Protect Against Diabetes With These Nutritious Foods
You are what you eat, goes the old saying, and making smart nutrition decisions can have a huge impact on your overall health and well being. Incorporating small changes into your diet may help protect against diabetes.
Last week, Dr. Joel Fuhrman was a guest on “The Doctor Oz Show” to promote his new book, The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes. Dr. Fuhrman is a family physician, nutritional researcher and author, and his new book is a “radical idea wrapped in a simple plan”: eat better to stop diabetes. He recommends eating foods with high nutrient density, such as beans, berries, vegetables, seeds and nuts, replacing less nutrient-dense foods and naturally cutting back on sugars, carbohydrates and sodium (all of which can lead to type 2 diabetes).
Dr. Fuhrman is a firm believer in food having the power to prevent and cure disease, and he recommends eating five foods regularly to protect against diabetes: squash, adzuki beans, cashews, cocoa powder and pomegranates.
Nuts.com offers an excellent selection of many of these tasty and healthy foods — stock your pantry and find new ways to incorporate them into your snacks and meals.
Cashews
Cashews are full of fiber, protein and healthy mono-unsaturated fats, as well as copper, magnesium, zinc and biotin. Their sweet, nutty flavor makes them a delicious snack right out of the bag or a great addition to a salad or stir-fry.
Cocoa Powder
Cocoa Powder is an essential ingredient in hot chocolate, brownies and smoothies, and it also adds depth and flavor to savory chilis and sauces. The good news for chocoholics is that cocoa powder also contains many health benefits — cocoa’s high antioxidant content protects against free radicals and may fight diabetes and lower blood pressure.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C, and studies have shown that they can slow the spread of prostate cancer and prevent heart disease. Pomegranate seeds are a quick and satisfying snack, and pomegranate powder can be incorporated into smoothies, curries and desserts.
What are your favorite ways to use cashews, cocoa powder or pomegranates?
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