Diabetic people are always in the look out of foods which can keep their blood sugar levels under control and yet provide the essential nutrients to the body. This article enlists certain fruits, vegetables and herbs beneficial to them along with research facts to substantiate their uses.
Top 10 Research Facts on Diabetes Foods:
Fenugreek: According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, intake of 25-50 grams of these seeds is useful. A component Pectin present in these seeds keeps the glucose level in check.
Spinach: A study was carried out by the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. The study found that one cup of boiled spinach has 156 mg of magnesium. Intake of this leafy vegetable has inverse effect on the blood sugar level.
Azadirachta Indica: The leaves of the tree, according to ayurveda, have the quality of stimulating the beta cells in the pancreas responsible for producing insulin.
Onion: A research study carried out way back in 1977 revealed that lower levels of chromium mineral increases insulin production. A cup of onion daily fulfils 20 percent of the requirement of this mineral.
Garlic: Research study carried out in November 2008 at the Suzuka University of Medical Science, Japan, found that garlic contains two substances Allixin and Vanadium. They are found to influence the genes in the diabetic patients in such a way that the pancreas starts producing insulin in high levels.
Rinds of Citrus Fruits: A component called d- Limonene present in 51.24 percent in rinds of citrus fruit. The research was carried out in October 2009 at the Institute of Biotechnology, Hungkuang University, Taiwan.
Carrots: This vegetable gets its natural color because of the component Carotenoid. This component is found to be a power antioxidant fighting with the complications of free radicals in diabetic people. Researchers at the University of Minnesota School of public health found that it reduces the risk of diabetes to half as well.
Apple: Research study has found that eating this fruit decreases the need of insulin hormone by 35 percent. A natural healing component of this fruit beneficial to the diabetic people is pectin. The Glycemic rating index of apple is 38. Its glycemic load for 120 gms of consumption is only 6.
Capsicum: A substance Capsaicin separated from this vegetable and given to diabetic people reduced the blood sugar level by 23 percent. Results of the findings were published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, in March 2004.
Drumsticks: Researchers at the Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, have found that leaves of this vegetable contains a component Quercetin-3-glucoside which can bring down the blood sugar level under control gradually.
