What you eat and how much you exercise, sleep or live a basically healthy lifestyle, has a big effect on your health if you’re diabetic. It’s true for both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. However, that’s where much of the health information ends. Those with type 1 diabetes fail to produce insulin, while people with type 2, start by not using insulin effectively and eventually don’t make enough. That’s why diet and exercise can often help people with type 2 reverse the disease, but not cure it. This discussion of the benefits of ginger for diabetes, focuses primarily on type 2 diabetics.
Ginger can help lower blood sugar levels.
Ginger is known for its many healing properties. In fact, not too long ago, drinking ginger ale was the “go to” remedy for an upset stomach. However, ginger also has a low glycemic level, meaning it won’t cause blood sugar spikes. Even small doses of ginger can help diabetics lower their blood sugar levels. Not only that, one study found that combining it with cinnamon, another spice that helps lower blood sugar, can potentially help reduce fat and body weight, while increasing insulin levels.
More studies show ginger effective.
Supplementing with ginger powder may also improve fasting blood sugar levels. It also improved other markers that showed it could help to protect diabetics from certain complications, such as heart problems. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory. Chronic inflammation can lead to a number of diseases, such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, obesity and more. It can even escalate the aging process.
There’s a difference between fresh and dried ginger, but both have health benefits.
Both dried and fresh ginger have benefits for diabetics. Fresh ginger contains more gingerol, which provides the benefits. The dehydration and grinding of ginger tends to reduce the gingerol, but it also increases shogaols, which also provide health benefits, many of which gingerol provide. If you want to maximize both types of benefits, alternate between using dried ginger root, which is convenient, and fresh.
- One way to increase your use of ginger is to make ginger tea. Just peel it and steep it in water for a delicious tea or steep both it and green tea together for a delicious flavor. You can also make ginger-cinnamon tea, ginger-turmeric tea and other combinations.
- Stir-fry is another dish that is complemented by ginger. You can use it on fish, in soups, glazes and marinades. A sea food favorite like coconut shrimp is enhanced with ginger.
- Managing diabetes and reversing it doesn’t mean curing it. While you won’t have to take medication, it doesn’t mean you can go back to an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. Eating healthy and exercise are still important to keep it at bay.
- Before you start any program of exercise or dietary change to reverse diabetes, always discuss it with your health care professional first.
For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio