5 Tasty Foods That Can Actually Lower Blood Sugar

With the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes around the world, it is important to take steps to prevent these serious diseases. Here are some foods that can help lower and control blood sugar, if added to your diet:

Pickles

A recent study from a Swedish university showed that eating pickles or adding vinegar to food can lower blood sugar levels by up to 50%. Besides pickles, just about anything that contains acetic acid, like vinegar, has a similar effect. It’s relatively easy to incorporate vinegar into a meal, just use a vinegar-based salad dressing on your salad or use it as a dressing for vegetables. Pickles and vinegar work by slowing down or preventing the carbohydrates you consumed with food from being broken down in your stomach, so it is absorbed slowly, preventing it from quickly turning into sugar. The effect is not the same if you consume bread and butter type pickles, since these contain sugar.

almonds

A recent study that tested the effects of almonds on blood sugar had surprising results. People who ate about 2 ounces of almonds after eating a piece of sliced ​​white bread had significantly lower blood sugar levels than those who didn’t eat the almonds. The study also showed similar results when testing mashed potatoes and rice. Almonds are rich in antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals, making them a great addition to anyone’s diet, whether they have blood sugar issues or not.

Sweet potatoes

High in fiber and carotenoids, sweet potatoes are also high in antioxidants that have been shown to help your body better respond to insulin. Skip the canned varieties with brown sugar and syrup, though, as they won’t have the same effect.

flax seed

This includes flax seed and flax oil supplements. Some studies have shown stabilization of blood sugar levels with supplements or increased consumption of flaxseed and flaxseed oil.

Cinnamon

A study in Pakistan showed that diabetics who took small doses of cinnamon, from just 1/4 teaspoon to 2 teaspoons per day, increased their bodies’ natural insulin production. The study also showed beneficial effects on cholesterol.

So why don’t you try baking some sweet potatoes and don’t forget about the cinnamon? While he’s at it, eat a big salad with a savory, tangy olive oil and vinegar dressing.