By: HR January 31, 2010
Onions and Garlic
This article is one of a series describing particular supplementary food items that are thought to be effective in lowering blood glucose as well as providing other health and nutrition related benefits.
Most people with diabetes are well aware of the basic things they should do in order to improve their symptoms and control their diabetes. Especially exercising, adopting a diabetes-friendly diet, eating several small meals throughout the day instead of fewer large meals, eating vegetables and fruits. Such things can really make a difference in maintaining general health.
And along with the basics, there are many simple foods you can consider including in your dietary menu plan to achieve health and manage diabetes. Onions and garlic are two such items that are among the many good foods for diabetics.
Both onions and garlic are already found in most kitchens. Odds are that you already use onions and garlic occasionally in your cooking. You probably didn’t realize that these two foods have been found to be an effective tool to help manage diabetes. So if you have onions and garlic in your kitchen, perhaps it’s time to learn ways to maximize the benefits from these great foods.
What are the Benefit of Onion and Garlic?
Garlic and onions are common vegetables, botanically known as allium sativum and allium cepa. They both contain diallyl disulphide oxide, allyl propyl disulphide, and several flavonoids. Ingredients that help lower blood glucose levels in the body.
Some people who take onion extract have found that their high blood sugar levels are greatly reduced. It has long been claimed that onions and garlic also have many other health benefits as well. Such as garlic that helps lower blood pressure, fights infections, lowers the risk of blood clots, and helps to prevent tumors. It is difficult to overstate just how amazing onions and garlic really are.
There are so many benefits to using onion and garlic that just about anyone would benefit from adding them to their regular diet. Those with diabetes should especially take note and give a try by adding them to their diabetic food diet. Some people shy away from garlic and onions because of their odor. But you really shouldn’t discount them for that reason.
How to Use Onions and Garlic
You will get the best benefits from onions and garlic when it is eaten raw, that might be unappealing and difficult to do but eating them cooked is nearly as beneficial. The most important thing is to eat plenty of both. If possible, add garlic or onions to at least one meal each day, and look for recipes that call for an abundant amount.
If the taste or smell give you trouble, you can find supplements at a health food store. Using onion and garlic supplementation is almost as good as eating them fresh. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider and let them know you are supplementing with onions and garlic.
Onions and garlic have long been used as folk remedies in many cultures, and science is now showing that they are both quite beneficial for diabetes as well as many other diseases and ailments. If you are looking for something to aid in managing diabetes, look no further than onions and garlic.
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