If your doctor has diagnosed you with diabetes or pre-diabetes, you may be wondering what foods to eat. Here are some tips.
Fruits for diabetics and cholesterol
Fruit is a great way to get the vitamins, minerals and fiber you need in your diet, but it can also be high in sugar. If you have diabetes or insulin resistance, it’s important to eat a variety of fruits and limit those that are high in sugar.
Fresh fruit is best when it comes to lowering blood sugar levels, as it contains less sugar than processed fruit juices or dried fruits. You also have more control over how much sugar you consume if you eat fresh fruit rather than juice or dried fruit snacks.
If you’re trying to lose weight and improve your heart health, try adding berries, cherries and grapefruit to your diet. These fruits are low in calories and carbohydrates while being high in fiber and antioxidant vitamins A and C — all of which are beneficial for people with diabetes or heart disease risk factors.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are two common diseases that affect millions of people around the world. While there is no cure for these conditions, there are ways to manage them.
For example, you can lower your blood pressure by eating a healthy diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Here are some fruits that can help you lower your blood pressure:
Watermelon
Watermelon is packed full of vitamins A and C as well as lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against heart disease and cancer. It also contains potassium, which helps keep salt levels in check by promoting fluid balance in the body. Watermelon juice is particularly beneficial since it provides a concentrated source of nutrients without adding extra calories or sugar to the diet. Try adding watermelon cubes to fruit salads or smoothies for an extra kick of flavor!
Strawberries
Strawberry leaves contain antioxidants such as quercetin and kaempferol which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. They’re also rich in vitamin C which helps lower cholesterol levels by promoting the production of nitric oxide (NO) – a chemical involved in regulating blood flow through vascular walls. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, NO has been shown to improve circulation
If you have diabetes, your body cannot make enough insulin or use it effectively. Insulin is a hormone that transports sugar (glucose) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
You are more likely to have high blood pressure if you are overweight, smoke, drink alcohol, have high cholesterol or have a family history of high blood pressure.
Fruit can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. They are low in fat and contain fibre which helps to keep the bowels healthy and helps to control weight.
Fruits are also a good source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C which helps the body fight infection, vitamin A which helps keep eyesight sharp, potassium which helps control muscle contractions in the heart, calcium which helps build strong bones and magnesium which relaxes muscles and nerves in the body.
Types of Fruits:
Apples – Apples contain pectin which lowers cholesterol levels by binding bile acids in the gut so they cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream. They also contain antioxidants called flavonoids that protect against heart disease by preventing LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidising (turning rancid). One study showed that eating two apples a day helped to
Fruits are delicious and nutritious, but some people with high cholesterol should limit the amount of fruit they eat.
A small fruit, such as an apple or orange, is a healthy snack for most people. However, if you have high cholesterol, you need to be careful about how many fruits you eat.
Fruit contains fiber and antioxidants that are good for your health. However, some fruits can raise your blood sugar levels and increase your risk of developing diabetes.
The amount of sugar in each type of fruit varies greatly depending on its ripeness and variety. If you have diabetes or prediabetes or if your doctor has advised you to keep your blood sugar levels under control, it’s best to avoid certain fruits unless they’re accompanied by other foods that will help lower their glycemic index.
Some examples of low-glycemic fruits include:
Raspberries;
Blueberries;
Plums; and
Peaches
Fruits for diabetics and cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat that occurs naturally in the body. It is also found in foods such as eggs, meat and dairy products. Cholesterol contributes to the formation of plaque, which can clog arteries, resulting in heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends eating less than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day.
High cholesterol can be treated with medications or lifestyle changes, including making changes to your diet. Eating fruits can help lower your cholesterol because they contain soluble fiber, which helps reduce blood cholesterol levels by binding with bile acids and removing them from the digestive tract before they are absorbed back into the bloodstream. Fruits also have antioxidants that help protect against damage caused by free radicals, which may lead to oxidative stress and inflammation in your body [1].
You should talk to your doctor before starting any new diet plan if you have high cholesterol or other health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, since some fruits may interact with medications you are taking [2].
1. Apple
Apples are a good source of fiber, which helps lower LDL cholesterol levels. They also contain pectin, a soluble dietary fiber that has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by 10% to 15%. However, one study found that the cholesterol-lowering effects of apples were only seen when the apples were eaten with cheese, yogurt or milk — all foods high in saturated fat — rather than alone.
2. Apricots
Apricots are high in fiber, which is beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels and protecting against heart disease. They also contain beta-carotene, which has been shown to decrease LDL levels and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. A study published in 2014 found that eating dried apricots could help lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
3. Avocados
Avocados are another fruit high in monounsaturated fats and soluble fiber that can help lower LDL levels and protect against heart disease. One cup of avocado contains about 10 grams of monounsaturated fat — more than any other fruit or vegetable — as well as 1 gram of soluble fiber (the equivalent of 3 teaspoons).