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Gooseberries in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2: benefit and harm
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Gooseberry is a berry that many people do not pay due attention to. And it is in vain, because it is quite a tasty and incredibly healthy delicacy, which is especially useful for diabetes. Gooseberries may not be as attractive in appearance as raspberries or strawberries, but their chemical composition is in no way inferior to other berries, and in some ways even surpasses them.
Benefits
Gooseberries are especially rich in vitamins C and K, in smaller quantities you can find vitamins A, E, PP, beta-carotene, vitamins of group B (7 varieties). The mineral composition of gooseberries is also attractive, in which manganese, molybdenum and copper are in first place, followed by calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc. The high content of chromium in gooseberries can be considered noteworthy.
Molybdenum is not such an important component in diabetes, although it does participate in metabolism. The fact is that there is usually no deficiency of this substance in the body. But chromium in the quantities found in gooseberries is very useful for the pancreas, but with insulin deficiency, a lack of chromium is usually diagnosed. The content of chromium in gooseberries is ideal, which other fruits and berries cannot boast of.
At first glance, it may seem that gooseberries are quite high in calories, but this is a misconception. Their caloric content is within the same range as other berries described above (about 44-45 kcal). 100 g of gooseberries contain only 9 g of carbohydrates, which is also not a high figure and makes it possible to include a berry that is beneficial for the pancreas. After all, with diabetes, this organ suffers first of all, which disrupts the entire metabolism.
Different varieties of gooseberries may differ in their content of natural sugars, including glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Diabetics should choose varieties with minimal sugar content, giving preference to unripe berries with a sweet and sour taste.
The maximum benefit from the berry with a high content of vitamin C, which is destroyed at high temperatures, can be obtained by eating it fresh. But in order to diversify the diet, you can include juices from fresh berries, jelly, compotes and jam prepared with the addition of sugar substitutes (xylitol, sorbitol).
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Contraindications
The fruits of this plant with a rather delicate taste can be considered one of the safest natural medicines, because they have a minimum number of contraindications and rarely cause allergic reactions. Fresh fruits can be considered provocateurs of complications during exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, stomach ulcers, duodenitis, colitis, enteritis, etc.), since they, like most other berries, have a fairly high content of organic acids.
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