Fruits For Diabetes
Although diabetics can have any fruit, but they should preferably avoid mango, custard apple, grapes, chikoo, bananas as they have a high sugar content. There are three fruits in particular that are especially beneficial for diabetic patients - apple, grapefruit and jambul (jamun).
Apple
One the most popular fruit, apples have a high pectin content and are very beneficial to diabetic patients. Pectin is found in the rind and in the pulp, and acts as a detoxifier of the body by supplying an excessive amount of galacturonic acid. This helps remove harmful waste from the bloodstream and can lower a diabetic’s insulin requirements by up to or even more than 35%. Besides being rich in pectin, apples are also rich in Vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 prevents the damage of the brain cells that can occur due to diabetic acidosis.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit – a citrus fruit with a typical, refreshing flavour has several medicinal properties that helps one fight diabetes – can bring down the blood glucose level within a time span of just three days. However, just a diet of grapefruit is not enough. One needs to take more of vegetables and fruits rather than a diet rich in fats.
Nutritionists recommend that anyone suffering from high blood sugar levels should be consuming at least three servings of grapefruit every day. Grapefruit can also be used as a preventative measure against high blood sugar levels, especially when used in conjunction with a low fat, low-sugar, low-starch diet. Diabetic patients should experience a change in less than three months.
Rose apple or jambul
The elements present in jambul have a strong positive effect on pancreas. It prevents the conversion of starch into bad sugar, thus controlling the blood sugar levels. The seeds of this fruit can be dried, powdered and then taken with water. Apart from controlling diabetes, it also relieves thirst and prevents excessive urination.
In addition to the fruit, the bark of the jambul tree is also used to treat diabetes. The bark itself is dried out entirely, then burned into a white-colored ash which is then taken. In Ayurveda, a diabetic patient is given about two grams of this ash in the morning on an empty stomach and two grams each in the afternoon and in the evening - an hour after meals.
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