Diabetes Food Myths and Facts
Diabetes, a chronic condition where the body cannot control blood sugar levels, has become far more common in India in recent years.
It can be confusing to search the internet for trustworthy information regarding the best foods for diabetes. Even occasionally, we ran into new inquiries, such as: Is it true we should stop eating bananas? Did carrots contain sugar? And is cinnamon a true diabetes cure? The answer is “No”
Common Myths about Diabetes Food
We used to frequently hear this sort of false information. Additionally, several people questioned if soda is a better drinking option than colas. Or If you toast the bread, it has no carbohydrates. (Needless to add, neither is true!)
There are many conflicting myths and viewpoints surrounding food if you have pre-diabetes, diabetes, or a loved one who does. To help diabetic persons who may be confused, we are presenting some myths and misconceptions.
Myth: “Blood sugar will not increase by eating sugar-free food.”
Many individuals solely consider the quantity of sugar a food has when reading nutrition labels. Your blood sugar is truly impacted by how much total carbohydrate you consume. One common sugar-free chocolate chip cookie, for instance, has 20 grammes of carbohydrates but zero grammes of sugar, so it still affects your blood sugar levels.
Myth: “I can only eat sweet potatoes; not white potatoes.”
Both varieties of potatoes have roughly 24 grammes of carbohydrates per cup, despite their different colours and nutritional benefits (sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A, while white potatoes are loaded with vitamin C).
Myth: “Honey is preferable to regular sugar.”
It’s acceptable to prefer one taste over the other, but both of them are regarded as added sugars and each teaspoon of either contains roughly the same amount of sugar and carbohydrates. The sweetness of honey may allow you to use a little less of it than white sugar, which is one benefit that honey may provide. Here are some additional untruths about sugar.
Myth: “No carbohydrates are found in Gluten-free foods.”
Some People have difficulty digesting the protein gluten. It is present in wheat, grain, and rye should eat foods that are free of gluten. However, that does not indicate that they are carb-free. Simply because gluten-free bread and crackers employ other starches, such as rice or potatoes, they may have the same amount of carbohydrates as their gluten-containing counterparts.
Myth: “You should always avoid white food.”
This was supposed to be a generic warning against all grains, including pasta, bread, and rice, even though it also suggests avoiding vegetables like broccoli and onions, which is ridiculous! However, you don’t have to fully give up pasta and bread; just be mindful of your portion sizes. The same is true for whole grain products with a deeper shade, like wheat bread or brown rice.
Myth: “Fruit is high in sugar.”
It is true that fruit includes fructose, a type of natural sugar that has an impact on blood sugar. Therefore, you might need to be careful about how much fruit you eat. For example, choose a tiny banana rather than a huge one. Please don’t exclude fruit from your diet because it is also rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and disease-preventing substances.
Conclusion
At first, managing diabetes can be difficult, but once you are fully informed about the condition and your diet, it becomes a lot simpler.
Eating low GI and GL meals, limiting alcohol intake, Trans fat intake, taking prescription medications, and keeping an eye on your levels of blood sugar will all help you manage your conditions and enhance your general health.