Eat More Lentils to Control Blood Sugar Levels

It’s sound advice, but it’s hard to change old habits, especially if you’re used to enjoying white rice or potatoes with a meal.

Rice and potatoes might taste good, but these high-carb foods can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Left unchecked, out-of-control diabetes can lead to vision loss, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, or worse.

But what if a simple change in your diet could change that? Would you be willing to swap a little rice or potatoes for something else? It could save your life and complications associated with diabetes, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition. Read on to learn why lentils are good for diabetes.

Researchers found that swapping half a serving of rice with lentils can help drop blood sugar levels by up to 20 percent. And if you dish up lentils instead of potatoes, the swap has an even bigger impact. Researchers found that lentils instead of potatoes can drop blood sugar levels by 35 percent.

One simple change to your diet can have a huge impact on your health.

“Replacing half of the available carbohydrates from high glycemic index foods with lentils significantly attenuates postprandial blood glucose response in healthy adults,” says lead researcher Dr. Dita Moravek. “This can contribute to defining a health claim for pulses and blood glucose lowering.”

Try these lentils or beans to control blood sugar levels:

• Lentils
• Baked beans
• Chickpeas
• Black-eyed peas
• Kidney beans
• Lima beans
• Pinto beans

Take a closer look at our Diabetic-Friendly menu, and you’ll find many of the meals include beans or lentils like Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce, Lentils with Onion & Garlic, Vegetable Blend, Chicken Cheese Enchilada with Tomatillo Sauce, Rice & Pinto Beans, and many others.