Almonds Can Help With Blood Glucose Control
Our nutty way to prevent Type II diabetes involves Almonds. Almonds are nutritious and incredibly healthy; they are crunchy and delicious for a good snack, and most importantly require little to no preparation. In this article we are going to look at the unique nutritious content of Almonds that makes them a great choice for a glucose restricted diet.
Almonds are low in carbs, and high in healthy fats, protein and fiber. Furthermore, almonds contain high amounts of magnesium. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service a 1 ounce serving of almonds contains 45 mg of Magnesium, which is proven to help with blood sugar control. For a full list of nutrient contents of nuts click here.
Magnesium is proven to play major roles in as many as 300 bodily processes including the control of glucose levels in blood. Three studies show that 25-38% of individuals with Type II diabetes are deficient in magnesium, and rectifying that the deficiency notably reduces blood glucose levels and improves the function of insulin. These three studies are the following:
- The effect of magnesium supplementation in increasing doses on the control of type 2 diabetes.
- Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.
- Magnesium improves the beta-cell function to compensate variation of insulin sensitivity: double-blind, randomized clinical trial.
Almonds Help Prevent Diabetes in Individuals without Diabetes
In addition to diabetic patients, individuals without diabetes see major reductions in insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity when supplanted with oral magnesium. This indicates that high magnesium foods (like almonds) may be beneficial for prevention of metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes
Almonds Help Lower the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Individuals with Type II Diabetes
There is a growing body of evidence that ties consumption of almonds to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. In one study researchers found that almond consumption improved glycemic control and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results suggested that incorporation of almonds into a healthy diet has beneficial effects on adiposity, glycemic control, and the lipid profile, thereby potentially decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus.
The results of these studies indicates that almonds may be beneficial for control of blood glucose levels and for prevention of cardiovascular disease among people with diabetes.
A few almonds can go a long way towards filling you up. If you are concerned about the fat content of almonds, be aware that at least it is largely healthy fats. You can aim to incorporate a healthy handful of almonds each day to take advantage of this healthy and nutritious nut.