Can I eat apples with diabetes?

For people with diabetes, the issue of nutrition is of utmost importance. After all, their life depends on the products that make up their diet. Therefore, patients with this diagnosis are so carefully selected food components for their daily menu. And, if there are certain doubts about the majority of products when choosing, the attitude towards apples is always positive. Such loyalty to a popular fruit is not accidental, because apples to a weakened body will bring much more benefits than harm.

True, even such a completely safe product as an apple, diabetics should not be consumed in unlimited quantities. What position apples should occupy in the diabetic menu, and how to eat them correctly, we will try to tell in detail.

Diabetic Apples

Everyone has heard about the benefits of apples. Even infants are given the juice of these wonderful fruits as a first feeding, which once again confirms their safety. Therefore, nutritionists unanimously believe that apples can become part of the daily diet of people with high sugar levels.

One of the main advantages of the fruit is its low glycemic index. This term in medicine refers to the rate of conversion of carbohydrates that are ingested with food into glucose. So, for apples this indicator is 30, which is considered an acceptable value. In addition to this advantage, this representative of fruit crops has a rich composition. To verify this, it is worth listing only its main components:

1. Vitamins are almost completely present in apples: ascorbic, nicotinic acid, fully vitamin B group, retinol and other elements.
2. The same impressive composition of minerals: it is iron, calcium and magnesium, zinc.
3. There is a lot of pectin in apples, and it favorably affects the digestive system.

In the general composition, all of these components saturate the body of a sick person and strengthen it.

Of course, these positive qualities are very valuable for the nutrition of the diabetic. But there are also “pitfalls” in this matter. The fact is that any fruit is 85% percent water, about 11% is carbohydrates, and the remaining 4 percent of the composition is divided between proteins with fats. It is this ratio of ingredients that provides apples with a low calorie content of about 50 kcal / per 100 g. This figure is quite suitable for nutritionists, which explains their favorable attitude to this particular category of fruit products.

True, low calorie content does not indicate that the content of glucose in fruits is the same minimum. This indicator reflects a completely different side - the risks of fat formation. Indeed, apples in no way contribute to the accumulation of fat, but they can increase the level of sugar with excessive consumption. Therefore, when healthy fruits are included in the diet, you need to constantly monitor the blood glucose indicator.

Despite the possible risks, the appearance of apples on the diabetic menu is quite justified, because the fruits have what the patient needs. For example, take the same pectins that have already been mentioned. They quickly cleanse the body of toxins. Thanks to this beneficial component, insulin levels can be significantly reduced. But in addition to the cleansing function, pectin is also well absorbed by the digestive system, which, in general, contributes to the rapid saturation of the body.

Which apple variety is best for a diabetic?

If most people can choose any fruit they like, then for diabetics such liberties are not permissible. The stringent requirements of the “special” diet will be met by green apples grown in clean ecological regions. Nutritionists recommend giving preference to such varieties: "Simirenko", "White filling", "Renet". In these types of apple products, the minimum content of carbohydrates.

Terms of use

Although diabetes and apples under compatible conditions are compatible concepts, the rules for their use must always be respected.

1. Even with a strong love for this type of fruit, a person with diabetes should not exceed the daily intake of the product. Depending on the type of disease, diabetics are allowed to eat from a few slices of the fetus to the whole fruit. Dose adjustment is carried out only by the attending physician. In this case, the patient’s condition is the main factor on which the specialist’s decision depends.
2. With the daily use of apples, attention should be paid to the method of processing the fruits. The menu should be varied and include fruits not only fresh, but also in combination with other products.
3. Nutritionists strongly recommend baking apples in the oven for diabetics. According to experts, this is the best option for a diabetic. This treatment preserves most of the beneficial properties and gives the fruit a special taste. But under the influence of high temperatures, part of the liquid evaporates. Baked apples can replace the forbidden delicacies for diabetics: sweets, confectionery, chocolate.
4. Soaked apples are no less useful for health. The specific, bright taste of fruits prepared in this way will certainly bring a pleasant variety to the patient's diet. In addition, in the process of such processing, not only all the important ingredients are fully preserved in the apple, but other useful substances are also produced. Basically, these are acids that positively affect bowel function and digestion.
5. But dried fruit should be treated with extreme caution. When drying apples, water leaves, but glucose remains in the same amount as in fresh fruit. Therefore, in dried fruits obtained from apples, the concentration of sugars increases significantly. The only option when it is acceptable to use dried apples is a fruit broth (compote) without added sugar.
6. It is unacceptable to enter in the menu of a person whose blood sugar level exceeds the norm, such apple variety options as jams, compotes and preserves.

Of course, such serious issues as the inclusion of a particular product in the diet should be solved only together with the doctor. Self-preparation of a diet for diabetes is regarded as self-medication. As you know, an arbitrary approach to treatment rarely ends with a successful result.

Useful recipes

Despite the strict dietary standards that a diabetic should meet, if desired, even such a menu can be varied. Apples are great for this purpose, because they go well with many foods and other fruits. We offer several recipes that will enrich the menu and add mood to a sick person.

Charlotte for diabetics
This dish may occasionally appear on the table in people with high sugar. But the guest, who is waiting impatiently, always gives more joy than the usual environment. So, diet charlotte is prepared in the following sequence:

1. First, beat eggs (4 pcs.) With xylitol (1/3 cup).
2. Then, in pre-sifted flour (200 g), add beaten mass in small portions.
3. Peel a few green apples, finely chop them.
4. A small piece of butter needs to be melted in a pan so that its inside can be greased.
5. At the bottom of the pan spreads the fruit mass, and pour all the dough on top.
6. We place the container with the future charlotte in a preheated oven.
7. After 15-20 minutes, a delicious dessert for the diabetic will be ready.

Light apple salad
Fruit salad is always appropriate on the table. This light dish is especially true in the summer, when heavy food causes some discomfort. Salad according to this recipe can be prepared in a matter of minutes. The whole process consists of three stages:

1. A good apple without defects should be grated on a fine grater, sprinkle the resulting mass with lemon juice.
2. Then three carrots, combine it with the fruit part of the salad.
3. At the end of the culinary action, you need to add a handful of nuts, a spoonful of yogurt (dietary), mix everything thoroughly.

The resulting dish will decorate the table and will surely appeal to other family members. Such salads are very fond of young children, so this dish may well become traditional.

Apples when used properly can provide significant assistance to the body. But the main thing is that this type of fruit crops perfectly meets the dietary standards for diabetes.

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