The Diabetic Diet - Not All Vegetables Are Necessarily Healthy

Whether you have been a lifelong health-nut or are just starting to learn more about healthy foods because of a diabetes diagnosis, then chances are good that you have learned that it is important for diabetics to consume foods that are low in carbohydrates and sugars. But did you also know that foods are ranked according to their Glycemic index?

The Glycemic index is a system for measuring the amount of carbohydrates in foods, which correlates to the amount of time it takes the body to break them down with insulin. Because diabetics have difficulties using insulin properly to break down carbohydrates, diabetics need to be extra careful to consume foods that have a low quantity of carbohydrates in them in order to stay healthy. Of course, exercise and medications also help insulin to break foods down more effectively, but a diabetic can go a long way in helping his or her body to metabolize food by reducing the carbohydrate intake at each meal.

Not all vegetables are necessarily healthy.

Generally, speaking, diabetics are often advised to consume a healthy amount of vegetables as part of their daily diets. While the food pyramid recommends that everyone consume between 3 and 5 servings of vegetables a day, not all vegetables are the same. In fact, some vegetables are high on the Glycemic index and may be difficult for the diabetic body to metabolize.

Here's a list of some of the vegetables (and their Glycemic indexes) that diabetics may want to drastically limit in order to keep their carbohydrate intake low, according to Sugar Busters:

• Baked potato (95)

• Parsnips (95)

• Carrots (85)

• French fries (80)

• Beets (75)

The following vegetables are ranked moderately on the Glycemic index and should be consumed only occasionally:

• Sweet potatoes (55)

• Yams (50)

• Green peas (45)

• Black-eyed peas (40)

However, the following vegetables are ranked low in the Glycemic index and may be healthy for consumption. Plus, they're loaded with healthy carbohydrates that will provide diabetics with energy:

• Dried beans (30-40)

• Pinto beans (40)

• Green beans (40)

• Chick peas (35)

• Lima beans (30)

• Black beans (30)

• Butter beans (30)

• Kidney beans (30)

• Soy beans (15)

• Green vegetables (0-15) (Sugar Busters p. 63)

Whenever beginning a new diet, especially one that may change the way you consume carbohydrates, it's always wise to speak with your doctor. Your doctor may also be able to give you nutritional tips that will apply to your unique body and lifestyle so that you can be healthier and happier for years to come.

Sources:

http://imtypefree.com/diabetes-diet-guidelines-and-the-Diabetes-food-pyramid.html

­Sugar Busters­; by H. Leighton Steward, Morrison C. Bethea, M.D., Sam S. Andrews, M.D., and Luis A. Balart, M.D.; 1995