Bananas are one of the healthiest fruits as they contain all the proteins and amino acids we require along with almost every vitamin and mineral… and they are delicious to boot! Bananas are also a good source of healthy carbs, which makes it the ideal power-packed snack to get you through a long day. Most of the carbs in bananas are sugars, which is why bananas are so sweet. This makes people who have diabetes think that have to give up their favourite fruit as they believe that bananas are bad for diabetes. Let’s take a look at the role of sugar before we delve into why a diabetic diet can include bananas.
Understanding The Role Of Sugar In Diabetes Management
“In a diabetic, sugar from the bloodstream cannot be moved efficiently to the muscles, resulting in a spike in blood sugar levels”
When we hear the word ‘sugar’, we immediately think of refined sugar, but there are several types of sugars such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Normally, when a person consumes any food that contains sugar, it is absorbed by their digestive system. This sugar is then transferred to their bloodstream so that it can be distributed to their muscles for use as energy. When a person has diabetes, their body is unable to move sugar from their bloodstream to their muscles which is why their blood sugar levels increase.
Safety Of Bananas For Diabetes
“The glycemic index measures how much a carb-containing food raises blood glucose levels – bananas may be sweet but they have a low glycemic index”
Yes, your doctor has told you to cut down on your sugar intake because of your diabetes, but you don’t need to swear off bananas just because they are sweet. There is a big difference between the natural sugars in fruits and the refined sugar you add to your daily cup of tea. Bananas contain sugars which are a type of carbohydrate (contrary to fad diet plans, not all carbs are bad for you!). Most foods, including bananas, contain more than one type of carbohydrate. This is why the best way to track the effects of these foods on your blood sugar levels is through a system called the glycemic Index. The glycemic index measures how much a carb-containing food raises blood glucose levels. Refined sugar is a high glycemic index food that causes a spike in blood sugar levels.
“Bananas are among the lowest glycemic index foods, which means that you can have a banana every day even if you have diabetes”
Bananas may be sweet but they have a low glycemic index, which means that eating a banana will not have much of an effect on your blood sugar levels. Bananas are among the lowest glycemic index foods, which means that you can have a banana every day even if you have diabetes. The American Diabetes Association points out that all fruit contain carbohydrates, but they also contain a wide variety of nutrients which is why they should be included in your diet plan for diabetes.
So, the next time you have a sweet craving or simply want a diabetes safe snack, you can reach out for a banana without having to worry about it raising your blood sugar levels. Just remember that when adding foods to your diabetes diet plan you need to count carbs and monitor the glycemic load.