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Diabetes and banana

Are bananas good for a diabetic person to eat
(October 19, 2011)

Is banana bread good for diabetic patient?


Bananas are a rich source of carbohydrates, but if you are diabetic, you need to consume it in moderation. The conversion of the starch into the sugars– fructose, sucrose, and glucose– occurs when the fruit ripens. Hence you need to avoid consuming a lot of the fruit when it is ripe. Banana bread is a light cake or bread made with ripe bananas squashed well in the batter. It can be made with diverse modifications like adding walnuts or dates or cherries.


Banana bread for diabetics is permitted only in small quantities and sans modifications, as the extra ingredients are quite rich in sugars and starch.

A banana bread recipe for diabetic persons is outlined here.

Ingredients:

  • Plain flour, 2 cups
  • Butter, 1½  sticks
  • Sugar, 2 cups
  • Eggs, 3
  • Baking soda and baking powder
  • Vanilla essence
  • Milk and yoghurt
  • Ripe bananas, 4 to 5

Method:

  • Dust a butter-smeared baking tin with flour and set it aside. Cream the softened butter and mix in the sugar.
  • Pour the beaten eggs in to this mixture.
  • Add a teaspoon of baking soda and half teaspoon of baking powder along with some vanilla essence.
  • Now mix in the smashed bananas and beat up the whole batter.
  • Add two spoons of yogurt and some milk to loosen the batter, if it is too thick.
  • Now pour the batter into the baking tin and bake for 30 minutes in a preheated oven.

Should diabetic person avoid banana desserts?


Desserts should be carefully chosen for diabetic persons, as any excess sugar consumption can be detrimental to their health. Banana desserts for diabetes mellitus can be had in strictly moderate servings. The level of carbohydrate and sugar should not cause a sudden boost in blood sugar level. Cream and ice creams are best avoided with the banana desserts. Banana desserts are among the least sugary and fattening desserts. Refrain from adding dry fruits or nuts to desserts as this can increase the glycemic index of the food intake.

Diabetic patients need to be well aware of the sugar content in various foods that they consume daily. The amount of carbohydrates and sugars is monitored by a parameter known as the glycemic index. The glycemic index of each ingredient should be carefully checked, before permitting its consumption. The conversion of carbohydrates to sugar increases as bananas ripen, and hence, it is best if they are eaten in their less ripe state. Sugar content in banana for diabetic patient stands at a glycemic index of 51. An index of 55 or less is permissible in the diet chart of a diabetic person. Hence, you can include them as a rich source of potassium and other vitamins, but only in moderate quantities. More on health benefits of banana

Can a person with type 2 diabetes eat bananas?


Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body is unable to fully utilize the insulin produced. Insulin helps direct glucose into the cells; here it is stored and used later for energy. In Type 2 diabetes excessive sugar (glucose) builds-up in the blood, resulting in a condition called ‘hyperglycemia’. It is important that diet for Type 2 diabetic person should be strict and must include exercise regime to prevent secondary health issues and complications. Type 2 diabetic persons should constantly aim at weight control. You need to stay off sugary and processed foods. Banana fruit for type 2 diabetes person is suggested only if they are not too ripe.

Fruits should be included and not totally excluded from the diet of a diabetic person. The vitamins and minerals in fruits are a requisite for the healthy constitution of diabetic persons. Apples, pears, apricots, strawberries and other such fiber-rich fruits in are recommended Citrus fruits like grapefruit are a good choice. A medium-size banana has approximately 18 gm of sugar in it. Hence, it should be ensured that a diabetic person does not have too much of ripe bananas. Ripe bananas taken with ice cream or dry fruits also increase the calorie intake and raise blood sugar levels. Banana for sugar patient is best taken in modest quantities and not when too ripe.

Are green and ripe bananas harmful for type 1 diabetic?


Bananas are tropical fruits that can be consumed while they are raw or when they are ripe. The nutritional and health benefits obtained differ in each case. Green bananas need to be cooked before they can be eaten. They are either steamed or boiled and added to any vegetable dish in its gravy. Green bananas for diabetic persons are seen to be beneficial as they contain a good percent of resistant starch. This helps to control the blood sugar levels. Green bananas also score well on the diet chart with a low glycemic index of around 30.

Diabetic persons are advised to consume ripe bananas in moderation. The level of antioxidants increases with the ripeness of the fruit and consequently the glycemic index of the ripe banana increases. The glycemic index of a ripe banana is close to 51. This can cause a sudden boost in the blood sugar levels, which is risky for a diabetic patient. The fructose, glucose, and sucrose levels tend to extremely high in the ripe fruit. However, if consumed in moderation, bananas can be quite beneficial, as they contain nutrients like B vitamins, iron and fiber. Enjoy the fruit by making savory snacks and dishes like the sugarless banana orange bread. Preparation is simple, blend orange juice, bananas and eggs. Mix it all in the flour and then pour the mixture into a bread tray. Bake and enjoy the sweet bread, without any sugar guilt.

Is banana recommended during gestational diabetes?


Gestational diabetes refers to the onset of diabetes during pregnancy. In most cases, gestational diabetes goes away on its own after the delivery of the baby. An expectant mother needs to carefully watch her diet to prevent any kind of danger to her baby. Eating the right foods is the best way of controlling blood sugar levels during this period. Fruits that can be consumed include apple, cherries, plums and other citrus fruits. Bananas should be sparingly consumed, especially if they are ripe. Including bananas in the diet for gestational diabetes patient increases the risk of boosting blood sugar levels. One way of having modest amounts of the fruit is to have it with proteins like low-fat milk and nuts. This helps control the sudden surge in blood sugar levels.

Banana can be had only in minimal quantities during gestational diabetes. This is because hormone production is errant during this phase and insulin production also goes haywire. Desserts containing banana can increase blood sugar levels, especially if prepared using refined sugar. Banana muffins for diabetes should be prepared with minimal sugar or artificial sweeteners. The banana used should not be overripe or in large quantities. Eating fresh citrus fruits or watermelon as dessert is better than indulging in rich desserts.
Submitted by N on October 19, 2011 at 02:27

 

A lot of people feel that diabetics should not have fruits. Since fruits have concentrated amounts of natural sugars as well as carbohydrates, they are often viewed as harmful to the diabetic person. However, the truth is that there are many fruits that are rich in fiber and therefore, are excellent for controlling blood sugar. Since diabetics essentially require foods that are low in fats and carbohydrates, but high in fiber so that they are assimilated into the body slowly, fruits in fact are the best food items for diabetics. A diabetes diet can be beneficial for a diabetic and can provide both energy as well as vital nutrients.

Can A Diabetic Eat Banana?

Banana for diabetics is another misunderstanding as a lot of people are under the impression that banana for diabetes is a complete mismatch because of the sugar quantities present in the fruit. However, the key to banana for type 2 diabetes or type 1 diabetes is that any consumption should be taken in moderation. Another factor that one must also consider is that there is a variety of effects that can occur with ripe bananas and diabetes. To elaborate, the ripeness of the banana plays a huge role in determining the extent to which the patient will be affected. This has more to do with the glycemic index and banana diabetes as the more ripe the banana is, the higher its glycemic index is likely to be – meaning that all the starch content is likely to turn into free sugars. A lot of people will consider this more than enough information to consider banana bad for diabetes; however, a lot of the end result also depends on the combinations of foods that you choose to use together. For instance eating protein rich foods like eggs or yogurt along with a banana will help lower blood sugar levels.

With regards to gestational diabetes, there is actually quite a strong link between gestational diabetes and banana in the most highly recommended diet plans. For instance, most health care providers will recommend that you include about ½ a large banana as part of your morning snack.

Diabetic Banana Bread, Muffins, Pudding

Having already looked at the question of ‘can a diabetic eat bananas?’ we should not forget that bananas are a key ingredient in a number of sweet treats. Banana breads, puddings, muffins and cakes are all treats that hold a certain fondness to most of us and being diabetic and asked to abstain from all of these treats is only likely to entice us even more. However, as mentioned previously, consumption in moderation is very much the key. As a result, there are a number of diabetic banana bread, muffins, pudding and cake recipes that are available through a number of sources such as the internet and your local bookstore that will help you work around the condition. In fact, most of these recipes do not even require you to find a substitute to bananas, but ensure that you are using only moderate amounts in your preparation. The key to diabetes and bananas is moderation. It is also highly recommended that you visit your doctor every once in a while to have your blood sugar tests checked on a regular basis to make sure that any of the other foods you consume are not having a negative effect on your overall health.

Experts believe that there are a few rules that should be kept in mind whenever participating in diabetic baking. For one, it is extremely important to avoid any products that have been made with a substance known as aspartame. Aspartame is essentially an artificial sweetener that is made by combining two different amino acid’s aspartic acids and a substance known as phenylalanine and some other chemicals. This chemical composition is known to have a certain effect on the chemistry of the brain that could cause a number of health problems including anxiety and depression. Another important rule to be aware of when considering diabetic centric baking is to uncover any of the hidden sugars in the ingredients you use. It is important to do a little research and look for other natural sweeteners that can be used as a substitute for sugar. Some of the more common ones happen to be maple syrup and nectar. Erythritol is a very widely used substance that is found in a number of fruits and is considered to be a dream ingredient when baking anything for diabetic patients.

Other Fruits for Diabetics

Fruits like papaya, strawberries, muskmelon, plums and watermelons are excellent sources of fiber. These are also low in the glycemic index and therefore, do not increase the sugar levels of the blood too fast or too much. A gradual increase in the blood sugar allows a positive relation between a fruit and diabetes, making fruits extremely beneficial in this condition.

Fruits are also rich in many nutrients, and consuming fruits regularly can help improving the overall nutritional profile of the diet. Fruits like custard apple, mangoes, bananas, and grapes are high in sugar content and also have a high glycemic index because of which it is best to avoid consuming these fruits so that the blood sugar levels can remain under control. These are the diabetes fruits to avoid.

Although a positive relationship has been established between fruit and diabetes, dry fruits are still considered to be harmful for the body. Dry fruits are high in calories and therefore, should be avoided by diabetics, especially those who are overweight. Moreover, even though dates are an excellent source of both iron and calcium, it is best to avoid them since they are also rich in calories.

A person suffering from diabetes needs to take special care of his/her diet, especially since diet management is an intrinsic part of the treatment and management of diabetes. Thus, 75 g of fruits like blueberries, apples, pineapple, pears, kiwi fruit, black currants and cherries are ideal for a light snack, and they are the best fruits for diabetics. When it comes to these fruits and diabetes, a positive relationship has already been established, and the fruit intake can be adjusted accordingly as and when the requirement arises.

There are many benefits of consuming fructose, which is present in fruits. The best fruit for diabetes is one that has low levels of carbohydrates, but high levels of fructose. Since fructose can be digested by the body without the aid of insulin, diabetics can eat these fruits like any other healthy person.

Additionally, diabetes and fruits are also interrelated because fruits contain many nutrients that are good for diabetics and help keep them healthy. These fruits contain the important mineral manganese, which is important in diabetes because it is a constituent of the hormone insulin.

While fruits are good for the health of diabetics, fruit juices should ideally be avoided since they have low fiber and high concentrations of sugar.
Submitted by N on October 5, 2010 at 05:31

 

Fruits like bananas, Sapodillas, mango, grapes and jackfruit are not recommended for diabetics.

Read our article on diabetes melitus for information on diet at,

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Diabetes-Mellitus.html
Submitted by R K on June 14, 2007 at 08:13

 
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