Diabetes Nutrition Secrets

Healthy food choices are important for our nutrition. In order for all of us to feel better, maintain a healthy weight and be protected from diseases and other harmful conditions we need to pay close attention to what we put into our bodies. However, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your food selections become even more important, since diabetes nutrition can have an even greater impact on your health.

The good news is that diabetes nutrition is really not that different from the healthy food choices that the rest of the population should make. It simply becomes more important to make those choices carefully and consistently if you have this disease.

Watch your Percentages

As a general rule, diabetes nutrition should include a diet that consists of 20-40% of carbohydrates, 20-40% from protein, and 30% or less from fat. This should be measured by the amount of calories consumed and is good guideline for anyone with diabetes.

In addition to monitoring the correct percentages of the types of food you eat, it is also important to make good choices within those percentages. For example, opt for organic fruits and vegetables from the health food store instead of the chemical laden kind you get at the supermarket.

Go with a skinless chicken breast rather than a piece of red meat as often as possible. By consistently acting in a conscientious manner when planning your menus and making your food selections, you will go far in keeping your diabetes nutrition where it should be.

What to Include In Your Diabetes Diet

Diabetes nutrition is not that different from nutrition for everyone else, so stick with the standard guidelines of nutrition and you will go far in helping to manage your disease. If you are overweight, you will also want to opt for low-calorie and low-fat foods that will help you to drop the excess pounds and maintain a healthier weight. Always remember to drink a lot of water.

Along with organic fruits and vegetables being at the top of your diabetes nutrition list, you may want to add plenty of whole grains that will offer the necessary fiber and nutrients. Your protein selections should be of the lean and low-fat varieties.

Try soy protein as plant based protein is better for you than animal based protein. Animal based protein comes from meat that you consume. If you insist on eating meat try to add wild fish and beans instead of red meat whenever possible to meet your diabetes requirements.

What to Avoid In Your Diabetes Diet

Like any healthy diet program, diabetes nutrition consists of keeping foods high in fat and sugar to a minimum for both weight control and nutritional considerations. Although most medical professionals will agree that a little sugar is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to diabetes nutrition, too much of a good thing can become a problem rather quickly.

Therefore, it is important to limit your intake of refined sugar items as well as those that are fried or high in fat from other sources. Stay away from all processed foods (fast food, potato chips, candy etc.) They have no nutritional content whatsoever.

Keep in mind that even healthy foods contain calories, so it is also important to monitor portion sizes as a part of diabetes nutrition.