People often think that being diagnosed with diabetes is the end of the world; it means you will have to give up on every favorite food item of yours. That is not the case anymore. There is still an array of food items you can continue to enjoy, even with your health condition.
One such food item is almond milk. People who practice eating vegan are already well-aquatinted with plant-based milk, soy milk, or almond milk. Almond milk comes from almonds.
Almond milk is full of nutrients. However, is almond milk good for diabetics?
Almond Milk And Diabetes
Although most plant-based milk is beneficial to the body, is it advisable to have it in regular cow milk? Does it have any added benefits or side effects?
Some of the most common reasons people might switch to plant-based milk are-
- They Are Lactose Intolerant
- They Follow A Vegan Diet
- They Are Opposed To How Milk Tastes
- They Are Concerned About Environmental Balance
They Are High On Ethics
Almond milk and almonds are suitable for people with diabetes. A person having diabetes can drink almond milk instead of cow milk without hesitation.
Almond milk is a rich source of nutrients. It contains large stores of fibers, healthy fats, proteins, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, folate, sodium, Vitamin A, and B6, to name a few. It also contains natural sugars in comparatively low quantities.
Because of this abundance of nutrients, almonds and almond milk are a welcome inclusion to a diabetes diet.
5 Benefits Of Almond Milk For Diabetics
We know that almonds are full of nutrients for people having diabetes. Let us now discuss the health benefits of almond milk for diabetes–
1- Blood Sugar Control:
Unsweetened almond milk is the best substitute for any other type of milk because of its low glycemic index and glycemic load. The glycemic load of almond milk is 3.9, and its glycemic index is 30.
A person with diabetes can drink almond milk without worrying about their blood sugar spiking up.
People with type 2 diabetes drink almond milk regularly instead of cow’s milk because almond milk is better at maintaining blood sugar levels than cow’s milk.
For people diagnosed with prediabetes, almond milk can help control blood sugar and prevent diabetes mellitus.
2- Improves Cardiovascular Health:
Almond milk is also suitable for maintaining good heart health. Almonds and almond milk are rich sources of antioxidants. These antioxidants come in handy while fighting the free radicals in the body.
These free radicals are the root cause of many cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
The oleic acid present in almond milk maintains heart health by reducing the bad cholesterol in the body.
Almond milk is free from saturated fats and cholesterol-free.
3- Assists In Weight Management:
Eating almonds and drinking almond milk keep a person satiated for a longer time. One does not tend to overeat after having either almonds or almond milk.
If a person with diabetes does not overeat, he does not eat food items that might increase his blood sugar or add pounds to his body weight.
Almond and almond milk thus play an essential part in weight management for diabetes patients.
4- Rich In Nutrients:
Almond milk is rich in many nutrients and micro-nutrients. One such beneficial micro-nutrient is magnesium.
Medical studies have shown that the chances of having diabetes are high in people with low magnesium in their body system.
Since almond milk is abundant in magnesium, drinking it can help maintain adequate magnesium levels.
5- Prevent Hypertension:
Drinking almond milk can also help in preventing Hypertension and its ill effects.
FAQs
Is Almond Milk Ok For Type 2 Diabetes?
Almond milk is a good beverage option for people having type 2 diabetes.
Drinking almond milk has health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, better body weight management, and adequate blood sugar management in people with diabetes. Magnesium in almond milk is also helpful in managing diabetes.
Doctors and health experts advise people with type 2 diabetes to switch from cow’s milk to almond milk because of its medicinal properties.
How Many Almonds Should A Diabetic Eat Per Day?
Being diagnosed with diabetes does not mean you give up on the food you love. However, a diabetes patient should practice moderation and healthy substituting food items suited for his medical condition.
A diabetes patient can include almond and almond milk in their diabetes diet because of their abundant health benefits. However, they should do some moderation here as well.
Almonds are high in calorie content; a person with diabetes can eat 6-8 almonds per day to watch their calorie intake.
People with diabetes can eat almonds by soaking almonds in water overnight or by peeling off their skin, whichever they prefer.
Can Diabetics Drink Milk At Night?
It is not healthy for people with diabetes to drink milk at night.
Cow’s milk contains a lot of calories, these calories, upon digestion, can spike the blood sugar level in the body. An increase in blood sugar can be dangerous to someone with diabetes at an odd hour.
Therefore, people with diabetes should avoid drinking milk at night. They can substitute cow’s milk with plant-based milk, but only after consulting with their health expert.
Does Almond Milk Spike Blood Sugar?
Unsweetened almond milk does not spike blood sugar. Artificially sweetened almond milk also causes a minimal spike in blood sugar.
The glycemic index of almond milk is low (30), and its glycemic load of almond milk is 3.9. Almond milk falls in food items that do not spike blood sugar levels.
Are Almonds Good For Diabetics?
Almonds are suitable for diabetes patients. Almonds do not spike blood sugar and help manage glucose levels.
Due to high quantities of magnesium, almond is pretty beneficial for people with diabetes.
People having diabetes can gorge on almonds daily.
Conclusion
Plant-based milk has overtaken cow’s milk’s popularity around the globe. Almond milk has gained more popularity than soy milk.
Almond milk is rich in nutrients and micro-nutrients such as fibers, healthy fats, proteins, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, folate, sodium, Vitamin A, and B6. These nutrients can be helpful for people with diabetes.
Some of the health benefits of almond milk for diabetics include blood sugar management, improvement in weight management, and heart health.
Noting down the benefits almond milk adds to a diabetes diet makes it an integral part everyone should incorporate.