Winter Superfoods for Diabetics: Boosting Immunity and Managing Blood Sugar Levels
Ayurveda, the earliest Indian system of medicine, highlights the comprehensive wellness by using the natural ingredients to stabilize our body’s diet. As the winter season comes, it becomes very crucial to maintaining immunity and managing blood sugar levels, especially for the diabetic patients. A cool climate often brings a higher risk of infection and makes blood sugar control a provocation. Includes Ayurvedic superfoods into your diet can not only make your immune system strong, but it is also helpful to manage diabetes. Let’s explore the best Ayurvedic superfoods to include in your winter season diet menu to maintain strong immunity and manage blood sugar levels.
Ayurvedic Winter Superfoods for Diabetes Patients
- Moringa
- Turmeric
- Ashwagandha
- Fenugreek
- Ginger
- Amla
Immunity Boosting Superfoods for Diabetic & Pre-diabetic Patients in Winter Season:
- Moringa:
Moringa, the best immunity food for diabetic patients, has a high rise of vitamins and minerals. It is also
known as murungai curry leaf which means a drumstick tree. It contains antioxidants and antibiotics it will
help reduce strain in people, who are suffering from diabetes. Moringa is the best medicine for diabetic
patients to make stronger immunity and manage diabetics during winter seasons. It is rich in vitamins like
vitamin C and A, which will be so helpful in controlling the diabetes. Moringa is the best immunity-boosting
superfood for diabetic patients in winter.How Moringa Benefits for Diabetic Patients:
- Regulate blood sugar
- Rich in antioxidants
How to use Moringa leaves in Your Menu: - Add 2 spoons of moringa leaf powder to your soups, warm water or herbal tea.
- Use Moringa curry leaves or leaves powder in curries, fries, as well as rasams.
- Turmeric:
Turmeric is also known as curcumin; it’s a spice that is an essential ingredient in the kitchen. Polyphenol
(Curcumin) and Xanthorrhoea oil are the active ingredients in the turmeric, it’s in thick and natural
yellowish color. Turmeric contains lots of benefits it is rich in antioxidants and antibiotics, which will be
helpful for any health issues, it is a staple Ayurvedic medicine which will be helpful for boosting immunity
and reducing inflammation during the winter season. Turmeric is the best immunity-boosting superfood
for diabetic patients in winter.How Turmeric Benefits for Diabetic Patients:
- Improves insulin sensitivity.
- Anti-inflammatory.
How to Use Turmeric in Your Menu: - Add natural turmeric to your soups, teas, and warm water.
- Add a little amount of turmeric in your warm milk before going to bed.
- Ashwagandha:
Ashwagandha is also known as Amukara, which is an Indian human root that also aids anti-oxidants to
absorb lessen stress in the body. For diabetics, stress can drop blood sugar for unhealthy reasons.
Ashwagandha is not only good when it comes to reducing stress, but during the winter it helps to increase
immunity-boosting power and helps to control diabetes.How Ashwagandha Benefits for Diabetics:
Reduces stress-induced sugar spikes
- Enhances immune response.
How to Use Ashwagandha in Your Menu: - Swallow Ashwagandha in the form of tea or better still, take it in supplement form.
- Simply mix it into your morning smoothies, or sprinkle the powder in your warm milk.
Fenugreek:
Traditionally, Ayurvedic system uses methi, also known as fenugreek for diabetes treatment. Fenugreek is
an anti-fiber which slows down the rate of food digestion and absorption, thereby helping to keep your
blood sugar low, and this may help you avoid that sudden surge in blood sugar that plagues so many
diabetics that they get right after having some foods. Fiber in fenugreek, too, can help reduce insulin and
glucose levels.
How Fenugreek Benefits for Diabetics: - Lowers blood sugar levels
- Improves insulin sensitivity.
How to Use Fenugreek in Your Menu: - Consume two tablespoons of soaked fenugreek seed with an empty stomach.
- Add one spoon of fenugreek seed powder to your meals, buttermilk or tea.
Ginger :
Ginger is also another wintersuper food that is used in Ayurveda, carry health benefits to the human body.
The drink is best when it is cold because it makes heat for your body, it is more appropriate in winter to
take it because it reduces inflammation and affects extraordinarily in diabetic patients’ antioxidants.
How Ginger Benefits for Diabetics: - Improves blood circulation
- Manages blood sugar.
How to Use Ginger in Your Menu: - Add fresh ginger in warm water along with honey and lemon.
- Make a warming ginger tea by boiling ginger in water.
- Add ginger to your soups, curries, and rasams.
Amla : All major immunity boosting herbs of Ayurveda are present in this fruit and it’s called amla or Indian
gooseberry, having high vitamin C content. It has a function of preventing infections, especially during
winter when people with diseases get infected easily, knowing fully well that a diabetic patient’s immune
system is relatively down. This helps to reduce oxidative stress which is usually prevalent in diabetic
patients.
How Amla Benefits for Diabetics: - Lowers blood sugar
- Rich in antioxidantsHow to Use Amla in Your Menu:
- Drink a fresh amla shot in the early morning.
- Add dry amla powder into your smoothies, warm water.
Best Indian foods to control diabetes in winter seasons
- Tulsi
Holy basil, Tulsi, strengthens body’s immune system and an antioxidant to control blood sugar
- Bitter Gourd
Karala is also called as bitter gourd. It also regulates sugar levels and strengthens the immune
system Cinnamon:
Dalchini, known as cinnamon. However, it can also help in the course of improving Insulin
sensitivity.Ragi
Finger millet is also called ragi. Low in glycaemic index so that the blood sugars may be regulated.
Masoor Dal
Red lentils also called masoor dal. It is high in protein, high in dietary fiber, it is also one that
promotes stable blood glucose
Quinoa vs Rice for Diabetics
Quinoa is, generally, a better choice than rice if you have diabetes. It also has a lower glycemic index –
meaning it rises (and lowers) blood sugar more slowly and steadily. Another point about quinoa is that it
is richer in protein and fiber which proper amount of fiber can control blood sugar and can help make you
feel full for longer. It’s also a source of nutrients like magnesium which respectively, can also assist you
control insulin levels in your body better. Generally, white rice is full of carbohydrates but it takes less time
for blood sugar to rise than quinoa since the glycemic index is high. Quinoa is in general more diabetic
friendly food. Compared to rice Quinoa is the best for diabetic patients.
Best vegetables for diabetes patients to eat in winter
- Spinach
Also known as palak It is fiber- rich, low carbohydrate food and good for diabetic patients
- Cauliflower
Cauliflower has low GL value it is highly rich in vitamins and antioxidants to control blood
sugar levels. - Broccoli
Broccoli, it is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, it may help to control blood sugar levels as well
as inflammation. It has low fats and calories to help in regulation of blood sugar levels. - Carrots
As far as vegetables it is okay to eat several veggies within a day but carrots are desirable due to
their fiber content as well as their non-presence in the glycemic list. - Beetroot
Beetroot has high content of antioxidants and nitrates, which helps keeps the blood flowing
well and assists in controlling sugar