Liquid calories and nutrition can be good or bad for blood sugar and diabetes. Here's how you can get the healthiest bang from your beverages.
Best Healthy Drinks For Diabetics You Should Know
1. Drinks For Diabetics – Coffee
According to a 2006 study, moderate consumption of both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and younger women [1]. However, overconsumption of coffee can raise blood sugar level. Coffee contains the compound Chlorogenic acid, which helps to delay the glucose absorption into the bloodstream and curb type 2 diabetes. Along with that, coffee has no carbohydrates and calorie, which make it become one of the best drinks for diabetics. Thus, you should enjoy 1-2 cups of coffee a day without sugar and milk. This is because adding sugar, milk or cream to coffee may increase the overall calorie count and affect the levels of blood sugar.
2. Drinks For Diabetics – Milk
As we know, milk is a healthy and beneficial drink for kids. It is also good for diabetics. A 2000 study found that consuming low-fat dairy products is related to mortality of diabetes, lower incidence and lower blood pressures [2]. Milk helps to promote weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes and maintain essential functions of the body. Fat-free and low-fat milk is considered as one of the healthiest drinks for diabetes, which help to reduce high blood pressure. Therefore, you should take two to three servings of dairy products on a regular basis.
3. Drinks For Diabetics – Green Tea
One of the best healthy drinks for diabetics is green tea because it has zero carbohydrates and calories. So, diabetic patients can drink an unlimited amount of green tea without any restrictions. According to a study, green tea can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and lower blood pressure [3]. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help to neutralize the inflammation effects that protect from coronary heart diseases and decrease the risks of developing type 2 diabetes. Besides, both black and green tea comes with the polysaccharides, which aid in slowing down the sugar absorption into the bloodstream. It is suggested to enjoy 4-5 cups of green tea daily to decrease the risk of developing diabetes and keep diabetes in check. You should avoid sweeteners whether you choose black, green, or herbal tea.
4. Drinks For Diabetics – Water
Water is one of the best drinks for diabetics because it won’t increase the levels of blood sugar. High levels of blood sugar can cause dehydration. Consuming enough water can help the body remove excess glucose through urine. Men should consume around 10 glasses of water daily while women should consume approximately 8 glasses. If plain water does not appeal to you, you can create some variety by adding sprigs of flavorful herbs, such as basil, mint, or lemon balm, or adding slices of lime, lemon, or orange, or crushing several frozen or fresh raspberries into your drink.
5. Drinks For Diabetics – Bitter Gourd Juice
Bitter gourd is an effective medicine for anemic and diabetic people. It is good for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes because it affects the transport channels for glucose. According to a study, bitter gourd juice has beneficial impacts on glucose tolerance as well as lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced type -2 diabetic rats [4]. In addition, it contains hypoglycemic substance so that it helps to reduce the urine sugar and blood sugar levels. For making this juice, you need to wash the bitter gourd at first and later peel its top skin. Then, cut it into fine pieces and afterward, properly apply salt by rubbing it with some turmeric. Keep it for several minutes and extract its juice. Crush these pieces in a mixer properly. For taste & tangy flavor, add some fresh lemon juice to it.
6. Drinks For Diabetics – Cucumber Juice
Cucumber is enriched with calcium, iron, phosphorus, amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin B1, aromatic substances, vitamin C and vitamin B2 so that it helps to effectively improve human health. Additionally, it contains the powerful effects that can reduce heat, eliminate inflammation, diuretic, reduce swelling and treat arthritis. According to an article on Live Strong, a 2014 animal study published in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research showed that cucumber pulp extract helped to reduce blood sugar [5]. Therefore, diabetic patients should drink cucumber juice frequently to provide the body with the essential nutrients.
7. Drinks For Diabetics – Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is rich in antioxidants and contains no calories so that it is one of the best drinks for diabetics. According to a recent study, chamomile tea has some beneficial impacts on glycemic control & serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients [6]. According to another study, regular consumption of chamomile tea may help to decrease blood sugar and prevent complications such as nerve and circulatory damage, blindness, and kidney disease.