Many people suffer from blood sugar level inconsistencies. A condition know as hypoglycemia is caused when your blood sugar (glucose) drops, resulting in a range of symptoms. Many diabetics suffer from hypoglycemia and the common solutions is thought by many to be a sweet treat. However, this can often exacerbate the problem. More often the solution is to give the person some foods which contain protein.
In much the same way that dietary fiber works, eating a source of high quality protein along with your meals and snacks can have a beneficial effect on your body's blood sugar levels. By choosing the right combination of protein and carbohydrates to eat, you can control the amount of glucose in your bloodstream by slowing the process of digestion.
This slowing down prevents a blood sugar spike as a result of overdosing on carbohydrates.
However, this doesn't mean that you can just eat foods with protein to your hearts content. You body can only assimilate so much protein in a single sitting, so you need to be able to ration your intake. Too much protein in your diet can have bad side effects like intestinal wind, bad breath and indigestion and there are also long term health concerns concerning a diet that's too rich in protein.
Also important is the quality of the proteins your are eating. Sure you can get a lot of protein from a KFC meal or a McDonalds, but you'll also be consuming a huge amount of saturated fat at the same time.
Here are some examples of a healthy lean protein sources that are suitable for diabetics and vegetarians who don't wish to consume meat products.
- Tofu - this is a soy based product that's very popular in Chinese cooking. It's very high in protein, and contains virtually no fat, and can be used in a number of dishes, taking on the flavor of the spices and condiments you use.
- Nuts -nuts come in countless sizes and shapes and are an excellent source of healthy protein. If you're eating a lot of nuts, it's to avoid the snack variety as these tend to have lots of added salt, sugar or chemical flavorings. Instead go for the unsalted, raw varieties of nuts that you can buy in bulk. You can choose from many different types including peanuts, walnuts, cashews, the list is endless. Bear in mind however that some nuts are very high in fat, so eat these in moderation.
- Seeds - these are a great way of increasing your protein intake. These days you can pick up lots of different types of seeds at your local supermarket. Some of the most popular are flax seeds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. You can use them in cooking or simply sprinkle over your salad or dessert as a natural and tasty topping.
- Beans and sprouts - beans are also a great source of protein and fiber. Great for tasty Mexican dishes and salads. If you want to get the maximum goodness, try and find some sprouted beans, chickpeas or alfalfa. This contains living food energy in it's most bio-available state.
- Protein powders- you can buy these in all health shops. Supplements are very popular amongst bodybuilders and strength trainers. You should only start taking protein supplements thought if you think your diet is lacking in natural protein sources.
