8 best vegetables for patients with type 2 diabetes

If a patient is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the menu of the therapeutic diet should contain as many low-calorie plant foods as possible. Low carbohydrate vegetables will help maintain optimal blood glucose levels and will not add extra pounds. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, but at the same time they contain few calories. In addition, assorted vegetables on a plate of any person always pleases the eye, brings aesthetic pleasure and helps improve mood.  

We present the top 8 most useful vegetables for those who have insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

Spinach and Type 2 Diabetes

Green leaf spinach is one of the most valuable plant products for a therapeutic diet for type 2 diabetes. It contains a lot of folic acid, beta-carotene and vitamin K.  

You can use fresh leaves, frozen or canned, without the addition of salt, to make healthy meals.

Spinach is a great addition to a protein omelet for breakfast. Fresh leaves can be used to make low-carb vitamin salads for lunch or dinner. Dried or canned spinach is a good addition to other healthy ingredients in soups, casseroles or pasta sauces.

Tomatoes in a healthy diet

This is another superfood for those who know firsthand what type 2 diabetes is. Like other vegetables , colored in shades of orange and red , it is rich in vitamin A, as well as vitamin C. In addition, it contains a lot of potassium. Lycopene, which gives red tomatoes their bright color, is a powerful antioxidant and protects against heart disease and prostate cancer. 

Tomatoes are a low-carb and low-calorie product, a cup of chopped tomato contains only 32 calories.

Slices of juicy tomatoes are decorated with sandwiches, they are added to salads. From ripe tomatoes, you can cook a lot of homemade sauce at once. It goes well with vegetables, chicken and other permitted products for the therapeutic and preventive diet of patients who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Broccoli in health food

Patients with insulin resistance are often recommended to pamper themselves with this product. Broccoli contains few carbohydrates, but it contains a large amount of vitamins A, C and K, dietary fiber and iron.

Choose the most dense inflorescences painted in dark green.

Not only fresh, but also frozen vegetables can be a great addition to the diet. Unlike fresh, it is not necessary to rush to use it immediately after purchase.

Raw or lightly steamed broccoli can be served in place of harmful chips, supplemented with healthy homemade sauces, such as tomato.

Cucumber – the king among vegetables

This healthy, crunchy, low-carb vegetable is especially good for people with diabetes. In one cup of crushed product contains less than 5 g of carbohydrates. Having a snack with a cucumber, you can restore strength, satisfy your hunger and still not worry about the fact that the level of glucose in the blood has risen.

Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K. They also contain potassium and vitamin C.

Keep in mind that low-calorie vegetables are not just for salads. Thin slices perfectly complement sandwiches and other snacks. Crispy cucumber “spears” can serve as an independent snack during the day.

White and red cabbage

These representatives of the cabbage family make it possible, without special financial costs, to diversify the nutrition of a person with diabetes and add vitamins K, C, as well as antioxidants to the diet. In addition, cabbage contains manganese, fiber and vitamin B6.

This low-carb vegetable is especially healthy and should be at the peak of popularity in the fall and early winter.

Choose hard heads with shiny leaves. To preserve all the benefits of the plant product, it must be stored in the refrigerator, and cut, immediately wrap it with cling film. This will help slow down the loss of vitamins.

Feel free to experiment with recipes, consuming cabbage both raw and after heat treatment.

Brussels sprouts in the familiar menu

A healthy vegetable has only recently begun to gain the popularity among Russian consumers that it undoubtedly deserves. Brussels sprouts should rightfully take one of the main places in the menu of patients with diabetes.

In addition to low calorie content, miniature heads of cabbage are distinguished by a high content of vitamins A, C, folic acid and fiber. Like other representatives of the cruciferous family, Brussels sprouts, according to experts, help prevent some types of cancer.

Try to bake fresh Brussels sprouts, sprinkled with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sprinkled with a little salt, black pepper, at a temperature of 220 ° C, for about 20 minutes. This will allow you to get an excellent taste, preserving the texture and the maximum number of useful nutrients.

Cauliflower – a welcome guest on a plate

Another great low-carb vegetable is cauliflower. It is rich in vitamin C (one cup of raw, chopped inflorescences contains more than half the recommended daily allowance), as well as fiber, potassium and folic acid.

Cauliflower is a fairly versatile product that can be consumed raw, fried or steamed. It is great for soups: you can simply boil it until cooked, and then pour chicken broth.

Exotic asparagus

The composition of the fragrant “vegetarian” is only 27 calories and 5 g of carbohydrates (per cup). He readily shares vitamins K and A with humans.

When choosing asparagus, look for the hardest, brightest green stalks with compact heads. Thinner, usually softer.

They are steamed, stewed or baked. Asparagus goes well with eggs, so a vitamin vegetable can be served for breakfast.