That humble cabbage in your vegetable shelf can help you fight diabetes
We all know that the burden of diabetes is growing all over the world
and it will keep increasing. The 2019 facts and figures about this
hormonal disorder alone is more than a wake-up call. This year’s data by
the International Diabetes Foundation come up with the following
statistics:
- 463 million adults in the age bracket of 20-79 years, were affected by diabetes
- This figure will escalate to 700 million by 2045 this will rise to 700 million
- People between 40 and 59 years of age are mostly affected by diabetes
- 232 million: The number of people with undiagnosed diabetes
- The death toll of diabetes was 4.2 million
Controls blood sugar
Cabbage has a lot of antioxidant and antihyperglycemic properties that make it a medicine for diabetes. In a study done on rats in 2008, cabbage extracts fed to them for 60 days lowered blood sugar levels and also helped to control fluctuations and keep the readings in the safe range.It helps to lose weight
Cabbage is low in calories and high in fibre content, so it becomes an ideal vegetable to choose for diabetics. It is also low on glycemic index with a rank of 10 (anything below 55 is considered low). GI is an indicator of how fast the carbohydrates will raise the blood glucose levels in your blood. A food item with a high GI means it will raise the levels quickly as compared to food with low GI. So bring cabbage to your table as often as you can.Improves kidney functions
Since cabbage can help keep blood sugar level in control, it also helps to maintain the kidney functions. When a diabetic has extremely high blood sugar levels (over 600 mg/dl), the kidneys try to get rid of the extra blood sugar by eliminating it through urine. This leads to excessive loss of body fluids, resulting in dehydration. Dehydration causes the blood to become thicker and further increases the blood sugar levels which makes it difficult for the kidneys to rectify it. This is why diabetics are more prone to kidney failures.How to eat it:
- A simple way to include cabbage in your diet is to prepare the vegetable as a side dish at least thrice a week.
- If you dislike the preparation, add cabbage to your dals and soups to reap its benefits.
- Prepare cabbage juice by chopping the vegetable and blending it on a high speed.
- Add boiled cabbage to your salads with a dash of salt and lemon.