Best Foods Low in Sodium for People with DiabetesBest Foods Low in Sodium for People with Diabetes
© Nataliia Mysak | Dreamstime.com It’s commonly known that an unhealthy diet, obesity, and inactive lifestyle are often associated with diabetes. Unhealthy diet can mean many things, but foods heavy on sodium undoubtedly fall into this category. To be exact, we do need sodium in our body. – It’s required for controlling the fluids balance and helps maintaining a normal blood pressure and volume. Plus, eating too much salty food won’t give you diabetes. However, consuming too much salt (more than the recommended amount of 2,000 – 2,300mg) can raise your blood pressure that can cause fluid retention, which in its turn can lead to swelling in your feet and other health issues. Besides, high sodium consumption can cause high blood pressure (hypertension), that is very dangerous for people with diabetes, as it increases their risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, people with diabetes have to keep their sodium consumption under control by consuming food that is low on sodium. Fortunately, it’s not that hard. First of all, avoid processed food like sausage, bacon, cheese, pretzels, lunch meat, chips, and most prepared and packaged food as much as possible and be careful when buying canned food as well. – These types of food are notorious for high sodium content. Do not add salt to your food prior to or after cooking. If you want to spice up your food, be careful with sauces, dressings, and condiments. They also tend to be high in the sodium department. So, read nutrition labels before buying food to make sure it has low or no sodium in it. So what food is more suitable for people with diabetes? Give preference to fresh, unprocessed meats, fresh fish and poultry, fruits, and vegetables. You can eat dairy products too, even though they’re not exactly low in sodium. But if you limit your portion sizes, you can enjoy them as well. Here we’d like to share with you a few of our favorite recipes of dishes made with low or no sodium ingredients. Tilapia Filet with Cauliflower SaladDiabetic-friendly steamed tilapia is a great snack with steamed cauliflower, apples and basil. Cabbage and Avocado SaladVery light and healthy, diabetic-friendly salad. Quick and easy to make, this salad can be a part of a casual family dinner. Cabbage, Apple, and Carrot SaladYou can eat this light and juicy diabetic-friendly salad with no risk of gaining extra weight. The mix of soy sauce and olive oil give this salad a unique and interesting taste. Avocado, Kiwi and Brussels Sprouts SaladHealthy and juicy salad with kiwi, avocado, Brussels sprouts, and cucumbers is a true delight! Sesame oil and seeds give this diabetic-friendly salad an oriental flavor. Zucchini Gratin with MeatJuicy, aromatic and filling, this diabetic-friendly dish with a tender creamy crust will make your family and guests happy! Kohlrabi and Pine Nuts SaladThis is a simple salad with unique taste. Made with diabetic-friendly ingredients, kohlrabi and pine nuts salad not only tasty, but very healthy as well – a valuable addition to your lunch and dinner menu! Red Cabbage SaladA healthy mix of vegetables combined with a savory dressing, can earn this diabetic-friendly salad a well-deserved place on your dinner table. Quinoa SaladNutritious, tasty and diabetic-friendly, quinoa salad is a dish you can’t go wrong with when deciding what’s for dinner.
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