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In the ocean of healthy eating, there are countless islands of “can eat” and “cannot eat.” Especially for diabetic patients, each choice at the dining table seems like a careful navigation.
So, for diabetic patients, is the seemingly ordinary vegetable, loofah, a friend or foe?
In order to make it easier for everyone to understand, and to make medical popularization more interesting, we will combine clinical cases and use a short story to explain to everyone.
Zhao, a passionate lady who is active on the community square’s dance stage, heard about the belief that “diabetic patients cannot eat loofah” while dancing one day.
This made her quite curious because in her impression, loofah not only has sufficient water content but is also a cool choice on hot summer days. Incidentally, that day, she had to accompany her younger brother to the hospital for a check-up.
At the hospital, Zhao and her younger brother met Dr. Li, a senior doctor who has been working in the endocrinology department for many years.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Zhao asked Dr. Li, “Dr. Li, I heard that diabetic patients cannot eat loofah, is this true?”
Dr. Li smiled and replied, “Zhao, that’s a good question. In fact, loofah is not harmful but beneficial for diabetic patients.”
“Firstly, we must understand that loofah has very low carbohydrate content, mainly composed of complex carbohydrates. These carbohydrates have a slow digestion and absorption rate, which does not cause a rapid increase in blood sugar.”
He added, “Moreover, loofah is rich in dietary fiber. This fiber is not absorbed during digestion, which can slow down the absorption of sugar and help control blood sugar.”
After hearing this, Zhao was pleasantly surprised. This was really good news. She asked, “So, is there a limit to the amount of loofah diabetic patients can eat every day?”
Dr. Li earnestly answered, “Although loofah is friendly to diabetic patients, moderation is key to everything.”
This explanation gave Zhao a new understanding of loofah. She thanked Dr. Li for his professional advice and decided to make a delicious loofah and egg stir-fry for her brother when they returned home. This would not only help him control his blood sugar but also allow him to taste the flavors of home.
Seeing that Zhao and her brother had a significantly improved understanding of loofah, Dr. Li was very pleased. He continued to provide them with more in-depth knowledge to help them better understand the details of managing diabetic diets.
“Zhao, now that we know loofah is beneficial for diabetic patients, let’s discuss how to scientifically utilize such foods in daily diets.”
“For diabetic patients, controlling diet is not just about the choice between ‘eating’ and ‘not eating’.”
“For example, low GI foods, which have a low glycemic index, are a good concept.”
Dr. Li paused, seeing Zhao listening attentively, and continued, “In addition to monitoring the GI value, the cooking method of food is also crucial. For example, the amount of oil and cooking time used when stir-frying vegetables will affect the final blood sugar impact of the food.”
After listening, Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Dr. Li, can you give a suggestion for a healthy and delicious way to prepare loofah?”
Dr. Li replied, “The best way to cook loofah is stir-fry or steam. You can try adding some minced garlic and a small amount of olive oil to season it. This way, you can retain the original flavor of the loofah without adding too many calories.”
Seeing Zhao and her brother interested in these suggestions, Dr. Li offered a new perspective, “What we are discussing is not just about the food itself but also about adjusting the entire lifestyle.”
As the consultation was concluding, Zhao’s brother asked a question, “Dr. Li, if I want to know more details about the GI values of each food and recipes suitable for diabetic patients, where should I look?”
Dr. Li advised him, “There are now many applications and websites specifically designed for diabetic patients that provide such information.”
With the final question answered, Zhao and her brother thanked Dr. Li for his patient answers and left the hospital with a lot of valuable information.
As Zhao and her brother were leaving, Dr. Li reminded them, “Remember, have a balanced diet, exercise moderately, monitor blood sugar regularly. Diabetes is not frightening; the key is scientific management.”
What are your thoughts on loofah? Feel free to discuss in the comments section!
References:
[1]Zheng Chuanlei, Meta-analysis of dietary and exercise intervention for prediabetic population, Journal of Hainan Medical College, 2024-08-27
