Reprinted Articles

One of the best and most recommended ways of keeping diabetes in check is by following a diabetes diet plan. Of course, you have to consult a nutritionist before you embark on one, but following such a diet plan is the ideal way of making sure that diabetes does not get the best of you. A qualified nutritionist can make sure that there is enough variation in the diet without sacrificing any of the essential nutrition that your body needs.

A healthy diet plan for diabetics has very strict composition - it must have 50% starch, 20% fat and 30% protein. Since the composition should be so exact, diabetic food must be prepared very precisely, with a great deal of attention given to exact measurements.

You will have to pass up on some of the food stuff that you like, like fried foods. Instead, you will have to focus on baked, steamed, boiled and broiled foods when you are on your healthy eating plan. Snacking between meals is not allowed either - and you must make sure that you never miss meals, because that can affect your metabolism.

Fructose is much easily digested than sucrose, so consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables is recommended, but they must be fresh and not frozen. Frozen foods are often preserved with various fatty and sugary chemicals. Avoid whole milk dairy products in your daily meals, but you should get your necessary dairy intake by drinking skimmed milk. Look away from all sweets, honey and candy items and other bakery and/or confectionery items containing high amounts of enriched carbohydrates.

There are plenty of other things you will have to try your very best to avoid - alcohol tops the list. Other high-fat foods like red meat, potato chips, eggs, mayonnaise etc must also be avoided, if you can, as should bottled fruit juice, cooking sauces and carbonated drinks. When you are on a strict diabetic eating plan, the daily calorie intake you must aim at is 1800 calories. So you have to make sure that your daily diet is carefully planned well in advance.

The simplest and most nutritious diabetes diet plan for a single day can include a breakfast containing 2/3 cup of apple juice, cup of oatmeal, 1 slice of wholemeal bread toast, 1 soft cooked egg and 1 cup unsweetened skimmed milk. Lunch can be cup of tuna, 2 slices of wholemeal bread, cup diced tomatoes, 1 cup mixed fruit, 1 tsp margarine and 1 glass lemon tea. The ideal dinner meal would be 3 ounces of baked chicken, cup of mashed potatoes, 1 slice of wholemeal bread, 1 cup broccoli or tossed salad. Try not to use store-bought salad dressing. Instead, use a 1tsp of olive oil mixed with some vinegar mixed in chopped garlic and parsley/basil/sage or oregano to add flavor.

You need to know a good bit about what your body needs in terms of nutrition and how your metabolic system keeps you going to figure out a diabetes diet plan. You can turn to your doctor for help, and you can design a varied and nutritious eating plan that keeps you healthy and happy for a long time.

Last 5 posts by Max Peykar

• The Foods Diabetic People Can Eat - Plan Your Meals Accordingly - August 3rd, 2008

Tags: Nutrition