it is highly essential to protect it and its function and also to
facilitate it by not accumulating fat and toxic substances within. Let us protect it
before it is getting damaged, leading to major diseases, by following the food
practices mentioned above.

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