Choosing The Best Diabetic Diet

By Karl Graus

When you have diabetes, you have more glucose in your blood stream than the normal human bring. Glucose levels can rise when the body is resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps cells metabolize glucose into energy, or when the pancreas fails to make enough insulin to support the body's needs. In either situation, it is very important for diabetics to maintain control of their blood sugar levels so that that can avoid serious health problems, including the risk of falling into a diabetic coma. Beliefs on what constitutes the proper diet for diabetics vary widely.

For a very long time, it was held that diabetics needed to avoid sugar and other carbohydrates, period. Sugar was considered to be the worst offender because it is more easily broken down into glucose, therefore it gets into the bloodstream faster than other carbohydrates. Now, many diabetics replace sugar in their diet with the various artificial sweeteners that have been developed.

And doctors are now more accepting of the fact that most diabetics will come into contact with sugar and other carbs, no matter how carefully they try to monitor their diets. Artificial sweeteners do exist that add no carbohydrates or calories to foods, but just because a food is sugar free does not mean that it is especially safe for diabetics.

Basically, a diet for diabetics benefits the most from a more relaxed approach to sugar and carboydrate regulation. It's a fact that the diagnosis of diabetes shouldn't prevent people from eating all of the foods they enjoy most. The main things that diabetics need to focus on is monitoring the amount of carbs that they eat every day. Carbohydrates consist of both sugars and starches, so foods like pasta and potatoes need to be limited just as much as sweet, sugary foods.

Basically, your best bet is to eat more veggies and fruits as a diabetic. Fruit and veggies contain natural sugars that can be used by the body but are just enough unlike glucose to stop them from raising the blood glucose level. The fiber that you'll get from the fruits and vegetables are sufficient to let their body more efficiently eliminate waste, leaving the person feeling more full.

It used to be said that diabetic meals should be prepared separately from non-diabetic meals; this is not true and has been debunked. The fact is that the best diet for diabetics is the same as the best diet for the rest of the family. It should be a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables that includes some proteins and starches in moderation with few fats. - 30249

About the Author:

What's The Best Diet For A Diabetic Patient?

By Karl Graus

Diabetes is a disease that raises the glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream to higher than normal levels. Diabetes can be caused by a person's body being resistant to insulin (a hormone responsible for metabolizing glucose), or if a person's pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to sustain bodily functions. Whatever the reason, it is essential to keep control over your blood sugar levels; failure to do so could create serious health issues, including ending up in a diabetic coma. There has been some disagreement in the past about what constitutes the best diet for diabetics.

For years, the prevailing wisdom was that diabetics should strictly avoid foods high in sugar and other carbohydrates. Because sugar is very easily and quickly turned into glucose in the bloodstream, it was usually thought to be the more harmful thing for the body. Diabetic diets incorporated a variety of artificial sweeteners instead of actual sugar to cope with this problem.

And doctors are now more accepting of the fact that most diabetics will come into contact with sugar and other carbs, no matter how carefully they try to monitor their diets. There are some brands of artificial sweeteners that don't add any calories or carbohydrates to food, but it's important to remember that just because a food is sugar-free doesn't guarantee it is safe for diabetics.

Ultimately, the diet for diabetics that should be followed is identical to a healthy diet for anyone. This way, those with diabetes don't need to limit themselves so severely. The thing to remember is that a diabetic's daily carbohydrate consumption should be diligently monitored. Carbohydrates consist of both sugars and starches, so foods like pasta and potatoes need to be limited just as much as sweet, sugary foods.

The best decision is to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to one's diet. Vegetables and fruits do contain natural sugars, though these differ from glucose. Because of this, they don't affect the sugar levels in the bloodstream. In addition, they contain more fiber, which helps the body to eliminate waste better and make the person feel full so that fewer calories are consumed.

You don't have to make one meal for the diabetic and another meal for the remaining family members. As we said, the most effective diet for diabetics is the exact same foods that your whole family should be eating anyhow. All diets should be balanced, rich in fruits and vegetables, and nclude protein and a moderate amount of starches, and very little fat. - 30249

About the Author:

A Great Diet for Diabetics

By Karl Graus

Diabetes is a disease that is marked by higher than normal levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood stream. This is caused by many different things : your body's resistance to insulin, or a pancreas that doesn't generate the proper amount of insulin for you to function properly. Insulin is a hormone that the body uses to convert glucose into energy. Whatever the reason, it is essential to keep control over your blood sugar levels; failure to do so could create serious health issues, including ending up in a diabetic coma. The best diet for diabetics is a topic that has caused a lot of arguments and debate.

For a very long time, it was held that diabetics needed to avoid sugar and other carbohydrates, period. Sugar was regarded as the worst offender as it is more easily turned into glucose, which means it reaches the bloodstream more quickly than other carbohydrates. Many artificial sweeteners have been created that are supposed to replace sugar in a diabetic diet.

Today, doctors accept the fact that diabetics are going to be exposed to sugar and other carbohydrates no matter how carefully they try to avoid them. There are some brands of artificial sweeteners that don't add any calories or carbohydrates to food, but it's important to remember that just because a food is sugar-free doesn't guarantee it is safe for diabetics.

In all honesty, the best diet for diabetics is the same as the best diet for other members of the family. It's entirely possible for diabetics to eat anything they like within reason. The main things that diabetics need to focus on is monitoring the amount of carbs that they eat every day. Carbohydrates include both sugars and starches, so foods like pasta and potatoes need to be limited just as badly as sweet foods with sugars in them.

Basically, your best bet is to eat more veggies and fruits as a diabetic. Vegetables and fruits do contain natural sugars, though these differ from glucose. Because of this, they don't affect the sugar levels in the bloodstream. Additionally, they'll also give you fiber, which will make you feel fuller and promote a lower calorie intake, as well as help you eliminate waste more efficiently.

It used to be said that diabetic meals should be prepared separately from non-diabetic meals; this is not true and has been debunked. The truth of the matter is, the best diet for diabetics is identical to the best diet for everyone else. It should be a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables that includes some proteins and starches in moderation with few fats. - 30249

About the Author:

The Atkins Diet

By Michael James

The short name for the 'Atkins Nutritional Approach' is the 'Atkins Diet', which was the invention of Doctor Robert Atkins. He had put on a lot of weight while in medical school and after reading about a certain diet in the medical journal, he decided to improve it and release it under his own name.

Atkins, in his Atkins diet book, wrote that he was sure that the current theories about weight gain were terribly wrong. First, he dismissed the idea that saturated fats were bad for weight loss; instead he said it was it was the carbohydrates that led to the weight problems Americans have these days. Atkins declared that on the contrary, our obsession with avoiding fat actually aggravated the problem. He pointed out that the low-fat diet foods on the market were high in carbohydrates but were not helping the nation, which probably meant that people on a 'normal' diet often ate foods that were worse for them than what they had been eating before.

The Atkins diet moved the focus. Atkins stated that by cutting out carbohydrates, people would consume their stored body fats. And, of course, if you lose the fat, you lose the weight. He said it was not only a matter of eating less. Atkins held that a diet could actually help you burn calories and that The Atkins Diet supposedly burned more calories than were being consumed everyday. But the claims were contested.

Dr. Atkins also promulgated the positive influence that his diet should have on people with Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease you usually get early in life, but Type 2 is more often closely associated with diet and excess body weight. Therefore, it should follow that any diet that helps reduce weight, will help people with Type 2 diabetes. The Atkins diet is low in carbohydrates, which ought to be avoided by those with Type 2 diabetes regardless of the caloric intake, which the Atkins diet does, so Atkins claimed that those who suffer Type 2 diabetes would no longer need medication such as insulin. Doctors do not agree with Atkins on this point, although they do agree, that a lower carbohydrate intake helps control Type 2 diabetes, but there is no proof that carbohydrates cause diabetes.

What are the procedures one has to follow to do the Atkins diet? It goes in four phases - Induction; On-Going Weight loss; Pre-maintenance; and Lifetime Maintenance. Here follows a brief precis of the most important phase - The Induction Phase.

The Induction phase is the most difficult phase of the Atkins diet. Atkins is flexible about the time period " but recommends it lasts for two weeks. During this phase carbohydrates are severely limited " you can only consume up to 20 grams per day. The idea is to enter a fat burning metabolic phase called ketosis when the body, starved of glucose, will begin converting stored fat into fatty acids needed to power the body. Weight loss during this phase can be extreme " some Atkins followers reported losses of 5-10 pounds a week or more.

Learning the ideal carbohydrate levels for weight loss and for day to day intake after the weight loss ends, are the goals of the three final phases in the Atkins diet. Millions of people are still losing the weight they want to on this diet " but be aware of the dangers of taking in too much fat. - 30249

About the Author:

Low Carb Diet - How To Combine With Exercise To Successfully Lose Weight

By Bob Lewis

Diet and exercise are the two prime ingredients in a successful weight loss program. It is a good idea to establish a regular exercise regimen first and then begin working on your diet. One very good way to lose weight quickly without losing health is to follow a sensible high protein low carb diet program. This will get you good results quickly while improving your overall sense of health and wellness.

A high protein low carb diet can be beneficial for you in several significant ways. It's essential to understand precisely how this kind of regimen works. There are various degrees of a high protein, low carbohydrate diet plan but the point is that boosting your protein consumption and decreasing your carbohydrate intake will enable you to lose weight and enhance your health.

There is more than one reason for choosing a high protein low carb diet. Of course, anyone can choose to follow a high protein low carb diet that is created especially for weight loss. There are also high protein low carb diets created specifically for diabetics and others whose general health would benefit from such a plan.

Refined carbohydrates can give you a quick boost in energy. While this may be a benefit occasionally, it is not a good thing to have happening all day every day. You find refined carbs in foods like most commercially baked goods, sweets, white rice, pasta, and so on. One really good thing about a high protein low carb diet is that it is by definition low in refined carbohydrates. Instead, it is high in protein which gives you a continuous level of energy. Controlling insulin and blood sugar levels is essential to good health. This goes for all people, not only those with diabetes. By avoiding refined carbohydrates, your body's blood sugar and insulin levels can be kept under control.

It is easier to lose those excess pounds on a high protein, low carb diet. You will be eating healthier foods and restricting your consumption of less healthy foods in the process and which will lead to a slimmer body. What you must be careful of while following a high protein low carb diet is not to restrict all carbs. Some healthy carbs which the body needs are found in foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

It needs to be understood that a good, healthy diet in order to lose weight is not complete with just raising the protein intake and lowering the carb intake. In order to go one step further, you must realize that regular exercise is necessary for the body to stay healthy as well.

Eating within the guidelines of a high protein low carb diet keeps you from eating foods that negatively impact your body. Following a high carb diet only fuels weight gain and makes it all the more difficult to lose that weight later. - 30249

About the Author:

Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution Products

By Joy Mitchell

Following a diet is never easy, especially when you are just starting, but frankly just because you're going to do the Atkins Diet, it doesn't mean to say that it will become any easier either. Sure, you can eat virtually unlimited quantity of high fat and high protein food, but you're still on a diet and you still need to limit your food consumption.

For one thing, you will need to limit your carbohydrate consumption especially in the first stage of your diet, and although you get to increase that bit by bit later on you might still be missing your carbs and might still be prone to these cravings. And that's where some of the Atkins products can come to your assistance.

Having tried a few of the Atkins products myself, I have to say that I think them to be worth the money. They are not cheap, but then again, nor are they so expensive that you'll only be able to afford one product and go hungry for the rest of the time, although that might, in its own way ensure that you would lose your excess weight!

Moreover, you'll be happy to hear that there is a range of Atkins products for you to select from which can help you conquer even your strongest food cravings and as an added benefit, as I mentioned before, they taste great as well. But if that isn't enough, you'll be happy to hear that they will also assuage your sugar cravings too, as well as being good for you and filling you up!

So, which Atkins products are available? Well, they extend over a wide range of food, so it really depends on what phase of the diet you're on and what you miss. If it's breakfast bars, there's the 'Morning Start Breakfast Bars' which is high in protein and fiber and which also has the necessary amount of calcium you'll require as well. Then you'll come across my own personal favourite, the 'Peanut Butter Granola Bar', filled with crunchy wholesomeness and peanut butter.

But then again, if you truly crave a foodstuff from your diet, you could always try one of the Atkins products which reproduce different flavours, say the milk shakes. For example, if you crave chocolate, you could try an Atkins Chocolate Milk Shake. Come on, let's be honest, where would we be without our milk shakes? Probably in the same place we would be without our 'Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars'.

Have I said enough to sharpen your appetite? Now, do you believe that can stick to your diet with any of these Atkins products sitting on your shelves with only a minimum of moaning?

There you are then, what are you waiting for, go and grab your Atkins products now. There's only so much will power a person has, so the better prepared you are the easier your diet will be! And so the quicker you can lose that weight. - 30249

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here