Also known as the alligator pear, the avocado can play a significant role in diabetes management.
New guidelines in the treatment and management of diabetes recommend consuming more of a certain type of fat. One food in particular contains significant amounts of this fat: avocados. Long considered an unhealthy food choice due primarily to its overall high fat content, research now shows that this vegetable is actually good for diabetics.
Diabetes Background
The human body produces insulin which helps to process the glucose formed in the body by food. In normal situations, the body produces enough insulin to get the job done. In diabetics, however, there is either too little insulin, no insulin, or the body's cells aren't capable of responding to the insulin being produced by the pancreas. Glucose then builds up in the blood and is eliminated in the urine. While there is enough glucose in the blood, it can't do its job of promoting cell growth and meeting energy requirements.
Recommendations
The American Diabetes Association recommends following an eating plan that includes more monounsaturated fats. As opposed to artery-clogging saturated fats, monounsaturated fats are heart-healthy. A diabetic diet should be composed of 70 percent carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats, 20 percent protein and no more than 10 percent saturated fats.
Benefits
Monounsaturated fat found in avocados and in many other foods actually helps to reduce bad or LDL cholesterol and raise good or HDL cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol management is crucial to diabetics as they have a greater risk of developing heart disease. Monounsaturated fats may also help the diabetic's body process both insulin and glucose more readily. Avocados contain high levels of Vitamin E, which is believed to reduce the risk of heart disease and nerve damage in diabetics.
Additional Advantages
Not only are avocados one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats, they also contain significant amounts of other nutrients that are beneficial to diabetics in particular. These include vitamin C, potassium, thiamine, niacin, folate and riboflavin. Avocados are also high in dietary fiber and contain no sodium.
Carbohydrate Content
Carbohydrates, thought to make up the bulk of the average American's diet, fall into two basic categories: simple, such as table sugar and honey, and complex, such as white rice, pasta, or white bread. The Glycemic Index measures the level of carbohydrates in a particular food and also rates how long it takes that food to raise blood glucose levels in the body.
Eating Green
There are many ways in which the tasty avocado can be enjoyed as a significant source of monounsaturated fats. Its creamy buttery consistency enhances such dishes as guacamole, salad dressings or cream soups. Avocados are also wonderful in salads or when paired with tangy fruits such as grapefruit, and they add interest to sandwiches as well.
Tags: monounsaturated fats, Avocados also, body produces, heart disease, saturated fats, significant amounts
