Now that the living standards have improved, we are exposed to more nutrients, but also to more toxins. Many age-related diseases from the past are becoming younger and younger, with diabetes being the most prominent example. The most obvious symptom of diabetes is high blood sugar, but diabetes becomes more serious when blood sugar reaches a certain level. High blood sugar simply means that the sugar content in the blood is too high, and in severe cases, insulin intervention is required.
Diet therapy serves as the foundation of diabetes treatment. Through dietary adjustments, the burden on pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells can be reduced, facilitating the recovery of beta cell function. This helps lower fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels. It can also aid in weight loss for obese individuals, as well as increase the number and sensitivity of insulin receptors.
Some commonly consumed foods can help regulate blood sugar effectively and healthily. Surprisingly, many of these items are everyday ingredients that we encounter easily. Below are some of these miraculous foods that can help lower blood sugar levels while staying hydrated.
**Chinese Yam:** Chinese yam can effectively improve high blood sugar levels. The viscous components in Chinese yam are formed by mucin proteins. These mucin proteins can envelop other food in the intestines, slowing down sugar absorption. This process can inhibit rapid postprandial blood sugar spikes and prevent excessive insulin secretion, contributing to better blood sugar regulation.
**Walnuts:** Walnuts are rich in nutrients and are counted among the world’s “big four” dried fruits. Walnuts are considered excellent for dietary therapy. They contain a substantial amount of fats and proteins that are easily absorbed by the body. The protein present in walnuts includes essential amino acids such as lysine, which are highly beneficial for nourishing the brain and nerves. Whether one is in good health or not, consuming walnuts regularly can strengthen the body and alleviate the burden of illnesses.
With the continuous improvement in living standards, people’s diets are often characterized by high salt, high fat, high sugar, and high-calorie refined foods, along with factors like busy work schedules, high stress levels, and minimal physical activity. As a result, modern individuals often face the challenges of “three highs” – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Each of these conditions is akin to a ferocious tiger – high blood pressure being the main culprit for coronary heart disease, high cholesterol being a precursor for atherosclerosis and heart disease, and diabetes ranking as the second leading killer among modern diseases, posing a threat almost as serious as cancer. The more urbanized the area, the more cautious one must be about these underlying threats. **Barley** plays a unique role in preventing the three highs: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. It regulates blood viscosity, lipid levels, improves blood circulation, enhances pancreatic islet cell insulin secretion, thereby helping to maintain blood pressure, blood lipid levels, and blood sugar within normal ranges.
**Bitter Melon:** Bitter melon is known for its effects in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as its anticancer properties, preventive actions against osteoporosis, hormone regulation, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting effects. Bitter melon can also moisturize the skin, promote skin whitening, and provide skin hydration. With a high content of vitamin C, bitter glycosides, and bitterness compounds, bitter melon effectively breaks down excess body fat, aiding in weight loss.
The fluids within the body account for more than seventy percent of our body weight, with blood constituting a significant portion. Any blood-related issues can severely jeopardize our health; impure blood can become thick and sluggish, leading to premature blood diseases, decreased organ function, accelerated aging in women, rendering external skincare treatments futile. A survey revealed that consuming more than three cups of green tea daily ensures the proper absorption of essential nutrients by the blood. Thus, it is imperative to cleanse the blood by incorporating green tea into our daily routines.
**Morus Berry:** Morus berries are rich in nutrients, containing 16 amino acids such as Lysine, Glutamic acid, Histidine, as well as various vitamins (B1, B2, B3, C, E), organic acids, minerals (iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus), carotenes, fibers, pectin, glucose, fructose, and other nutritional components. Morus berries, also known as mulberry or mulberry, possess beneficial effects such as clearing deficiency heat, protecting the liver and kidneys, diuresis, reducing swelling, calming the mind, detoxification, blood nourishment, promoting hair growth, and delaying aging.
