It is vitally important for diabetic people to maintain healthy body weight. Diabetics must not be neither too thin nor too fat. Otherwise they might not be able to fight the disease. Diabetes is often called to be a silent killer. It has many complications. Without proper treatment it could damage heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes and other important internal organs.
That is why staying on a proper diet is vitally essential for diabetic people. It is important to say here that diabetic diet may differ from patient to patient. So it is recommended that you consult with your doctor and find out what products are healthy for you and which ones are to be avoided. But still there are some general principles and some foods that should be present in any type of diabetic diet.
Give your preferences to fiber rich foods that are whole grains and nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables. Eat them regularly, but do not have too much of them. Walnuts could be a good choice for snack as they lower your cholesterol level. Moreover, they contain natural antioxidants.
Anytime you need some fat in your food go for unsaturated one instead of other choices. Unsaturated fats are found in fish oil and vegetable oils. Fats should be present in diabetic diet too as they are needed by our body. Up to thirty five percent of your daily calorie intake may come from unsaturated fats.
Try to choose the right sources of proteins. They can be found in various products. But the best ones for diabetic people are poultry, fish and soybeans. Meat may be eaten rarely, but it is not the best choice at all. Soybeans are good for one’s heart, which is very important for diabetic people.
Carbohydrates should give up to sixty five percent of daily calorie count. The best sources of carbohydrates for diabetics are whole grains, vegetables, fruit, beans and some others. You should learn how to compute calories from the foods you eat. This way you will be able to check if you are having the right amount of them every day.
Wine appears to be a good natural antioxidant. If you are planning to have some alcohol, choose a glass of wine. It is enough for you, never get more than that during the day. Too much alcohol is bad for any organism, especially for a diabetic person.
There are also foods that can be eaten freely without any restrictions and counting calories. These free foods are food items that contain no more than 5 grams of carbohydrates or twenty calories. It is advisable though that these foods are spread throughout the day. Such free foods are: mineral water, tea, coffee, bouillon, light jams, sugar free jellies and gums.
Find out more about diabetic diet and how it can assist. Info about recipes, menus and other diabetic diet issues on this website with diabetic diet information.
