Dates Fruit Diabetic Diet
When it comes to healthy snacks, dates are definitely topping the list. In fact, dates are considered a superfood by many health experts. It is one of those rare fruits that not only provides essential vitamins and minerals but also manages to curb blood sugar levels. This makes it ideal for those who want to reduce risks of developing diabetes.
According to research, dates can help reduce blood sugar levels by as much as 40%. This is because dates contain a compound called Malate that prevents the entry of glucose in the blood stream. Glucose is the main sugar produced by the liver. When there is too much glucose in the bloodstream, it leads to excessive insulin secretion from the pancreas. Insulin is needed in order to counter the effects of the glucose in the bloodstream, thus lowering blood sugar levels.
In addition, when blood sugar drops rapidly, the body will switch to using stored fat. This explains why some people develop a condition called Acute Diabetes in which the body keeps producing high levels of insulin even without excess glucose. It has also been found out that when people with Acute Diabetes are asked to go without their favorite sugary snacks for a period of time, their blood sugar levels rarely drop more than a couple of notches.
While dates are considered ideal for diabetics, it is not advisable for all diabetic patients to completely shun them. As mentioned earlier, diabetes can be caused by different reasons. Some of these may include a malfunctioning pancreas, a lack of exercise, and even consumption of large amounts of sugary foods. Thus, while avoiding these foods may keep blood sugar levels low, it would not necessarily stop or eliminate the development of diabetes.
On the contrary, dates are one of those natural sweeteners that are relatively safe for diabetics to eat on a regular basis. This is due to the fact that dates contain natural sugars and do not cause much negative impact on the blood sugar level. Thus, diabetic patients who have been told not to avoid dates could slowly begin to eat them with confidence.
Diabetic patients should also be reminded that they should not eat large amounts of dates or they would develop water retention. This would result in frequent urination, which can eventually lead to serious dehydration. This can lead to other complications as well such as kidney failure. It has also been found out that people with diabetes should limit themselves to eating no more than five dates in a day. This is because the body tends to retain too much water when such small portions of food are eaten in a single sitting.
It has also been observed that diabetics should avoid refined grains such as wheat and white rice. These foods tend to have high glycemic rates and therefore can easily result in spikes in the blood sugar levels. This can also result in increased hunger pangs and thus lead to overeating. Therefore, it is better to opt for fruits and vegetables over starches when it comes to eating dates. This way, you can reduce your chances of developing digestive problems due to over eating.
Another great way to eat dates in order to prevent complications from occurring in the diabetic patient is by using a raw egg. The raw egg should be placed in a pan along with dates and cooked for about 15 minutes. This will help in maintaining the vitamins and minerals present in the egg. In addition, the presence of vitamins and minerals in the egg will ensure that the diabetic does not experience any negative repercussions on their body due to the consumption of high glycemic foods.