Natural Ways to Handle Diabetes

Olives

Olives are often used for flavoring or garnishing food, while olive oil is often used to cook other foods. However olive is eaten, it has high nutritious value. These black or green nut-shaped fruits have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can protect you against heart diseases, cancer, and other inflammatory diseases like asthma and arthritis. Studies have also found that when unhealthy fats in one’s diet is replaced (yes, unhealthy fats still need to be eliminated) with healthy olive fats or olive oil, LDL cholesterol levels could drop by 18 percent. A double-blind-placebo-controlled study also found that extracts of olive leaves helped reduce blood pressure in those with hypertension. Olives are rich in an omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is actually the bark of the cinnamon tree. The bark curls into quills when it is peeled off the tree. With methylhydroxy chalcone polymer as its main active ingredient, it is found that the essential oils found uniquely in cinnamon are what give cinnamon its special and diverse medicinal properties. Studies have found cinnamon’s ability to help control blood sugar. It seems that adding ground cinnamon to your diet can help reduce your fasting blood sugar levels by up to 25%. Cinnamon has also been used traditionally in the treatment of arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, heart diseases, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and muscle cramps. Cinnamon is also found to be effective as a muscle relaxant, digestive aid, antibiotic and antiulcer food. Rich in manganese, cinnamon can help you in regulating your blood pressure. Cinnamon can either be ground and sprinkled on food, or you could actually place a stick in your drinking water. The water will absorb both the flavor and healing properties of the medicinal bark. Note that when the stick uncurls, its time to change a new stick.

Molasses

Molasses is the syrupy dark liquid that is derived from processing raw sugar into its refined form. While fully refined sugars (eg. white sugar and corn syrup) are quite devoid of any nutrients except glucose, molasses is rich in minerals and offers several health benefits. Molasses is rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, manganese, potassium and selenium. It is also a good source of vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. Iron and copper are needed for the formation of blood. Copper helps the body in the absorption of iron. As a rich source of iron and copper, molasses can be helpful for those with anemia as well as menstruation problems. A deficiency of copper can lead to anemia, thyroid problems, cardiac arrhythmia and osteoporosis. The antioxidants present in molasses (absent in refined sugars) can help protect you against oxidative damage linked to cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other degenerative diseases.

Chickpea

You might have seen the chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that are used to make the Middle Eastern dip known as hummus. But do you know that these little beans are actually very nutritious? Chickpeas are rich in protein, fiber, folic acid and manganese. They can help you in dealing with unhealthy cholesterol, as well as in improving your blood sugar levels. More uniquely, a compound known as molybdenum which is found in chickpeas can help detoxify your body of sulfites, which are commonly used in preserving meats (eg. bacon, luncheon meats) and wine. So if you are feasting on lots of preserved meats this festive season, accompany them with lots of chickpeas to help rid your body of the unhealthy sulfites.

Coconuts

Known in the Philippines as the “tree of life”, the coconut palm is an amazing source of food and medicine – virtually all parts of the tree can be used in one way or another for nutrition or healing. The fruit of the coconut palm (i.e. the coconut) is probably the most widely used. Prior to the 1950s, coconut oil was widely used in the food industry in the United States, until coconut oil was mistakenly accused of contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. It seemed a Minnesota research then found drastic increase in rats’ cholesterol levels, after feeding fully hydrogenated coconut oil to the animals. The research probably sparked off the bad reputation of coconut oil as an unhealthy saturated fat. Even though Harvard scientists later reviewed the study and concluded that it was not the coconut oil per se that contributed to the cholesterol changes, but the full hydrogenation of the oil to render it completely void of any essential fatty acids, the undeserved reputation of the nut-oil stuck till today.

Artichokes

Artichokes are rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamins B (folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, biotin), vitamin C, as well as minerals such as chromium (trace mineral), magnesium (trace mineral), manganese, and potassium. A medium-sized artichoke containing just 60 calories and 0.2g of fat can provide you with all these nutrients. Artichokes also contain a high proportion of oligosaccharide (a type of carbohydrate), which serves as food for the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract. This makes the artichoke a natural probiotic food that supports the health of your digestive system. Artichokes contain a form of carbohydrates, known as inulin, which is handled very differently by the body as compared to other sugars. For this reason, artichokes are very low in calories and can actually be beneficial to those with diabetes. In fact, inulin has been shown to help improve blood sugar level control. Note however that artichokes should be consumed as fresh as possible, as inulin is easily broken down into other sugars when stored for some time. Artichokes are actually very perishable. The ones whose leaves have begun to spread apart and turn woody or dry are likely to be way past their prime.

Mangos

Considered by Ayurveda to be the “king of fruits”, mangoes are tasty, juicy fruits that are highly nutritious. This fragrant and sweet fruit is rich in carotenes, vitamin C, copper and vitamin A. It is also a good source of vitamin E, potassium, iron and magnesium. Containing over 80% water, the mango is an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber. And what do all these mean? The carotenoids, phytonutrients and antioxidants found in mangoes have been found through research to help prevent certain cancers. The antioxidants and fiber found in mangoes can help support a healthy cardiovascular system. Mangoes also contain a multitude of enzymes, such as magneferin, katechol oxidase and lactase, which can help you to improve your digestion, or play a part in tenderizing meat. Mangoes have been used by Indian healers for treating anemia, as their high iron content helps in building blood. This makes mangoes a great fruit for pregnant ladies or those undergoing menstruation! The calcium and magnesium content in this yellow fruit can also help in preventing muscle cramps. And even though mangoes can be really sweet, they can be safely enjoyed by those with diabetes, as consumption of the fruit does not trigger a sharp spike in the blood glucose levels. Consuming the fruit may offer you some protection against infections. In a Mexican study, it was found that mango provided some protection against what is commonly known as “traveler’s diarrhea (caused by an organism called giardia). In another lab test where mango juice was poured into a test tube containing viruses, the viruses were destroyed. It’s no wonder that the Indian healers consider the mango to be the “king of fruits”.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a hearty-tasting staple food used in Indonesia for over 2000 years. Made by fermenting soy beans, this food is high in nutritional value. Tempeh is rich in proteins, and hence makes a tasty meat replacement for vegans or vegetarians. Since this fermented food is rich in dietary fiber, it also makes a good source of protein for those with diabetes, some of whom have problems dealing with animal proteins. The antibiotic agents and enzymes that tempeh contains also help make the food more easily digestible. Tempeh also contains isoflavones and soy saponins that can help reduce your risk of heart diseases and cancer. For those who believe that unfermented soy products are harmful to health, tempeh is an alternative way of getting your nutrients from soy, without the problems associated with unfermented soy.