Type 2 Diabetes - Are Apples Really the Best Fruit For Diabetics?

People with type 2 diabetes always want to know if fruit is OK for diabetics to eat. Unfortunately, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics need to absorb so much information that this simple question becomes impossible for them to answer. On top of that, there is a lot of information on the internet about fruit and diabetes that's downright false.

Fortunately, there are quite a few types of fruits that have excellent benefits for people with type 2 diabetes. Among them are citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, all type of berries... strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and apples. Even bananas can fall into the good fruit category, although they tend to have a little more sugar than some fruits.

Apples

Apples: The Perfect Fruit For Diabetics?

Type 2 Diabetes - Are Apples Really the Best Fruit For Diabetics?

As long as you monitor your blood sugar levels and don't overdo it with too many servings of fruit, you can enjoy nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber in lots of fruits. Let's take a look at the apple as it might just be the the perfect fruit for diabetics.

Apples are so good for diabetics that research done on people with pre-diabetes found that apples could even keep people from developing diabetes. In the twenty-four hours after "apple consumption", pre-diabetes symptoms were fewer. It seems that an apple a day can really be as good at keeping the doctor away as the old saying says it is.

Apples Are Loaded With Fiber:

Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Eating one medium-size apple has the same effect as eating a bowl of bran cereal. In fact, just one apple contains 20% of the daily recommendation for fiber. Because an apple has so much fiber, it is good at controlling blood sugars by releasing them more slowly into the blood. This can give you energy over the long-term and not the quick spike of glucose given by a lot of other fruits and juices.

Studies have shown that apples can reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease, and they can reduce inflammation in those people who have joint diseases. Apples are excellent for digestive health and have a positive effect on your colon. In addition, one of the brightest research findings is that apples are full of antioxidants.

Apples contain antioxidants:

Antioxidants get rid of free radicals... substances which cause cell damage and lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The antioxidants in apples are known as phytochemicals, and include an extra-special flavonoid called quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to prevent cancer and it's benefits for many other diseases are now being researched. It has promising-looking benefits for Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. If you ate one apple (with skin), approximately 100 grams, you would receive equal antioxidant benefits to taking 1500 grams of vitamin C.

Not only do they cut your risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes, apples help get rid of the plaque which builds up in your blood vessels causing blockages and heart disease.

Maybe the expression "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" should be changed to "two apples a day will keep type 2 diabetes away".

Type 2 Diabetes - Are Apples Really the Best Fruit For Diabetics?

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?

To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions... its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.

(c) 2010 Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog

Delicious Apple Pie Recipes For Diabetics and Others

Fall is just around the corner and that means lots of apples just begging to be turned into pies. This fall also offers our United States Presidential Election and what is more American than apple pie? Following are a couple of very tasty apple pie recipes that are perfect for diabetics as well as for anyone. Give them a try and enjoy a delicious piece of apple pie today.

Old-Fashioned Classic Apple Pie

Apples

6 cups thinly sliced, peeled, tart cooking apples

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup Splenda granular

2 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tbsp butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Slice apples into a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice. Add sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to apples; mix together well. Mix apples again with a large spoon then turn into pastry lined pie pan. Dot the surface with the butter or margarine. Place top pastry over pie and seal the edges well. Cut steam vents in center of the top crust or poke several times with a fork. Bake pie in a 425 degree oven for 45 - 55 minutes or until crust turns a golden brown and the filling starts to bubble up through the vents.

NO SUGAR ADDED APPLE PIE

1/3 cup frozen apple juice concentrate

8 tsp Splenda granular

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp ground cinnamon

8 cups thinly sliced baking apples, peeled

1 tbsp butter

Pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, combine juice, Splenda, cornstarch and cinnamon. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry, allowing pastry to overlap sides. Place apple slices over bottom pastry. Pour the juice mixture evenly over the apple slices. Dot with the butter. Top with pastry. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut a slit in center of crust for venting during baking. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees and bake 15-20 minutes longer until pie is bubbly and crust is a golden brown.

This is a good pastry crust recipe suitable for use with either of these pie recipes.

Pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie:

2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup lard or solid vegetable shortening

5 to 7 tbsp ice water

In a large bowl, stir flour and salt together until blended. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut lard or shortening into flour mixture until the mixture becomes mealy.

Mix in ice water a little at a time with a fork, stirring until the mixture leaves sides of bowl and forms a ball. Finish shaping dough into a ball with your hands, cut in half with a knife to form two balls for the top and the bottom of the pan. On a lightly floured board, flatten one ball of dough and roll with a lightly floured rolling pin from center to edge in a circular fashion, making a 12-inch circle. Place pastry into a 9-inch pie pan, fitting gently and trimming off excess dough with sharp knife or scissors. Fill or bake according to recipe. Roll out remaining dough in the same manner to use as a top crust.

Enjoy!

Delicious Apple Pie Recipes For Diabetics and Others

For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

For Linda's vintage recipe blog, visit http://www.grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

Fruit Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Diabetics

You may think that smoothies are sweet concoctions that diabetics should avoid at all cost, and you would be wrong. Even if you have diabetes, you can still enjoy all the benefits of a healthy smoothie. You'll find many diabetic-friendly smoothie recipes that are low in carbohydrates and fats yet high in vitamins, minerals and proteins. Be sure to use whole fruits to get the maximum benefits out of healthy smoothies for diabetics.

We have a number of smoothie recipes below that call for fruits. These recipes are diabetic-friendly for the following reasons:

Fruit

1. They do not include refined sugar
2. These recipes use fresh or frozen whole fruits. Fruits are high in dietary fiber and they contain complex carbohydrates.
3. Some smoothie recipes contain flax seed or wheat germ. These super foods help keep blood sugar at normal levels.
4. These smoothies are low-calorie and low in carbohydrates. Diabetics and non-diabetics alike can enjoy these healthy smoothies.

To enjoy the following recipes, combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve and enjoy!

Strawberry & Banana Breakfast Smoothie

• 1 cup skim milk
• 3/4 cup low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup silken tofu
• 1 small banana
• 1-1/4 cups strawberries, preferably frozen
• 1/2 cup crushed ice

Blueberry & Banana Smoothie

• 1 cup skim milk
• 3/4 cup low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup silken tofu
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup crushed ice

Banana Smoothie

• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced (preferably frozen)
• 1/4 cup low-fat vanilla or fruit yogurt
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 tbsp wheat germ or oat bran
• Ground nutmeg to taste (optional)

Mixed Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen berries of your choice
• 1/4 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 tbsp malted milk powder
• 2 tsp wheat germ or oat bran
• 1 egg or egg substitute (optional)

Green Smoothie for Diabetics

• 2 cups water
• 2-3 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves (preferably organic)
• 1 pear
• 1/2 to 1 banana
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1-2 tbsp chia seeds (soak in 2 cups water for a while)

TIP: Chia seeds are high in fiber, calcium, protein, antioxidants and omega-3. You can buy them at health stores.

Strawberry Flax Smoothie

• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 3 tbsp flax meal
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Fruit Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Diabetics

Visit http://healthysmoothieshq.com now to learn much more about smoothies, specially about smoothies for diabetics.

Type 2 Diabetes - Are Apples Really the Best Fruit For Diabetics?

People with type 2 diabetes always want to know if fruit is OK for diabetics to eat. Unfortunately, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics need to absorb so much information that this simple question becomes impossible for them to answer. On top of that, there is a lot of information on the internet about fruit and diabetes that's downright false.

Fortunately, there are quite a few types of fruits that have excellent benefits for people with type 2 diabetes. Among them are citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, all type of berries... strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and apples. Even bananas can fall into the good fruit category, although they tend to have a little more sugar than some fruits.

Apples

Apples: The Perfect Fruit For Diabetics?

As long as you monitor your blood sugar levels and don't overdo it with too many servings of fruit, you can enjoy nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber in lots of fruits. Let's take a look at the apple as it might just be the the perfect fruit for diabetics.

Apples are so good for diabetics that research done on people with pre-diabetes found that apples could even keep people from developing diabetes. In the twenty-four hours after "apple consumption", pre-diabetes symptoms were fewer. It seems that an apple a day can really be as good at keeping the doctor away as the old saying says it is.

Apples Are Loaded With Fiber:

Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Eating one medium-size apple has the same effect as eating a bowl of bran cereal. In fact, just one apple contains 20% of the daily recommendation for fiber. Because an apple has so much fiber, it is good at controlling blood sugars by releasing them more slowly into the blood. This can give you energy over the long-term and not the quick spike of glucose given by a lot of other fruits and juices.

Studies have shown that apples can reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease, and they can reduce inflammation in those people who have joint diseases. Apples are excellent for digestive health and have a positive effect on your colon. In addition, one of the brightest research findings is that apples are full of antioxidants.

Apples contain antioxidants:

Antioxidants get rid of free radicals... substances which cause cell damage and lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The antioxidants in apples are known as phytochemicals, and include an extra-special flavonoid called quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to prevent cancer and it's benefits for many other diseases are now being researched. It has promising-looking benefits for Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. If you ate one apple (with skin), approximately 100 grams, you would receive equal antioxidant benefits to taking 1500 grams of vitamin C.

Not only do they cut your risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes, apples help get rid of the plaque which builds up in your blood vessels causing blockages and heart disease.

Maybe the expression "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" should be changed to "two apples a day will keep type 2 diabetes away".

Type 2 Diabetes - Are Apples Really the Best Fruit For Diabetics?

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?

To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions... its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.

(c) 2010 Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog

Apple Crisp For Diabetics (Tasty For Anyone!)

If you have a diabetic among your family and/or friends, there is no need to worry about what to serve for dessert. There is also no need to make two desserts, one for the diabetic and one for everyone else. With this delicious Apple Crisp recipe, everyone can enjoy the same dessert and you won't hear one complaint. That is because this dessert doesn't taste like a "diabetic dessert". When you serve this recipe, no one will guess you just served them a diabetic crisp. If you and the diabetic don't tell, no one will ever know!

DIABETICS APPLE CRISP

Apple

1/2 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (Rome recommended)

TOPPING:

1 1/4 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

3/4 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

To make the apple filling, combine brown sugar blend, flour, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add apples, tossing to coat. Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Set aside.

To make topping, combine oats, flour, brown sugar blend and nuts in a bowl. Stir in butter. The mixture will be crumbly. Spoon over the apples mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the apples are bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Best when served warm.

NOTE: Yield: 9 servings at 310 calories, 38 carbs, 4 grams protein each. As with all fruits, there is the natural sugar of the apples and a high carb count. However, the oats and nuts counter balance most of that. Enjoy this dessert after a meal that has a good protein count. You would not want to serve this dessert after a pasta or vegetarian meal. And as with all desserts, it is not a good idea to over indulge!

Enjoy!

Apple Crisp For Diabetics (Tasty For Anyone!)

For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com For her vintage recipes, visit http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com