When you have Type 2 diabetes one of the most important things you can do to gain control over your disease is to make healthy food choices. By focusing on eating right and maintaining a healthy diet people with Type 2 diabetes can make significant improvements to their overall health. Learning how to eat well isn't as hard as you might think, simply taking a moment to stop and consider you food choices can go a long way toward making a change!
Fiber
Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. Studies have shown that people who consume large amounts of fiber have a decreased risk of heart disease, strokes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Fiber helps your digestive track to function properly. Eating fiber can also help to manage your blood sugar level because it slows sugar absorption. Also, fiber can be helpful for weight management purposes because foods high in fiber then to make you feel fuller. Some examples of healthy high fiber foods are beans, broccoli, red peppers, and whole grain bread.
Fat
Maintaining a low fat diet is an important part of managing Type 2 diabetes. Because having diabetes increases you risk of heat disease, eating foods low and fat are important to minimize this risk. Also, because fatty tissues are more insulin resistant, a low fat diet and weight loss are especially important for Type 2 sufferers. Fresh veggies and fruits are always a low fat choice. Also, your cooking method can play a role in fat content. Be sure to limit your consumption of fried foods and opt to bake, grill, or broil your lean meat choices instead.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are you body's source of energy and fuel. When the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, it affects blood sugar. Monitoring and managing your blood sugar is imperative if you have Type 2 diabetes. It is important to balance consumption of carbohydrates with other foods. Foods which are high in carbohydrates include starchy veggies like corn or potatoes, breads, grains, and pasta.
Salt
Eating foods low in salt is critical because of the increased risk for high blood pressure created by Type 2 diabetes. Because salt also elevates this risk, you should try to monitor the sodium level in your diet. Choosing fresh foods instead of processed options can be a great way to cut out salt. Many sauces or condiments are also very salty, so limiting you intake can be beneficial. But don't feel like you have to entirely sacrifice flavor, a great tip to cut sodium without losing taste is to try marinating meats in a pineapple or orange juice based marinade.
A great tool to help you make health eating choices is a professional health and nutrition coaching service. A professional service can help you to keep track of the foods you are eating, assist you in setting up a nutritionally sound eating plan, advise you about healthy alternatives, and motivate you to stay focused on making the right choices. With a professional service to assist you the task of evaluating and selecting foods that will keep you healthy and happy becomes an easy task.
Farfalle with Watercress, Cherry Tomatoes, and Feta
4 servings
Ingredients
8 ounces farfalle pasta
1 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
3 cups watercress leaves (from 2 small bunches)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cook pasta according to package directions. Place the cheese in a large bowl; top with the watercress. Before draining the pasta, take 1/4 cup of the cooking water from the pot and pour it over the watercress. (Watercress will wilt slightly, and cheese will get soft.) Place the tomatoes in a colander. Drain the pasta over the tomatoes for a super-quick blanch. Toss with the watercress and cheese; sprinkle with pepper and serve.
Nutrition facts per serving:
* Calories 330
* Total Fat (g) 6
* Saturated Fat (g) 3
* Carbohydrate (g) 56
* Fiber (g) 4
* Protein (g) 15
If you've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and are looking for help with diet, exercise, and ways to manage diabetes, visit http://www.Support4Diabetics.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kay_Zeeh
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