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Maintaining a proper diet is crucial for the well-being of a diabetes patient. There is a long list of food items that a person having diabetes should avoid, and there are food items that are beneficial to the health of someone with diabetes.
Cabbage, kale, and broccoli are some of the super healthy vegetables for people with diabetes. These vegetables come in the cruciferous family of vegetables.
Cruciferous vegetables are the ones whose petals resemble a crucifix or cross. Such vegetables are a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals. For instance, cabbage contains a natural chemical known as anthocyanin, which helps control blood sugar.
Is Cabbage Good for Diabetics?
Cabbage is a nutritional addition to your diet, irrespective of you having diabetes or not. It, most certainly, has added benefits to people with diabetes.
Cabbage is considered a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, and thiamin, and also contains flavonoids such as apigenin, quercetin, and kaempferol. It also contains antioxidants such as beta-carotene and choline.
Cabbage also contains plant sterols that help in reducing the bad cholesterol in the body. Maintaining the cholesterol level is of the utmost importance when you are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Due to the presence of potassium, eating cabbage also helps to maintain proper blood pressure levels in the body.
5 Benefits of Cabbage For Diabetes
Including cabbage in your diet plan can have certain benefits if you have diabetes. The following are cabbage benefits for diabetes-
- Blood Sugar Control- Cabbage contains natural chemicals such as anthocyanin and antioxidants that help lower blood sugar levels and combat diabetes.
- Maintains Heart Health- Anthocyanin present in cabbage helps reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Maintaining heart health is paramount for people having Type 2 diabetes.
- Assists in Weight Loss- Cabbage is low in calories and high in fiber content. Because of this high concentration of fibers, cabbage is also utile for people with digestion issues.
- Better functioning of Kidneys- Cabbage helps in better functioning of kidneys by controlling dehydration and blood sugar levels in a diabetes patient.
- Reduces the Risk of Cancer- Cabbage contains a natural compound known as Sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is known to have cancer-fighting properties.
Some FAQs about Cabbage and Diabetes
Listed below are some of the FAQ about cabbage being a superfood for diabetes-
Is cabbage a low glycemic food?
Yes. Cabbage is a low glycemic food. The glycemic index or GI of cabbage is only 10.
Food items which have a low glycemic index are the best for people with diabetes since food items with a lower GI have the least impact on blood sugar levels.
Does cabbage have natural sugar?
Just like every other fruit or vegetable, cabbage also contains natural sugars. However, the content of natural sugars present in cabbage is almost negligible.
Roughly, 75 grams of shredded cabbage contains only about 2 grams of sugar.
Does cabbage have sugar or carbs?
Cabbage is not carbohydrate or sugar-rich food item. It is a rich source of healthy vitamins & minerals that positively impact blood sugar in a diabetes patient. Cabbage is like a superfood for someone diagnosed with diabetes.
In about 75 grams of shredded cabbage, there are only 4 grams of carbohydrates. These 4 grams of carbohydrates also include 2 grams of sugar and 1 gram of fiber.
Does cabbage increase blood sugar?
As I have already mentioned above, the cabbage’s glycemic index is 10, which is on the lower side. Food items with a lower glycemic index have a minimal impact on a diabetes patient’s blood sugar.
Apart from this, cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable and provides many nutrients to people with diabetes.
How to cook cabbage for diabetics?
Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbage, and the well known broccoli are all diabetes-friendly vegetables. They are low on carbs and high in vitamins and nutrients.
Cabbage, when included in salads, is the best as it utilizes the maximum nutritional value of the vegetable. However, if you are not really a big fan of raw vegetables, you can also include cooked cabbage in your diet.
Sauteed cabbage is an excellent addition to any stir-fry recipe. Diabetic cabbage rolls are also a favorite recipe amongst people with diabetes.
Is fried cabbage food for diabetics?
Fried food for diabetics is an absolute no-no. When a person eats fried food items regularly, he is at a greater risk of suffering from Type 2 diabetes and heart diseases.
People with diabetes should, therefore, avoid including any fried food item in their diet.
Is the cabbage soup diet good for diabetics?
The cabbage soup diet is a diet program people undertake for weight loss over a short time. It involves eating cabbage soup almost in every meal you consume.
Although you can lose up to 4.5 kgs in a single week, doctors and health experts consider this diet pattern unhealthy.
Cabbage is known to lower blood sugar levels. However, such an excessive intake of cabbage can cause high blood sugar in a diabetes patient.
A cabbage soup diet is not a healthy diet choice for someone with diabetes. If anyone having diabetes wants to try this diet, it should be only under the guided supervision of a qualified dietician.
Summary
Including cabbage in their regular diet is one of the smartest choices a person with diabetes can make. We all know the nutritional value of cabbage.
Including excessive cabbage in the diet can also increase the blood sugar levels in a diabetes patient. So, caution is necessary regarding the quantity of cabbage you include in your food.
Cabbage plays a variety of roles when included in a diabetes diet. It helps to lower the blood sugar levels and helps in digestion, maintaining cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Superfoods like cabbage act as a natural medicine for diabetes. Eating regular proportions of cabbage can also help you to get rid of your diabetes medicines.