Diabetes Juicer Recipes
Posted on September 11th, 2010 by GuestPoster
There are some great juicer recipes that we can make to help manage the symptoms of diabetes. Several studies have found that there are several different fruits and vegetables that are particularly effective at stabilizing our blood sugar levels when we drink their juices. But before we take a look at those juices, let’s talk about what juices we should avoid.
As a rule, it is a good idea to stay clear of fresh fruit juices because of their sugar content. They raise blood sugar levels too quickly. Eating a whole fruit has a less dramatic effect on blood sugar because we also get insoluble fiber, which is harder to digest and greatly slows the rate at which the sugars in the fruit absorb into the blood stream. When we put fruits through a juicer machine the insoluble fibers are discarded and there is nothing to slow down the absorption of the sugars into the blood. If we also take into account that a single serving of fruit juice usually requires at least 3 portions of fruit (and often 4 or 5 pieces) to make, then we have a drink that is concentrated in sugar, even if it is very nutritious too!
There is one exception to this rule, bitter melon juice. researchers have found that there are at least 3 different plant compounds found in bitter melon juice that have blood sugar stabilizing properties. Somehow, these compounds help increase the amount of enzymes in our blood stream that convert glucose into glycogen, therefore lowering the amount of sugar in the blood stream. The glycogen is then stored in the liver to be used as energy later. The general recommended dose by American herbalists is about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of bitter melon juice each day. This is enough to have beneficial effects without consuming too much sugar.
Although fruits are a lot more sugary than vegetables, some vegetables are more sugary than others. The key vegetables to stay clear of, or at least limit on, are those vegetables that grow in the ground – carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips and yams. The vegetables that are very low in sugar, and are therefore highly recommended are all green leafy vegetables, brussel sprouts, green beans, cabbage and broccoli.
Brussel sprouts and green beans are the vegetables that should be juiced the most because just like bitter melon juice they have been found in studies to help lower blood sugar levels. The mechanism by which the juice of these two vegetables helps is not totally clear, but they somehow have an “insulin like effect” that helps move sugar out of blood and into our cells. So here are some great diabetes juicer recipes that you can make at home
Diabetic Juice Recipe #1 – Bitter Melon
3 cups of bitter melon – flesh only
Diabetic Juicer Recipe #2 – Brussels & Greens
1 cup of bitter melon
2 cups of brussel sprouts
2 cups of green beans
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