Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition of deranged blood sugar levels with no cure. People with diabetes look out for some way to reverse their deranged body system. Trending now is the raw food diet for it. Is it helpful?
Diabetes mellitus and remedies
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition in which there are high blood sugar levels. People have insulin scarcity or insulin resistance that causes their blood sugars to remain high in fasting as well as post meals stage. Unfortunately, this condition has no cure. One can take anti-diabetic medicines or insulin, with diet changes and exercise regime to lower their blood glucose levels.
Due to side effects of drugs and lack of time for exercise, people are eager to have a diet protocol that would assist them to control the disease or reverse it. Every other day some new fad diet is recommended for it. Raw food diet is the latest diet that has claims of reversing diabetes. How true are these claims?
What is raw food diet?
Raw food diet is gaining popularity these days to fight diabetes mellitus. Its other names are raw food or raw vegan food. Followers of this diet believe that cooking destroys the vital nutrients in the food. In order to preserve these nutrients, they advocate eating of raw foods. The foods should be unprocessed and uncooked.
Raw foods such as fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of dietary fiber. This fiber is good for gut and can help reduce blood sugar and blood cholesterol. It reduces body inflammation and hence prevents chronic diseases that come with age. These include atherosclerosis, heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. The antioxidants are highest in unprocessed foods and hence are good for the body.
Can it reverse diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that is incurable. One can control it with eating a balanced and healthy diet and changing our daily lifestyle. Reduce stress and up the exercise quotient. Have your prescribed medications.
As regards raw foods, these are good for the body. But only raw food eating is not healthy. It is true that cooking can destroy some nutrients but cooking also makes the food more palatable and easily digestible. This eases the stomach and prevents gut pains.
Moreover, the high fiber of raw foods can cause gut ill-health. They can lead to bloating, stomach pains, cramps, gas formation, distension and discomfort.
Raw foods might have germs on them that might not go away with washing. Additionally, they might contain sprayed pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides on them. These are chemicals that can enter the body with the food and lead to various problems.
Also, read Bruce Springsteen shares his diet and exercise secrets!
Hence raw food diet might not be the answer for diabetes. Stick to balanced and healthy eating with exercise to control the condition. Have raw foods but in moderation. Eat other foods too in cooked form. Wash raw foods before consumption and go organic with them. Cooking might kill some nutrients but the process has an overall benefit rather than harm.