If you have diabetes, you may be wondering: Is Pumpkin good for diabetes? Pumpkin is a healthy food that contains plenty of fiber and is low-carb.
It contains vitamin E, potassium, and beta-carotene. These nutrients can help control blood sugar levels.
Depending on the amount you eat, pumpkin may be beneficial for people with diabetes.
Vitamin E
Studies show that eating pumpkin can help you with diabetes. Its high levels of Vitamin E and beta-carotene help prevent and control blood sugar.
Nonetheless, you should avoid adding excessive sugar to pumpkin-based dishes.
For best results, consume pumpkin only in moderation, and avoid adding any type of added sugar.
Pumpkin contains high levels of Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant. It helps slow down the development of diabetes by neutralizing free radicals. The vitamin also helps your body to use carbohydrates and fats
properly.
Fiber
According to the American Diabetes Association, pumpkin contains a lot of fiber. Its soluble fiber is particularly helpful for people with diabetes because it slows the digestion of carbohydrates and therefore reduces their absorption into the bloodstream.
It also helps control blood sugar levels in those with diabetes by preventing high blood pressure, one of the common complications of diabetes.
Pumpkin seeds contain trigonelline and nicotinic acid, which are both known to have anti-diabetic properties. Studies have shown that animals fed a diet rich in pumpkin seeds had improved glucose control and hemoglobin A1c levels.
HbA1c is a test that measures the average blood glucose level over the last two to three months and is indicative of impaired glucose control. Further studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings.
Potassium
Pumpkins are rich sources of potassium, an important nutrient that helps regulate blood pressure. Just a half-cup serving of pumpkin can provide almost one-tenth of your recommended daily allowance of potassium. Potassium also helps maintain bone health, which helps prevent diabetes.
Adding pumpkin to your daily diet will not increase your calorie intake, and its high potassium content is beneficial for those with diabetes.
A pumpkin boiled in salt water has a glycemic index of 75. The higher the glycemic index, the quicker your blood glucose will rise. The higher the glycemic index, the higher the risk of developing diabetes.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene, found in pumpkin, helps lower blood sugar levels, improves glucose tolerance, and increases the production of insulin. However, more research is needed to know whether pumpkin is good for diabetes. For now, pumpkin is considered safe for diabetics.
Pumpkin is high in vitamin A, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and fight infections.
This vitamin is also essential for the production of collagen, which prevents blood vessel damage from high blood sugar levels.
Calcium
If you have diabetes, you may be interested in knowing why calcium from pumpkin is good for you. It has many health benefits, including lowering blood sugar levels.
Pumpkin is also an excellent source of magnesium, a mineral that helps lower cholesterol. It is also a good source of fiber and contains three grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Pumpkin contains plenty of vitamin A, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and prevent cancer and infections. Vitamin A also helps the body use insulin more effectively, which is good for those with diabetes. In addition, vitamin A protects the eyes from ultraviolet light and prevents age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, and cataracts.
Vitamin C also helps prevent blood vessel damage from high glucose levels.
Glycemic index
The Glycemic Index is a scale from zero to 100 that measures the amount of sugar in a food. The lower the number, the less the food will raise blood sugar levels. In contrast, the higher the number, the greater the blood sugar spike.
Pumpkin, however, has a high GI of 75 and a low GL of 3. It should not have a significant effect on blood sugar levels.
Although most research involving pumpkins has been conducted on animals, researchers in China have found that eating pumpkins regularly can help control blood sugar levels. When incorporating pumpkin into a diet, it is important to use the lowest-GI form and portion size.
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Avoid sweet pumpkin treats
Although pumpkins have benefits for people with diabetes, you should consume them in moderation. Pumpkin is rich in carbohydrates and compounds that can help regulate blood sugar.
These compounds may help people with diabetes manage their condition better, or even slow the progression of the disease. Despite these benefits, most people consume pumpkins in the form of holiday pies and other treats that are loaded with sugar.
However, don’t be fooled by pumpkin spice lattes – these drinks are filled with added sugars and don’t offer the same health benefits as pumpkin in its natural form.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of pumpkin, try eating the actual fruit instead of consuming pumpkin-flavored products.