As people’s living standards continue to improve, the incidence of diabetes is also increasing year by year, and shows a trend of rejuvenation. According to statistics, the prevalence of diabetes among adults in China is 11.6%, and the number of patients has reached 114 million, making China the largest country in the world in terms of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia, caused by defective insulin secretion or impaired its biological action, or both.
In order to reduce blood sugar, many diabetic patients listen to the “bitter melon can lower sugar, cornhusk tea sugar, pumpkin sugar” and other rumors, trying to use food to reduce blood sugar. So, food “sugar” really reliable?
NO.1: Bitter Melon
When it comes to “lower sugar” vegetables, bitter melon is second to none, is a famous “lower sugar star”. Bitter melon contains a unique bitter melon saponin, there is an auxiliary role in lowering blood sugar. However, the extraction process of bitter melon saponin is very complicated, scientists need a special instrument and environment to complete, and the extract must reach a certain concentration to have a similar role as insulin; and the way of use and insulin is similar to the way of subcutaneous injections, intraperitoneal injections and other ways to play the role of glucose, can not be directly oral drug delivery, otherwise it will be rapidly metabolized by the digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract decomposition. This is the same reason why insulin cannot be taken orally and needs to be given by subcutaneous injection.
Therefore, the consumption of bitter melon can not play a role in lowering sugar. The so-called “eat more bitter melon” as well as the market claimed “fast sugar” “alternative insulin” and other bitter melon health products, food, etc., must not be gullible, otherwise not only will not lower blood sugar The fact is that it is not only not going to lower blood sugar, but may also aggravate the condition.
NO.2: Pumpkin
Eating more pumpkin can lower blood sugar has been circulating for a long time, saying that pumpkin contains pumpkin polysaccharide has a certain inhibitory effect on blood fat, blood sugar and blood pressure. However, the content of pumpkin polysaccharide in pumpkin is very low, if you rely on eating pumpkin to lower blood sugar, almost no effect. Not only that, pumpkin also contains a certain amount of soluble sugar, of which glucose and sucrose are sugars that can be quickly absorbed by the body. Pumpkin has a glycemic index of 75, which is a high glycemic index food and is not suitable for diabetics.
Studies have shown that not only can pumpkin not lower blood sugar, consuming too much will lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar. Especially sweet and sticky chestnut noodles pumpkin, consumption of blood sugar will rise faster. If you want to eat pumpkin, you can choose a lighter flavor, less sugar content, more crunchy tender pumpkin as a vegetable, while paying attention to reduce the main food. For example, if you eat 1 piece of 200 grams of pumpkin, you will have to eat less than half a bowl of rice (about 50 to 80 grams).
NO.3: Okra
Studies have shown that okra, an extract of okra, is effective in treating diabetes and diabetic nephropathy in experimental animals. However, almost all of these studies have been conducted on experimental animals after extraction and concentration, and there is no human evidence yet. The gap between animal studies and human beings is very large, in addition to the amount of animal studies is also large, it is difficult for people to achieve the effect of the dose through the normal diet.
Therefore, do not think that eating a few okra can lower blood sugar. Clinically, some patients heard that okra can lower blood sugar, every day with okra soaked water to drink, and even stopped taking medication, the result is that blood sugar does not drop but rise.
NO.4: Corn
Corn is also often sought after as a “sugar-lowering star”. Corn is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid content of up to 60% or more, it and corn germ in vitamin E synergistic effect, can effectively reduce blood cholesterol concentration, and prevent its deposition in the blood vessel wall. But to say that corn can lower blood sugar, that is no spectrum of things. Although corn contains more magnesium and glutathione, there is a role in improving insulin resistance, but does not enhance the efficacy of insulin, not to mention lower blood sugar.
In fact, corn contains a lot of carbohydrates and more sugar, with sweet corn containing even more sugar. Corn is a high glycemic index food, with a GI value of 70. The monosaccharide components of corn, such as glucose, are not only higher in content, but are also easily digested and absorbed, causing blood sugar to rise much faster than other grains after consumption. Furthermore, the calories of corn are higher than those of flour, rice and sorghum, so if you eat a lot of corn on a regular basis, your blood glucose level will rise instead of being lowered.
NO.5: Buckwheat
Buckwheat contains a substance called rutin, scientists have found that rutin can regulate the activity of insulin, may help to lower blood sugar. However, this research is currently stuck in the animal experimental stage, there is no evidence to show that rutin has a real role in lowering blood sugar. What’s more, the content of rutin in buckwheat is very small, it is impossible for people to eat the amount that can play a role.
There is also a claim that buckwheat is rich in chromium, can help lower blood sugar, so called buckwheat “sugar cereal”. This is actually a misconception. First of all, when the chromium deficiency, chromium supplementation has a certain role in lowering blood sugar; but if there is no lack of chromium, supplementation of more chromium will not further reduce blood sugar. Secondly, buckwheat is not very high in chromium, in fact, many kinds of grain crops contain chromium in the bran, seed coat, such as wheat bran contains a lot of chromium. If the lack of chromium, eat more grains and cereals can play a supplemental effect of chromium, do not have to eat buckwheat.
Conclusion of food to lower blood sugar is not reliable In short, there is no sugar-lowering food as well as sugar-free food in nature, and no food has the effect of lowering blood sugar; on the contrary, all the food in nature can make blood sugar rise after consumption. On the contrary, all foods in nature can raise blood sugar after consumption. This is because as long as the food contains calories, the conversion of calories will cause blood sugar to rise.
As we all know, food contains a variety of nutrients, of which the three major nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and the rest also include minerals, trace elements, vitamins and so on. When carbohydrates enter the body, they are directly broken down into glucose for the body to utilize. So any food will increase blood sugar, only the magnitude of the increase is different. Some foods raise blood sugar effect fast and high; while some rise slowly and low.
The goal of dietary control for diabetics is to keep postprandial blood sugar from rising too high, too fast. On the basis of calculating the total calories needed throughout the day, by choosing foods with a low glycemic index and a reasonable combination of various foods, it is sufficient to make the blood glucose provided by each food add up to no more than the blood glucose standard. In addition, it is also necessary to adhere to regular and moderate exercise, and take medication under the guidance of the doctor in order to make blood glucose control up to the standard.
Related links common food GI value barley grain (boiled) 25, black rice 42.3, sweet potato 54, sweet corn (boiled) 55, oats 55, buckwheat noodles 59.3, whole wheat bread 69, rice 83.2, glutinous rice 87, white wheat flour steamed bread 88.1, low-fat powdered milk 11.9, konjac 17, soybeans 18, lentils 18.5, frozen tofu 22.3, milk 27, green beans 27.2, four season beans 27, green beans 27.2, lotus root powder 32.6, yogurt 36, green beans 39, fried potato chips 60.3, carrots 71, pumpkin 75, cherries 22, grapefruit 25, fresh peaches 28, pears 36, apples 36, plums 42, grapes 43, kiwi 52, bananas 53, mangoes 55, pineapple 66, watermelon 72.
