Type 2 diabetes: The exotic food with ‘antidiabetic effects’ shown to help the condition
Dr David Lloyd discusses using diabetes drug for anti-aging
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This means a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables that will allow them to control their blood sugar level.
Scientists are always looking for new ways to improve the advice they give to diabetes patients and now a study, conducted in 2015, has suggested a new vegetable to be added to the list.
The yam is a type of vegetable that originates in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
Often mistaken for sweet potatoes, they’re a highly versatile vegetable that scientists say could be beneficial for managing blood sugar levels.
That is according to a study conducted at Chonbuk National University in Korea that found it exerts “antidiabetic effects” and could help to “maintain insulin and glucose levels.”
The study, conducted on 50 rats, found that the rats given purple yam experienced improved blood sugar control, reduced appetites, and greater weight loss compared with the control group.
Further results show that yam reduced the rate of blood sugar absorption leading to improved blood sugar control.
While these results are promising with regard to the effect of yam, more research is needed to provide a conclusive link.
Improving blood sugar control is not the only potential health benefit of yam, a vegetable that is full of vitamins, minerals, and fibres.
One cup of baked yams for example contains 158 calories, two grams of protein, 5 grams of fibre, vitamin B5, manganese, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, copper, and folate.
Potassium and manganese are important as they help with bone growth, metabolism, and heart function.
Yams could also help improve brain as well as heart function.
A 12-week study of people who took yam extract found that those consuming yam had a higher brain function score after the study than those in the placebo group.
The reason for this was put down to the fact that yam contains a compound known as diosgenin that scientists say can promote neuronal growth and enhance the brain.
However, the research is limited in this area and so more is required to draw a link.
Since it is a vegetable, yam could easily fit into a vegan diet, a relevant note as more and more people in the UK each year are going vegan.
Since managing insulin and blood sugar levels is an important and delicate balancing act some have questioned whether going vegan is the sensible option for a person with diabetes.
On vegan diets Diabetes UK says: “Vegan diets tend to be lower in saturated fat, higher in fibre, fruit and vegetables…as a result, they fit well with the current dietary guidelines for people with diabetes.
“There is no reason why [an individual] shouldn’t choose to follow a vegan diet…but it’s important to discuss the matter with your diabetes team if you have any queries or concerns.”
For more information on diabetes contact the NHS or consult with your GP.
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