Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar level is higher than normal.
Blood sugar, also known as “blood glucose” is your body’s primary source of energy. It comes from the food and drinks that you consume.
Your pancreas produces a hormone called “insulin” that helps absorb the glucose from food to convert it into energy.
There are times when your body does not produce any or enough of it or it doesn‘t process it well.
In both instances, the glucose from food will remain in your bloodstream and will not reach your body’s cells.
Luckily enough, there are ways to reverse diabetes and most of them are, not only, natural but also very easy steps to follow.
Consume certain foods to help combat diabetes
There are some foods that help fight diabetes. Make it a point to consume more of these foods. Here is a short list of food that you can and should include in your diet.
Low-glycemic load foods
If the glycemic index of a certain food is high, it will have a direct impact on the level of your blood sugar.
Thus, you should go for foods with low glycemic index levels such as raw pastured dairy, wild-caught fish, eggs, organic meat, coconut, avocados, seeds, nuts, berries, stone fruits, and non-starchy vegetables.
Clean protein sources
The consumption of protein helps in hindering sugar absorption and will not increase your body’s blood sugar levels.
The ideal protein sources for diabetics include bone broth, eggs, lentils, organic chicken, grass-fed beef, and wild-caught fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna.
Any type of protein you consume should come from an organic or vegetarian source.
Healthy fats
Not all fats are bad. This is why “fat-free” diets are not exactly ideal. Your body needs fat. However, the difference has to be made clear between “healthy” fats and “unhealthy” fats.
Some of the healthy fat sources that you should incorporate into your diet include grass-fed butter, ghee, coconut milk, and red palm oil.
Even though everybody should stay away from saturated fat, it is even more accurate for diabetics and people who are simply trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
Foods that are high in magnesium
Magnesium contributes to the metabolism of glucose, thus helping you control your blood glucose level. In fact, several studies have shown that there is a relationship between magnesium deficiency and type 2 diabetes.
To help fight type 2 diabetes, consume more foods rich in magnesium such as black beans, yogurt, pumpkin seeds, chard, and spinach.
Chromium-rich foods
Chromium plays a role in the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates. By consuming foods rich in chromium, your body’s tolerance for glucose is increased.
It will also help in balancing the blood sugar levels of your body. The best source of chromium is broccoli.
However, other good sources of chromium include grass-fed beef, Brewer’s yeast, green beans, and raw cheese.
Fiber-rich foods
If you consume plenty of fibers per day, you will be able to fight toxins, manage your blood glucose levels, and hinder the absorption of glucose.
The ideal daily consumption is a minimum of 30 grams of fiber.
The best sources of fiber include flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts, berries, avocados, artichokes, peas, and Brussels sprouts.
Remove certain foods from your diet
Aside from consuming foods that help combat diabetes, you also need to remove foods that can increase your chances of developing it from your diet.
These foods actually have a negative effect on your body’s blood glucose levels.
You can never hope to reverse your diabetes if you will continue to include these foods in your diet.
Refined sugar
The worst foods you can eat if you are a diabetic are foods high in refined sugar such as concentrated juice drinks, soda, and other sugary drinks.
While maple syrup and raw honey are better alternatives than regular white or brown sugar, these healthier alternatives may still have an impact on your blood glucose levels.
The best sweetener to use when you have diabetes is stevia.
Hydrogenated oils
These include canola oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and vegetable oil.
Remember that these oils are all processed, which means they underwent very high temperatures and may have been combined with artificial coloring agents.
Their consumption has been associated not only with diabetes but also many other medical conditions.
GMO products
GMO foods have been associated with conditions affecting the liver and kidneys.
Make sure all foods and products you are consuming are labeled non-GMO or organic.
Alcoholic beverages
Not only will alcoholic beverages boost your blood glucose level to dangerous levels but they will also cause liver problems.
A study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine showed that those who consume at least three drinks daily have a 43% higher likelihood of developing diabetes.
Sweet alcoholic beverages and beer contain a high amount of carbohydrates.
Thus, you should stay away from them.
Traditional cow’s milk
Traditional cow’s milk, as well as dairy products made from it, should be cut completely from your diet, particularly for those with type 1 diabetes.
Goat’s milk products are a better alternative.
When choosing your dairy, get only those that are organic, raw, and came from pasture-raised animals.
Grains
All grains, particularly those that contain gluten such as wheat, should be eliminated from your diet. They can result in the inflammation of your intestines, affecting hormones such as leptin and cortisol.
This can ultimately result in blood glucose level increase. Ideally, you should eliminate all grains for at least 3 months.
Then, you may gradually reincorporate grains into your diet but only sprouted ancient grains.
Take supplements for diabetes
There are a number of natural supplements that will help reverse diabetes. These include the following:
Bitter melon extract
Bitter melon helps regulate how your body uses insulin and also lowers your blood sugar levels.
Alpha lipoic acid
This is an antioxidant that converts glucose into energy to be used by your body. It also boosts your body’s sensitivity to insulin.
Fish oil
This is highly effective in increasing levels of HDL cholesterol and decreasing levels of triglyceride. It also decreases inflammation, prevents insulin intolerance, and improves insulin function.
The ideal intake of fish oil is 1000 mg per day.
Cinnamon
This is effective in boosting your body’s sensitivity to insulin and decreasing your blood glucose levels.
Chromium picolinate
The ideal consumption is 200 micrograms, 3x per day.
This would help in reducing levels of triglyceride and cholesterol, increasing your body’s sensitivity to insulin, and improving glycemic control.
For more tips and advice on diabetes, you can check these other related articles.
The types, causes, and symptoms of diabetes
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