Diabetes Nutrition Articles

All articles relating to nutrition

Protein Supplements: Which Type Should You Choose?

You decide to supplement your diet with a protein powder and go to the store only to be overwhelmed by your choices. You had no idea there were so many types of protein supplements to choose from. Soy or whey? Isolate or concentrate? The guide below will walk you through the five main types of protein supplements available so you can choose which one is right for you.

Fish Oil Supplements and Diabetes

If you have Type 2 diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack. That’s because those with diabetes tend to have higher levels of triglycerides in the blood.

Triglycerides are a type of fat stored by the body. Any calories your body doesn’t burn right away are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. The body then burns these triglycerides when it needs energy between meals.

The Low-Fat Diet Myth

Ever notice how, despite the amount of low-fat and no-fat foods available in the supermarket, obesity rates continue to climb? Why would that be?

Fat adds flavor, so if you take out fat, you have to add something else to get the same or comparable taste, and that “something else” is usually sugar. 

How a Diet Professional Can Help You Control Blood Sugar and Improve Diabetes

Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or have had diabetes for years, medical nutrition therapy is one of the most effective ways to improve and control your diabetes. With either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, maintaining your blood sugar levels is key to overall, long-term health. In addition, the foods you eat also impact the health of vital organs that are at increased risk of complications when you have diabetes.

Eating Green Leafy Vegetables Can Help Lower Risk of Diabetes

Popeye was right. Eating green leafy vegetables like spinach is one of the best things you can do to help fight a number of illnesses, from heart disease to cancer. Now, you can add diabetes to the list.

A recent study has shown that consuming 1½ servings daily of green leafy vegetables can reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes by as much as 14%. The study looked at more than 200,000 adults age 30 to 74 living in the U.S., China and Finland.

Magnesium for Energy and Strong Bones

Magnesium is a mineral found mostly in the muscles and bones of our bodies. Like all minerals, magnesium cannot be made by the body and must be consumed through the foods we eat or magnesium supplements.  

You might not give much thought about magnesium, but it’s important for a number of reasons. For starters, magnesium helps the body absorb two other essential minerals – calcium and potassium. Calcium helps to build and strengthen bones, while potassium helps your muscles function properly.

Unsaturated Fats Are Best Bet for Low Cholesterol Cooking

As a society, we are trained to believe that fat of any kind is bad for us. Bad because fat increases your caloric intake as well as cholesterol levels, right? Not so fast. All fats are not created equal, and some are actually good for you. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in superfoods such as salmon and tuna, can actually help decrease cholesterol levels, blood pressure and triglycerides.

Is Red Wine Good for Your Heart?

In one word: maybe. In countries that consume substantial amounts of red wine, the prevalence of heart disease is lower than in countries that do not drink as much red wine. That’s why scientists and doctors have long thought there were heart-healthy ingredients in red wine.

Using Exchange Lists for Diabetes Meal Planning

If you have diabetes, it’s essential to have a road map for your diet. This road map is a meal plan, and you can either create it by yourself or enlist the help of a registered nutritionist, dietician or certified diabetes educator. The goal of a meal plan is to help control your blood sugar and lose weight by balancing the type and amount of food you eat. Diabetics should follow a diet low in carbohydrates, fat and calories.

Vinegar May Help Lower Blood Sugar in Type 2 Diabetes

Over the past 10 years, research has shown that some people with Type 2 diabetes may benefit from the consumption of two teaspoons of vinegar prior to a meal.That’s because vinegar has been found to inhibit the rise in blood sugar levels after meals.