Nuts in diabetes

Diabetes is an endocrine disease, the development mechanism of which is insufficient synthesis of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, which processes the main carbohydrate of the body - glucose. This leads to its accumulation and associated disorders of all types of metabolism: fat, carbohydrate, water-salt, mineral, protein. Carbohydrate compensation occurs in several ways: regulation of carbohydrate intake with the help of thoughtful nutrition, hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injections. What is the role of nuts in the proper diet of diabetics and is it possible to eat nuts at all with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2?

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Benefits

Diabetes is an endocrine disease, the development mechanism of which is insufficient synthesis of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, which processes the main carbohydrate of the body - glucose. This leads to its accumulation and associated disorders of all types of metabolism: fat, carbohydrate, water-salt, mineral, protein. Carbohydrate compensation occurs in several ways: regulation of carbohydrate intake with the help of thoughtful nutrition, hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injections. What is the role of nuts in the proper diet of diabetics and is it possible to eat nuts at all with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2?

Many edible nuts have medicinal properties due to their composition: essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic), arginine - an amino acid that maintains the elasticity of blood vessels, vitamins E, D and B2, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, selenium, copper. The presence of such components indicates the benefits of nuts for all people, and the low glycemic index makes them so for diabetics. Studies show that people whose diet constantly includes this product live several years longer than those who do not eat them. There are many nuts in nature and each of them has its own beneficial properties.

Walnuts for diabetes

Walnuts are tasty and very nutritious. They can be eaten as is or used in various dishes: salads, baked goods, meat recipes. They contain many vitamins: A, K, E, C, PP, group B; minerals: manganese, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, aluminum, sulfur; tannins, essential oil (over 70%), protein (21%), fiber, unsaturated fatty acids (10%), carbohydrates (only 7%). Their glycemic index is 15, and the level of magnesium and zinc is sufficient to reduce sugar in the body. All this makes walnuts a very attractive product for diabetes of any type. In terms of protein content, they are on par with animal products, but are better perceived by the digestive tract. The recommended daily intake is 7 walnut kernels.

[ 3 ]

Walnut leaves

Walnut is a unique tree, because not only the fruits but also the leaves have healing properties. They are famous for their antiseptic effect on many microorganisms due to the high concentration of juglone, a substance with a wound-healing effect. In addition, they contain a lot of tannins, essential oils, polysaccharides, and mineral salts. The leaves are used in the form of decoctions, tinctures, ointments, and extracts. All these remedies from walnut leaves are especially effective for type 2 diabetes, when the supply of glucose to cells is impaired. It is easy to prepare a drink: chop and grind dry leaves. Pour a tablespoon with a glass of boiling water and leave for a while. Drink 50 ml 3 times a day. Ointments are good for healing cracks and other damage to the skin, and compresses can be made from the water extract, adding a decoction, and baths can be taken.

Walnut partitions

Walnuts are truly a waste-free material for potions, even their partitions have medicinal properties, including a positive effect on the balance of glucose in the blood. They contain all the same useful components as the kernels, but iodine is of greater value, the lack of which causes many different pathologies associated with the thyroid gland, nervous system, and immunity. There are different recipes for preparing such potions, here are some of them:

• tincture of walnut partitions - 50 g of partitions are poured with half a liter of vodka, tightly closed and infused in a dark place for two weeks. After this period, drip 6 drops into water, take daily on an empty stomach, the course of treatment is from 3 weeks to 3 months;
• decoction of partitions - raw materials from 40 nuts are lowered into a glass of boiling water and kept on low heat for another hour. Drink the cooled decoction before meals, a teaspoon twice a day.

Signs indicating the healing effect of these products will be a decrease in irritability, normalization of sleep, increased tone, a decrease in the feeling of dry mouth, appetite, thirst for drink. People with type 1 diabetes may even have a decrease in the dose of insulin.

Green walnut

Studies have shown that the most useful are unripe nuts, i.e. young green fruits. They contain the maximum concentration of cobalt, tannins, iodine, iron, fatty oils. And the green fruit, infused with vodka, has hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, anti-atherosclerotic, antioxidant properties, stimulates insulin synthesis. To prepare such a tincture, you will need 100 g of green nuts cut into pieces, half a kilo of sugar and a liter of vodka. All this must be combined in a glass jar and infused for 10-14 days in the dark. Dilute a small spoon of the resulting tincture in 100 ml of water and drink before main meals.

Walnut oil

The oil is produced from walnut kernels by cold pressing, is very nutritious, has a soft and pleasant nutty aroma, honey color. This is a delicacy that will appeal to both healthy and sick people. It has unique healing and dietary properties: numerous vitamins, fats, macro- and microelements, biologically active substances. Its beneficial effect on diabetes is due to the high content of vitamin E, the right ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 acids, which are not produced by the body. Its bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, regenerating, antitumor, immunostimulating effect provides a positive effect in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, urinary, respiratory systems. It improves vision, is successfully used in the treatment of skin diseases, which is important in case of complications of diabetes. Take it half an hour before meals: a teaspoon 2-3 times a day, without washing it down, you can add it to porridge and salads. This is exactly what children do, dripping 5-10 drops into food.

Manchurian walnut leaf

The Manchurian walnut is native to northeastern China, naturally grows in the Far East, the Korean Peninsula, and its cultivated plantings are found in many corners of our planet. It has large leaves rich in tannins, essential oils, vitamin C, alkaloids, phytoncides, and carotene. It is the leaves that are most often used in folk medicine. Decoctions, infusions, and tinctures from this raw material are also used to treat diabetes. It has been noted that when consumed, glucose levels decrease, blood pressure stabilizes, and patients with thyroid pathologies, coronary heart disease, psoriasis, other skin diseases, and even cancer diagnoses improve. You can use a 70% tincture of the plant. Add a teaspoon to a glass of water and drink on an empty stomach twice a day.

[ 4 ]

Brazil nut

Brazil nut or Bartholetia is a mighty tree native to South America, the height of which can reach up to fifty meters, and the age of thousands of years. The nuts themselves are small, but are in a large sphere suspended on stems to the trunk, the weight of which is about 2 kg. They have everything necessary in their composition to strengthen the protective properties of the body, the vascular system, reduce cholesterol, prevent the development of cataracts, and Brazil nuts are also effective for diabetes, because they reduce blood glucose levels. Its important component - selenium increases activity, gives vigor and energy. It is recommended to eat 2 nuts daily for an adult, 1 for children, and maybe even some part of it, you need to consult a nutritionist about the dose. It is also used in products and various dishes.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Almonds for diabetes

In the East, this nut was called "royal". Its greatest value is that it does not contain cholesterol. This property makes it a dietary product. Almonds are important for diabetes from the point of view that they contain a large amount of magnesium, calcium, copper, many vitamins (group B, E in particular) and they increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. This nut should be consumed not only by diabetics, but also by people with impaired glucose tolerance, i.e. potential patients. Their risk of developing type 2 diabetes is significantly reduced with a balanced diet that includes almonds. Considering that nuts are quite high in calories, endocrinologists recommend eating no more than 100g or 10 pieces daily. Their properties do not change during heat treatment, so you can safely add them to baked goods and other products cooked at high temperatures.

[ 7 ]

Hazelnut

Hazelnut is a cultivated variety of hazelnut, which contains many nutrients, including those that help reduce sugar and develop various complications of diabetes. It has few carbohydrates and a lot of vegetable fats, it is rich in proteins, vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, calcium. This is an excellent means not only to reduce sugar, strengthen the immune system, the cardiovascular system, but also to prevent the development of many diseases. It is used to prevent cancer, heart and bloodstream pathologies, to cleanse the liver of toxins, and strengthen bones. A sufficient daily dose of hazelnuts is 50 g. It is advisable not to eat it in the evening, because it is quite heavy for digestion. The nut is a good snack, but it is also successfully used in various dishes.

Pine nuts

Cedar is a unique tree, various components of which have long been used in medicines. But the most valuable for our body is contained in its nuts. These are various vitamins, microelements, amino acids, the most valuable of which is arginine, which supports important functions of human life. Pine nuts are desirable for diabetes due to the low level of carbohydrates, and thiamine (vitamin B1) helps them to be absorbed. Zinc, chromium, polyunsaturated acids provide a preventive role in the disease. Several dozen grains a day (30-40 pcs.) will prevent the progression of the disease.

Cashew

Cashews are a tasty treat for many. Although they grow in the tropics, they are abundant in our stores. Their health value is that 100g of the product contains 85% of the daily requirement for phosphorus and 73% of magnesium. In addition to containing many other useful ingredients, their advantage is a small amount of cholesterol, which is very important for diabetics. They promote the activation of muscle cells, due to which they absorb glucose more intensively and, as a result, reduce sugar in the body. This nut is also known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and tonic properties. It improves vision, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle, and helps eliminate dermatological problems.

Nuts for gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. 2-5% of women carrying a fetus have elevated blood glucose levels. Often after childbirth, such symptoms disappear, sometimes they remain. Doctors believe that even if sugar levels return to normal, a woman is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Doctors recommend diet therapy in this case. What place do nuts have in it? Since a woman needs to feed two people, while not eating carbohydrates, baked goods, sweets, bananas, persimmons, limiting fat intake and focusing on low-calorie fresh vegetables, greens, low-fat dairy products, nuts are the product that will saturate, support the body in the norm, provide the necessary "building material" for a new life.

Contraindications

Nuts are hyperallergenic products, and the largest of them are walnuts and almonds. Therefore, first of all, they are contraindicated for people with increased hypersensitivity and intolerance. Walnut oil is not recommended for high fever, nausea, vomiting, exacerbation of erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer. Manchurian walnuts should not be eaten during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in no case with cirrhosis of the liver, other diagnoses of the digestive tract. The latter also applies to hazelnuts. Brazil nuts contain radium, i.e. they are radioactive, although only large portions of them pose a danger. Cashews can be harmful in the last trimester of pregnancy, with gastritis, urolithiasis.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Complications

Possible complications are hidden in the high calorie content of nuts and, if you do not follow the recommendations for the amount of consumption, you can gain excess weight. Depending on the individual reaction of the body to a specific type of nuts, blood sugar may increase. An allergic reaction is manifested by rashes on the skin, its itching. The vasodilatory effect of nuts can cause a headache.

[ 12 ]

Reviews

There are many positive reviews from people interested in their recovery and improvement. They share that they combine therapeutic measures, moderate physical activity, in particular walking 2-3 km daily, with eating nuts, and also monitor their diet. All these measures in combination give a tangible result. Those who rely only on nuts are pessimistic about their role in reducing sugar.