Enjoy Healthy Snacks in Diabetes

We usually feel hungry at odd times and need something to fill up our stomach. The most tempting way is to grab a burger, fries or chips. This increases your calorie intake .A healthier option for snacking is to choose nutritious food that can keep your energy levels high. You need to pay attention to what you eat. Stuffing your mouth with snacks high in fat and calories may be tempting to eat but will have adverse effects on your health. To avoid weight gain, look for foods that contain fibre like fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals. You can combine them with protein-rich snacks such as peanut butter, low-fat yogurt or cheese.

Some smart snacking ideas can be beneficial to avoid unhealthy eating. Moderation is the key to smart snacking as people who eat regular meals and healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods without eating .You can prepare healthy snacks in advance by keeping plenty of fresh fruits and veggies in your refrigerator .Make healthy snacks interesting with mustard sauce, peanut butter and few nuts. If you are craving for a chocolate, go for a hot chocolate drink as it contains lesser calories. Do take care of the number of servings Diabetic patients are often recommended to maintain an ideal weight.

Diabetic nutritional foods consist of mostly low-fat foods and can avoid the risk of stroke and heart disease. A balanced healthy diet can make a diabetic person energetic and more active. Diabetic patients can remain safe from other unwanted symptoms of diabetes by selecting healthy snacks.

Healthy snacks can help diabetic patients to control blood glucose levels and to spread carbohydrates and calories over throughout the day. You must eat at least 4 -6 hours or else include healthy snacks between your meals.Diabetic patients can numerous healthy snacks which include veggies and fresh yogurt. You can also try homemade popcorns as it is rich in fibre.Blackbean salad and cottage cheese can stabilize blood sugar level. You can also have apples, broccoli, carrot, boiled eggs, nuts, chicken, spinach and cucumbers with olive oil.

People with diabetes can eat any kind of fruit, including bananas. They are low in calories, but high in fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium. The fiber keeps you full and satisfied. Vitamin C present in banana boosts your immune system, and potassium controls your blood pressure. You must avoid eating bananas that are part of desserts, like sundaes or those that have been prepared with sugar syrups. These desserts are a source of excess carbohydrates, calories and fat. Instead you can enjoy fresh, frozen, canned and dried bananas.

Thus, include healthy snacks in your diet to curb your hunger. You just need to be creative to use fruits and vegetables in your snacks. Diabetic patients too can enjoy eating various numerous tasty and healthy snacks including bananas.

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Jaggery Natural Alternative for Sugar

Jaggery is obtained from sugarcane juice and does not involve any chemicals. It is commonly known as gur consisting of proteins, and mineral salts. Jaggery is sweet, delicious as well as contains all the nutritional values present in sugarcane. Jaggery is prepared from the sap or juice of plants such as sugarcane and date palm. Jaggery obtained from palm trees is known as palm jaggery and, benefits are similar to the benefits of jaggery obtained from sugarcane. It is used to make candies, toffees, jaggery cakes and many other sweet preparations. It is also used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages. Jaggery is a healthy alternative to white sugar and is commonly known as 'medicinal sugar', because of its various health benefits.

You should use it in your dishes as a natural sweetener instead of white sugar. Given below are some benefits of jaggery:
It is rich in iron. So it is beneficial for anemic people
Jaggery is useful for diabetic people
It purifies blood and helps to maintain blood pressure levels
You can lose weight by eating jaggery as it reduces water retention
As it is rich in anti-oxidants, therefore helps in fighting free radicals

It strengthens the nervous system
Jaggery can control throat and lung infections to a great extent; helps in preventing breathing disorders and asthma
Also helpful to  control indigestion and constipation problems and acts as a cleaning agent
It promotes relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels
Jaggery can relieve the pain of migraines to a large extent

Benefits of lauki juice (bottle gourd)

Bottle gourd grows in humid weather of India, Sri Lanka and other tropical countries. It is low in calories and fats; rich in iron, high in dietary fibre and has vitamins. Lauki also contains sodium and potassium, which makes it suitable for hypersensitive patients. It is also an effective treatment for digestive problems and diabetics. Lauki juice has a cooling effect as it is high in water content, easy to digest therefore effective in constipation and digestive disorders. Also helps in treating urinary disorders and has the potential for breaking stones in body.

Bottle gourd juice works well for balancing the liver function and also treats graying hair. The juice is an effective medicine for the treatment of insomnia, insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases. This juice is a nutritious drink which is useful in controlling blood pressure and heart diseases. Bottle gourd is helpful in overcoming jaundice and losing weight. Bottle gourd is useful in urinary disorders. It can be given once daily in the treatment of burning sensation in urinary passage due to high acidity of urine. In addition, the juice is an extremely important tonic for excessive thirst due to diarrhea, diabetes and use of fatty or oily foodstuffs.

Methi seeds (fenugreek) health benefits

Fenugreek or methi seeds have been used for the treatment of reproductive disorders and hormonal disorders. The seeds also improve digestion, male potency, cure skin problems, treat sore throat, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, help breast enlargement and reduce menstrual pain. It has been found that methi seeds reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart attacks. Also you can treat the problem of diabetes by consuming few seeds daily. The herb is known to help reduce fever by consuming it with lemon and honey. Add few methi or fenugreek seeds in your dishes and see the positive health effects.

For more information please visit : benefits of jaggery, benefits of lauki juice, benefits of methi seeds