Peta Prime: A Fruit Smoothie A Day May Keep Diabetes Away
A Fruit Smoothie a Day May Keep Diabetes Away An apple a day really can keep the doctor away, especially if youre diabetic or concerned about developing diabetes. A new study suggests that eating fruit and other plant-based foods every day can reduce a persons risk for the disease. Researchers tracked more than 500,000 people between the ages of 30 and 79 for an average of seven years and found that nondiabetic study participants who ate fresh fruit daily were 12 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those who ate none. Study participants who were already diabetic and ate fruit three times a week had a 17 percent lower risk of all-cause mortalityand a lower risk for diabetic complications, such as heart and kidney diseasethan those who didnt eat as much fruit. Thats not surprising, really. Diabetes generally afflicts people who are overweight and who eat fatty, cholesterol-laden foods (i.e., meat, eggs, and dairy foods). Researchers with the University of Eastern Finland recently confirmed that people who eat plant protein rather than animal protein are significantly less prone to diabetes . If you want to reduce your risk for diabetes and other debilitating diseasesand avoid frequent visits to the doctor and mounting medical expenseseat fruit every day. It doesnt necessarily have to be an apple. Lots of fresh, flavorful fruits are abundant in summer. Why not enjoy a tasty fruit salad containing ripe, juicy berries, melon, mango, peaches, pineapple chunks, oranges, or other fruits? If you want something a bit more exotic, try PETAs Fruit Salsa or a Fruit Skewer With Yogurt Sauce . Or if you enjoy smoothiesand who doesnt?simply blend all the ingredients together to make one of these fruity concoctions. Healthy and refreshing! 12 Tbsp. agave nectar (or other sweet Continue reading >>
5 Best Smoothies For Diabetics
Author Notes: Daily smoothies are a sure way to clean-up the diet from processed foods and artificial junk. Instead of a drive-through breakfast when crunched for time, a h (…more) —Ammy Serves 2 This smoothie is a delicious balance of protein, carbs and fats. With essential omega-3 fatty acids that boost heart health and reduce inflammation, this Chocolate Spinach Smoothie is a chocolate treat that you can enjoy in the morning without any guilt! Notes – Be sure to check the sugar content of the protein powder before using it. For complete recipe please visit - . Continue reading >>
13 Best And Worst Foods For People With Diabetes
If you have diabetes, watching what you eat is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy. "The basic goal of nutrition for people with diabetes is to avoid blood sugar spikes," said Dr. Gerald Bernstein, director of the diabetes management program at Friedman Diabetes Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Candy and soda can be dangerous for diabetics because the body absorbs these simple sugars almost instantly. But all types of carbs need to be watched, and foods high in fat—particularly unhealthy fats—are problematic as well because people with diabetes are at very high risk of heart disease, said Sandy Andrews, RD, director of education for the William Sansum Diabetes Center in Santa Barbara, Calif. Worst: White rice The more white rice you eat, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a 2012 review. In a study of more than 350,000 people, those who ate the most white rice were at greatest risk for type 2 diabetes, and the risk increased 11 percent for each additional daily serving of rice. "Basically anything highly processed, fried, and made with white flour should be avoided," Andrews said. White rice and pasta can cause blood sugar spikes similar to that of sugar. Have this instead: Brown rice or wild rice. These whole grains don't cause the same blood sugar spikes thanks to fiber, which helps slow the rush of glucose into the bloodstream, Andrews said. What's more, a Harvard School of Public Health study found that two or more weekly servings of brown rice was linked to a lower diabetes risk. Worst: Blended coffees Blended coffees that are laced with syrup, sugar, whipped cream, and other toppings can have as many calories and fat grams as a milkshake, making them a poor choice for those with diabetes. A 16-ounce Continue reading >>
Are Smoothies Really Good For You?
They are full of fruit and wholesome ingredients such as protein, grains, and seeds; and are typically low in saturated fat and sodium. Plus, smoothies are available in ready-to-go formats. For all of these reasons, they might seem like a great option, especially when you consider that 60 per cent of Canadians have fewer than five servings per day of fruits and vegetables (Canada’s Food Guide recommends at least seven servings per day for women and eight for men). “Smoothies offer convenience and portability,” says Stephanie Boutette, a registered dietitian and education coordinator with Diabetes Canada. “They’re typically advertised as containing servings of fruits and vegetables in a delicious form.” However, she says, “many smoothies are made with juice or fruit purée as the first ingredient, which means the sugar content is often high.” For a person with diabetes, she explains, this can lead to a quick increase in blood sugar [glucose]. As well, “compared to eating a piece of fruit, drinking a smoothie may not be as satisfying. If you don’t feel as full, that can lead you to consume more calories later in the day, which can make weight control more difficult.” Plus, some ready-made smoothies may not provide the benefits of whole fruits, such as fibre. For example, Oasis smoothies, which are available at grocery stores, have two servings of fruit in a one-cup serving, but offer just one gram of fibre. Bolthouse Farms Berry Boost smoothie claims 3.75 servings of fruit per bottle (including 2.5 apples, a third of a banana, and 61 berries), but there is not a single gram of fibre in a serving. Consuming these fruits in their whole form would provide about 20 grams of fibre, a significant proportion of the 25 to 50 grams of fibre recommended by Dia Continue reading >>
Drinking Smoothies With Diabetes: What You Should Know
A while back I met with a long time client who was extremely excited about her new hobby – making “healthy” smoothies. For the sake of privacy, I’ll call her Karen. Over the course of my consulting with Karen, she had successfully lost weight and lowered both her blood pressure and cholesterol levels to the point that she was able to reduce her usage of medications. This is fantastic considering that Karen was well in her 70s. Filled with excitement about her new approach to healthy eating I immediately asked Karen about some of the smoothies she made. With a huge smile on her face, Karen explained how every morning she made a smoothie comprised of 1-2 bananas and “handfuls” of strawberries and grapes, canned peaches, and celery. She sometimes included orange juice as well, which she referred to as “the good kind in a carton that tastes real sweet”. Karen also told me she started drinking these smoothies about five months prior and boasted about how energized she felt. After hearing about the ingredients in her smoothies I immediately asked Karen when was the last time she got her blood sugar levels checked. She hesitated and mentioned that it was about a month ago and stated “they were kind of high” – So, high that she had an upcoming follow up appointment with her physician. Now, based on what you’ve read so far, do you think there’s anything wrong with Karen’s fruit-dense smoothies? Do you have any idea as to why her blood sugar levels were high? If your answer to either of these questions is “no” I urge you to read on. What’s the problem with drinking fruit-dense smoothies? Fruit consumption in general is a controversial topic these days. Most of us have been told all our lives that fruits are good for us yet some experts, including Continue reading >>
Smoothies And Fruit Juices Are A New Risk To Health, Us Scientists Warn
Fruit juices and smoothies represent a new risk to our health because of the amount of sugar the apparently healthy drinks contain, warn the US scientists who blew the whistle on corn syrup in soft drinks a decade ago. Barry Popkin and George Bray pointed the finger at high fructose corn syrup in soft drinks in 2004, causing a huge headache for the big manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi. "Smoothies and fruit juice are the new danger," said Popkin, a distinguished professor at the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, in an interview with the Guardian. He added: "It's kind of the next step in the evolution of the battle. And it's a really big part of it because in every country they've been replacing soft drinks with fruit juice and smoothies as the new healthy beverage. So you will find that Coke and Pepsi have bought dozens [of fruit juice companies] around the globe." In the UK, Coca-Cola owns Innocent smoothies while PepsiCo has Tropicana. Launching Tropicana smoothies in 2008, Pepsi's sales pitch was that the drink would help the nation to reach its five a day fruit and vegetable target. "Smoothies are one of the easiest ways to boost daily fruit intake as each 250ml portion contains the equivalent of 2 fruit portions," it said at the time. However, Popkin says the five a day advice needs to change. Drink vegetable juice, he says, but not fruit juice. "Think of eating one orange or two and getting filled," he said. "Now think of drinking a smoothie with six oranges and two hours later it does not affect how much you eat. The entire literature shows that we feel full from drinking beverages like smoothies but it does not affect our overall food intake, whereas eating an orange does. So pulped-up smoothies do nothing good for us but do Continue reading >>
A Healthy Diet For Prediabetes
Source: Web exclusive, September 2011 Prediabetes: What does it mean? A diagnosis of prediabetes is a warning sign about your health, but it’s not a life sentence. Prediabetes means having blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the territory of diabetes ‘ and you can easily make changes that will improve your health and lower your risk of developing diabetes and its related complications. ‘Diet, in combination with activity, can have a considerable impact on the development of Type 2 diabetes,’ says New Brunswick-based registered dietitian Michelle Corcoran, who works with clients who have prediabetes, Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. And according to the Canadian Diabetes Association, two large studies have shown that by cutting calories, reducing fat intake and exercising at least 150 minutes a week, the number of participants who progressed from prediabetes to diabetes was lowered by 58 percent. That said, prediabetes is a diagnosis that should be taken seriously. While not everyone diagnosed with prediabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes, many will’and people with prediabetes are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Losing weight will make a difference, if you need to’a drop of even five to 10 percent can lower your risk, Corcoran says. Follow these healthy diet guidelines to improve the health of everyone in the family, no matter what their current situation. Whole grains for a healthy diet Consuming whole grains has been shown to lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, says Corcoran: ‘People who consume three servings a day are almost one-third less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who consume three servings a week.’ Boost your intake by choosing whole-grain products rather than refined wherever p Continue reading >>
Are Smoothies Good Or Bad?
In medical school, when time was shorter than short and I lived alone, I would periodically get concerned that I wasn’t eating enough leafy greens, because I wasn’t. Once or twice (Or maybe more, but I won’t admit to it) I put about 6 cups of raw, cleaned kale tightly packed in a mixer along with a little water and nothing else and made the ultimate green smoothie. I chugged it and didn’t enjoy any part of it. It was like a grassy tasting slime, or perhaps cow cud. It was what I imagined to be like a Campbell version of 1950s cod liver oil, and like a little kid, I approached it with a reluctant, yucky face. But these were times of desperation, and desperate acts were required. At least I felt more green. It turns out that people less strange than I have also been using green smoothies. In fact, green smoothies are everywhere and drinking them is a major trend in health. I’ve been surprised at how many people I have met recently that have been trying to get healthy by replacing meals with green smoothies. They generally put veggies and fruit in a blender, zap it, and gulp it down. I am positive these drinks are far, far more enjoyable than the problematic recipe I had created. And intuitively, it seems like this might be a great way to get healthy. You get all the stuff in the fruit or vegetable and you get it conveniently, quickly, and enjoyably. So should you be gulping down a smoothie every morning? I say no. There is research to show that if you take exactly the same energy as a liquid instead of a solid, you will consume more calories later because the liquefied energy doesn’t satisfy your appetite as well as the solid food[1]. In addition, you may be changing the rate and effect of nutrient digestion in important ways. We know that for some food, like Continue reading >>
Diabetes Juicing | Green Smoothies | Reverse Diabetes
Diabetes Juicing | Green Smoothies | Reverse Diabetes Ex-Diabetic's Perspective:When I was diabetic, I discovered that diabetes juicing (and raw salads) had the biggest impact on my overall health. Drinking a small glass of fresh raw juice 30 minutes before your breakfast and other meals helps to accelerate your body's cell repair processes. Why? Because the nutrients get into cells very quickly. And, if you drink the juice very slowly and allow the juice to "sit" in your mouth and be absorbed sublingually into your lymphatic system, it requires almost zero energy on your body's part to take advantage of all the nutrients. This is very important especially for diabetics, overweight people and people with chronic fatigue. By being able to bypass the gastrointestinal system, your body utilizes less energy to take advantage of the powerful nutrients within the juice. All of this helps to initiate your body's cell repair process and also strengthens the immune system to fight an foreign invaders. And, if you're diabetic, there's nothing more powerful than helping your body to repair the damage caused by the diabetes! Most, if not all, of the other diabetes programs talk about lowering your blood sugar, but, they fail to mention how to repair the cells that have damaged by your diabetes. And, if you want to prevent the typical complications associated with diabetes, then, cell repair is critical to your overall health and well-being. During my research, I found that most people were aware of the obvious health benefits of raw juicing to reverse Type 2 diabetesnaturally. However, due to TV infomercials, various health and nutrition books, YouTube videos, and the Internet, there were some major misunderstandings and misuses of diabetesjuicing. I discovered that some diabetics Continue reading >>
Smoothies For Diabetes And High Blood Pressure
The smoothie is a popular drink that has been gaining a lot of traction lately. Everyone is into the smoothie craze. There are some that can help you lose weight fast, and there are some intended to increase energy. There are even smoothies for diabetes and smoothies for high blood pressure. What Is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where the amount of sugar in your blood is too high. This happens because of two things. First, your body either does not respond to insulin. Or second, your body can’t produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for turning sugar into food for your body’s cells. There are two types of diabetes. First is type 1, where your body cannot produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when your body can’t use insulin or can’t produce the right amount of insulin your body needs. What Is High Blood Pressure? This condition is also known as hypertension. It is known as the “silent killer.” This is because it has no obvious symptoms. Many people are not aware if they have it. High blood pressure means your blood is pumping through your heart and blood vessels with too much force. Relationship between Diabetes and High Blood Pressure It is not known why there is a connection between the two diseases. However, it is widely assumed that obesity, inactivity, and a high-fat and high-sodium diet lead to both conditions. Around 25 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have high blood pressure. In addition, 80 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have high blood pressure. People with diabetes have to constantly monitor their blood pressure. Luckily, even if you have the two conditions, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Here are smoothies for diabetes and high blood pressure you can try for yourselves. Smoothies for Diabetes Smoothies for d Continue reading >>
40 Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Ahh, the smoothie. It’s gotten a bad rap in the past for being a sugar-laden drink more closely resembling dessert than anything remotely healthy. But while that might be true for smoothies purchased at juice shops, you can make healthy smoothie recipes right at home for a fraction of the price in just minutes. Why do I love smoothies so much? They make a great breakfast or snack anytime of the day and can usually be made ahead of time. These delicious healthy smoothie recipes can help you refuel after a great workout. You can also load them up with nutrient dense foods and supplements to help boost your immune system or to give you an energizing power-punch to your metabolism. They require minimal equipment (just a blender) and, by storing them in a reusable drink bottle, you can have an on-the-go meal in minutes. Ready to make one of these frosty concoctions? I’ve rounded up some of my favorite healthy smoothie recipes. Whether you want to satisfy a sweet tooth, detox with a green drink, or indulge in a chocolatey drink, I know you’ll love these recipes. IMPORTANT NOTE: I recommend using natural sweeteners like raw honey, real maple syrup or organic coconut palm sugar to get the most nutrients out of these recipes. Also eliminate conventional cow’s milk and use organic coconut milk, almond milk or grass-fed goat milk, replace table salt with sea salt, and replace canola and vegetable oil with coconut oil, olive oil or ghee. Top 40 Healthy Smoothie Recipes FRUIT SMOOTHIE RECIPES 1. Berry Green Smoothie Loaded with antioxidants (thanks, berries!), this smoothie recipe is a snap to make ahead of time. Skip the table sugar and add a drizzle of honey to sweeten. Berry Green Smoothie / Damn Delicious A rich antioxidant superfood, blueberries are good for your brain Continue reading >>
Best Smoothies For People With Diabetes
Smoothies may seem like a healthful option, but they can be a very bad choice for people who have diabetes. Many people with diabetes are well-informed about what they can and cannot eat. They know also that choosing premade meals, snacks, and drinks can be challenging. People with diabetes have to be very careful when ordering smoothies in restaurants, as these often contain far too much sugar and not enough protein and fat. With some modifications, however, smoothies can be enjoyed either at home or at a restaurant. Things to consider when making a smoothie People with diabetes must pay careful attention to their carbohydrate intake. Avoiding low quality carbohydrates, such as sugar or white flour, and using dietary fiber as their guide in choosing carbohydrates, are the best dietary options for them. A person with diabetes should consider some of the following: Extra fat can be a good thing The debate can be very confusing between good and bad fat, what is good and bad cholesterol, and the ever-changing guidelines on what offers the best balance between them. However, in short, some fats are very beneficial to people with diabetes, as they help slow down the speed at which sugar enters the blood. Some sources of fat that can be added to a morning smoothie include: almond or peanut butter chia seeds avocado raw pecans raw walnuts Include extra protein Similarly to fat, protein offers many health benefits that are particularly important to people with diabetes. For example, high-protein content slows the absorption of food, which reduces the speed at which sugar enters the bloodstream. Protein does not always need to come from an animal or animal byproduct. Many foods contain high amounts of protein, and adding them to a smoothie in the morning will offer great benefit Continue reading >>
Are You Eating Too Much Fruit?
Loading your diet with fruit seems like a no-brainer, right? Your body gets a boost from nutritious superstars like fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, plus juicy berries might even satisfy your sweet tooth. But that doesn’t mean maintaining a 24/7 fruit free-for-all is good for your health. “Fruit is high in a sugar known as fructose. Even though the sugar is coming from this healthy source, you still have to use moderation,” says Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, CDN, a dietitian at B-Nutritious. If you’re panicking because you’ve been devouring fruit salad to your heart’s content, don’t worry. Here’s what you need to know about how much fruit you should really be eating every day. Why Eating Too Much Fruit Might Impact Your Health Sugar comes in a few different forms: Glucose, fructose and sucrose. Glucose helps keep all your systems chugging along smoothly. “Carbohydrates break down into glucose, your body’s main source of fuel,” says Beth Warren, MS, RDN, CDN, registered dietitian and author of Living a Real Life with Real Food. Then you have fructose, the only type of sugar found in fruits. It’s metabolized in the liver, as opposed to in the blood stream. Sucrose, more commonly known as table sugar, is simply a combination of both glucose and fructose. RELATED: The Bitter Truth About Sugar and Its Effects on Our Health High blood sugar, which is caused by too much glucose in your blood, can lead to diabetes. Refined carbohydrates, like white rice or white-flour baked goods, are common culprits leading to high blood sugar. In addition to their sugar content, they lack the fiber that prevents glucose spikes, wreaking havoc on your blood sugar levels. “Too much sugar in the blood stream at once leads to fat storage and insulin resistance, a precurso Continue reading >>
26 Best Smoothies For Diabetes Treatment And Relief
Living with diabetes is not easy, but in case you can manage your disease, you can get a normal life. Diet is a vital part of the management that you need to be careful. Getting diabetes does not mean that you have to deny all of the foods that you want to consume. However, it is important for you to make healthier food choices. A good food choice is to eat a plenty of vegetables and fruits, which are light in calories but heavy in nutrition. Smoothies For Diabetes The Best Recipes In case you plan them well, healthy smoothies can be a part of your diabetic diet. Factually, there are some certain foods that are good for managing blood sugar levels and enjoying healthy smoothies are a fun and also easy way to ensure that you consume them every day. Some vegetables and fruits are good for controlling your diabetes than other ones. Look for products that is low on the GI (glycemic index), which means that it will not increase your blood sugar. According to a study offered by the American Diabetes Association, some vegetables and fruits that contain a low glycemic index rating and important nutrients such as calcium, fiber, magnesium, potassiumand vitamins A, E, C are: Citrus fruits: A great ingredient for smoothies for diabetes, citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, grapefruits, limes, are high in vitamins and minerals. You should use whole fruits rather than their juices to get all of the benefits of the fiber content. Green leafy vegetables: They are very good for human health, not just diabetics. The darker the green color is, the better benefits you get. Choose kale or spinach for your smoothies because they get a mild flavor that you are able to use to cover up with other foods. Berries: Any type of berry such as blueberries, strawberries raspberries, blackberries, Continue reading >>
The Best 10 Delicious Diabetic Smoothie Recipes
For a long time, people living with diabetes didn’t get to enjoy many delicious options due to diet restrictions. But not anymore. Today, I’m giving you my best 10 smoothie recipes especially crafted for diabetics. They are ideal for you, whether you are a type 1 or type 2 diabetic. My parents are diabetic and most of my extended family has diabetes too. We had to learn to live with it, and we've found smoothies to be a great solution - provided we chose the right ingredients, as I'll show you here. Fighting Diabetes Type 2 ? I've gotten several enthusiastic recommendations from followers who tried the "Reverse Diabetes Today" program. Note: it's now on a special 50% off promo, so grab it while the promo is still up. It’s important that through my experience, you’ll have a helpful new tool to live a wholesome life. You can now develop a meal plan with diabetic smoothies being a part of your everyday diet. My mother used to complain that her meals were boring. She would skip meals everyday, which caused her agony, as her blood sugar levels would decrease so rapidly. And now, with these smoothies, she’s always looking forward to her meal times. Her sugar levels are stable and she’s never been happier. Want to lose weight with smoothies? How smoothies can be good for Diabetes You may have thought that smoothies are laden with sugar. It’s true for many store-bought options, but at home you’re in perfect control. This is what prompted me to look up recipes to make low sugar, diabetic friendly smoothies. The best part? These are more than delicious treats. They are low calorie recipes for healthy smoothies to help you lose weight. You’ll appreciate how quick they are to make, especially on those days you’re too busy to cook or too lazy. Other days Continue reading >>
