Diabetes Diet: Tasty Free Foods To Keep On Hand

Free foods are those that do not affect our blood sugar levels. Knowing what these items are can make snacking and meal prep easier, and more flavorful for people with diabetes.
Free foods have fewer than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbs per serving. Some can be eaten frequently, in moderation, with no counting necessary. Other free-food servings may be enjoyed up to three times throughout the day.
Six Free Foods
Here are six free foods that you may want to keep stocked in your refrigerator or pantry.
Cucumbers and Pickles. One serving (1/2 cup) of sliced cucumber provides three nutrients most of us need more of: magnesium, potassium, and fiber. Sliced cucumbers make a good chip substitute with dips, can be made into a relish, or pureed with herbs, broth, and avocado to create a hot or cold soup. A cucumber sandwich spread with a spoonful of tuna salad forms a delightful lunch.
Pickles add crunch and sass to any snack or meal, but be aware that one serving (1 1/2 medium dill, 3/4 ounce gherkins) contains up to 60 percent of our recommended daily intake of sodium.
Cabbage. A free-food portion of cabbage (1/2 raw shredded, or 6 fresh leaves) is a stupendous source of vitamins C and K, plus a slew of antioxidants.
Cabbage leaves are sturdy so they can be a substitute for tortillas, or taco shells, and shredded cabbage in broth-based soups renders them more filling. A tart vinegar-dressed coleslaw is a healthier side salad than the creamy version.
Leafy Greens. All leafy greens are free foods that can be eaten in moderate amounts as often as wished. The darker varieties are mor Continue reading

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Walking after meals can lower blood sugar and reduce type 2 diabetes risk

When you're done clearing plates and washing dishes, lace up those sneakers.
A 15-minute walk after every meal can help lower blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in Diabetes Care.
Muscle contractions help clear glucose
Researchers monitored the blood sugar levels of older adults who were at risk for impaired glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for type 2 diabetes. The participants, who had an average age of 70, experimented with three different walking exercise programs: three 15-minute, post-meal walks after each meal of the day; one 45-minute morning walk; and a 45-minute afternoon walk.
Despite the fact that the 15-minute walks were spaced apart by several hours, the benefits of walking after meals were much more significant than taking one sustained walk in either the morning or afternoon, the researchers found.
"A post-meal walk is timed to when blood glucose just starts to climb," lead author Dr. Loretta DiPietro told ABC News. "The muscle activity and the muscle contractions help to clear glucose."
Blood sugar and meals
Blood sugar is highest after eating, but aging puts stress on the pancreas, making the release of insulin more challenging, and high blood sugar ensues.
"It’s like another set of hands to help the pancreas halt the surge of glucose," DiPietro said of the post-meal walks.
And while walking after meals may be helpful for blood sugar control, it's not an effective way to stay aerobically fit, DiPietro emphasized.
This [post-meal walking] most benefits middle-aged, obese people who are sho Continue reading

This Incredible Detox Drink Helps You Burn Fat, Lower Blood Pressur,Fight Diabetes And Boost Metabolism

Today’s article will present a miraculous detoxifying drink that brings you numerous benefits, such as lowering the blood pressure, burning the extra fat, fighting diabetes and boosting your metabolism.
The combination of the beverage is created in order to be able to do all of this: lower blood pressure, blast the fat in your entire body and fight diabetes through doing that.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon of Raw Honey
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 glass of water (12-16 oz.)
Method of preparation:
The preparation is extremely easy, all you have to do is put all of the ingredients in a blender and mix them together. Make a fresh supply every morning.
Use:
Drink this glass of health every morning on an empty stomach, once you wake up, it before you do anything else.
Health benefits
Apple Cider Vinegar is a rich source of good bacteria and enzymes. It contains acetic acid which lowers the blood pressure up to 6%. Moreover, if your diet includes grains, it can also help eat up the starches.
Honey has been used to treat wounds, and also heart, skin, lung and gynecological diseases for centuries. It is abundant in many beneficial substances and can be used even for weight loss. It contains enzymes that boost your metabolism and stimulate the digestive process, which help in weight loss. One teaspoon of honey daily can be very helpful to lose weight, reduce pain in the throat, and even can calm the nerves.
Cinnamon is the number one spice/herb for balancing blood sugar levels. It is one of the best anti-oxidants on Continue reading

Yoga Poses For People With Diabetes

The body postures and breathing techniques of yoga help people with type 1 or 2 diabetes experience increased well-being, and help those with type 2 manage blood glucose levels.
Yoga practice invokes our body’s relaxation response. This helps regulate the stress hormones that can raise both blood pressure and blood sugar.
Some yoga postures massage the pancreas, stimulating the production of insulin-manufacturing beta cells, and many of them increase glucose absorption by muscle cells. Regular practice facilitates weight loss and mental clarity as well.
Three Helpful Yoga Poses
All yoga poses, or asanas, can benefit people with diabetes, but those that stimulate the abdominal organs are especially helpful. Here are three that massage the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and/or improve digestion. They can be done on a yoga mat or rug.
Move slowly with unfamiliar poses, do what you can—never push yourself to the point of pain. If you have any back, neck, muscle, or joint injuries, check with your doctor before attempting yoga.
Seated Forward Bend
Sit tall with legs outstretched in front, toes pointing up.
As you exhale, bend forward at the waist, head toward your knees.
Grasp the toes with your fingers, or rest your hands as far down your legs as possible.
Hold the pose while taking two or three complete breaths, then inhale and return to the starting position.
Repeat 3 or 4 times.
The Half Plow
Lie on your back, legs extended straight, toes pointing up, arms at your sides, palms down.
Breath in as you press down with your palms and raise one of your legs slowly until it is Continue reading

Chew on this: Scientists develop GM purple rice that can cut cancer, diabetes risk

There have been many attempts to produce genetically modified purple rice in the past.
You may soon be buying genetically modified purple rice in your local supermarket. Chinese scientists have created genetically modified purple rice that can reduce the risk of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic disorders. Researchers developed approach capable of delivering many genes at once and used it to make rice endosperm - seed tissue that provides nutrients to the developing plant embryo - produce high levels of antioxidant-boosting pigments called anthocyanins.
“We have developed a highly efficient, easy-to-use transgene stacking system called TransGene Stacking II that enables the assembly of a large number of genes in single vectors for plant transformation,” said Yao-Guang Liu of the South China Agricultural University. “We envisage that this vector system will have many potential applications in this era of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering,” said Liu. To date, genetic engineering approaches have been used to develop rice enriched in beta-carotene and folate, but not anthocyanins. Although these health-promoting compounds are naturally abundant in some black and red rice varieties, they are absent in polished rice grains because the husk, bran, and germ have been removed, leaving only the endosperm.
Previous attempts to engineer anthocyanin production in rice have failed because the underlying biosynthesis pathway is highly complex, and it has been difficult to efficiently transfer many genes into plants. To address this chall Continue reading