Hypoglycemia and vegetarianism need not be a matter of extreme concern. You can reap the benefits of a good hypoglycemic diet, even while maintaining your vegetarianism. This article will help you with some diet tips.
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the body falls short of the required level of sugar in the blood. A majority of people who suffer from it also suffer from diabetes. However, diabetes is not the only reason for a person to develop hypoglycemia. It can be caused due to some other diseases or by some kind of medication that the person is taking. It could also be caused due to over-consumption of alcohol. Since all the reasons are related to consumption and intake of certain substances, it only makes sense to control the abnormally low sugar level in the blood by following a diet that helps the purpose. And being non-vegetarian is not a criterion for that. This HealthHearty article will guide you towards following a good meal plan, if you are a vegetarian.
Vegetarian Diet for Hypoglycemics
A hypoglycemia diet entails including some foods in your diet and excluding some foods from your diet. If you’re vegetarian, it doesn’t matter. In the sections below, you will get to know which are the foods that you need to include so as to bring the sugar in your blood to a favorable level.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the nutrients that get absorbed the quickest by the blood. They provide us with the necessary glucose so that our body can get the required energy to function properly. However, carbs can also bring about major fluctuations in the level of insulin in our blood, which could lead to adverse health conditions. Hence, a diet with moderate amounts of carbohydrates, along with other nutrients is something that can be advised for a vegetarian hypoglycemic. Food items that you can include in this diet are sprouts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, mushrooms, papayas, peaches, nectarines, watermelons, apples, berries, etc. Include them in the different meals of the day for a good level of energy in your body.
Proteins
Proteins are required for the proper maintenance and wear and tear of the various organs and parts of our body. Also, when accompanied by the carbohydrates, they help to lower the absorption of the carbs and thus, bring about a sort of balance in the level of insulin in the blood stream. So, a daily consumption of foods high in protein is necessary for a hypoglycemic person. Most foods that are rich in proteins are generally meats and dairy products. However, even if you are a vegetarian, you can soak up the many benefits of protein-rich foods by including some food items in your diet. They are legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, etc. In dairy products, go for the low or non-fat ones like milk, butter, cheese, etc. Soy beans and cereals are also a great source of proteins for people following a vegetarian diet.
Healthy Fats
Fats are always a dicey nutrient to gamble with, in our diets. While we may enjoy them immensely due to their appeal to our palates, we know that a lot of it can cause some serious damage to our body. When you consume fats, they take longer than carbs to get digested and metabolized. This ensures that they stay longer in the body, which means that the energy in the body is sustained for longer. You can include foods which have healthy fats in your diet. These foods include nuts, seeds, grains, olive oil, avocados, peanut oil, soy bean, olives, almonds, canola oil, etc.
Fiber
Along with carbohydrates and proteins, the diet should also contain enough fiber in it. Fiber helps to slow down the absorption of the sugar from the carbohydrates and also helps to slow down the rate of metabolism. Hence, the sugar gets retained in the body for longer. Fiber is where vegetarians get lucky in the case of hypoglycemia. Maximum amount of fiber is found in fruits and vegetables. And since eating them is already a way of life for vegetarians, it shouldn’t be difficult to include them into the diet plan. Green leafy vegetables, fruits, sprouts, whole grains, lentils, nuts and seeds, and all products made using them are great sources of fiber for hypoglycemic people. So experiment with them and come up with different ways to incorporate them into your diet.
Being a vegetarian is a matter of personal choice. And suffering from hypoglycemia, though not a personal choice, need not be treated as a grave problem when it comes to finding foods to keep the level of the blood sugar in check. So use the pointers given above and follow a good diet plan to remain healthy.
