It is now official. A four year study recently concluded that a low fat diet is a good diet for diabetics, but is not the best one. The best diet, about twice as good, is the Mediterranean style diet.
Thirty percent of the participants who ate the low fat diet were successful in controlling their condition to the point of getting off all medications. That number was fifty six percent for the winning group. If the study had been of longer duration, even more of the participants, in both groups, would have, presumably, enjoyed similar success.
What is the Mediterranean diet? It is not a set of Deal a Meal cards from Richard Simmons. It is a generic term for the type of diet enjoyed by people in Mediterranean areas. Researchers have known for years that a Mediterranean style diet controlled blood sugar levels, and now this study, published in, The Annals Of Internal Medicine, provides official documentation.
What is this ideal diet for diabetics comprised of? Lots of vegetables & fruits, along with whole grains. Healthy fats, for instance, olive oil is fine. That is used for flavoring the lean protein, like poultry, nuts and fish. Up to half the calories could come from carbohydrates. Women had 1500 calorie limits while the men enjoyed 1800. A serving of red wine with the meal was optional; but at 200 calories a serving, many dieters preferred larger meal portions, instead.
Ironically, diabetics often drink diet soda, which is much worse for them than the sugar in the regular sodas, due to the effects of the toxic chemicals that serve as artificial sweeteners. Purified water and pomegranate juice are the diabetic’s best beverage choices. Six ounces of pomegranate juice every day for a month, was indicated in research, to begin the process of stopping atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries. Eighty percent of diabetic deaths are related to atherosclerosis. Green tea has shown some positive effects on diabetes, but since it has caffeine, a cup a day should be the limit. (Caffeine is not good for individuals with diabetes.)
The diet for diabetics allows for no white flour products, whatsoever. Whole grains, on the other hand, prevent the onset and reduce the risk of diabetes. Herbs and spices, rather than salt is used for flavoring in the Mediterranean style diet, but not much red meat is involved, at all.