Diabetes is a chronic condition in which blood sugar levels get too high.
The reason this happens is due to complications with the hormone insulin.
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People with diabetes can’t make insulin, don’t make enough, or their insulin isn’t effective.
The good news is that there are ways to keep your glucose level from getting dangerously high.
What you eat and drink play a big role in type 2 diabetes.
Certain foods that have a high glycemic index can cause spikes in blood sugar.
In case you didn’t know, the glycemic index describes the rate at which carbohydrates raise blood glucose, explains Diabetes UK.
However, some foods and drinks can lower your levels, including a red juice.
Nutritionist Rob Hobson told Express.co.uk that pomegranate juice can lower blood sugar levels in three hoursaccording to an investigation.
The mechanism behind this reduction is not entirely «clear», but researchers believe it is due to antioxidants.
The nutritionist said:
“Basically what they think is that pomegranate juice has a very high concentration of antioxidants. Have three times the antioxidant activity of green tea.
These antioxidants are mostly flavonoids and there are many different ones, but I guess they are the anthocyaninswhich give it its deep purple-red color.
And basically, they think those antioxidants somehow bind to the sugar and prevent it from having such a big effect on insulin levels.»
A study investigating the relationship between this juice and diabetes also reports that can reduce insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance occurs when muscle and liver cells do not respond to insulinso they can not easily absorb glucose from the blood, explained the nutritionist.
He continued: «You need the cells to take up the glucose because if it stays in the blood then it’s very dangerous and then you risk your cells dying.»
So the red drink may be beneficial for more than one aspect of diabetes.
How much do I need to drink?
Hobson said: “In the studies, they used 1.5 milliliters (ml) per kilogram of body weight.
“Current advice from health systems aware of these properties recommends that if you look at your five a day, there should be no more than 150ml
So if you’re just drinking a glass of pomegranate juice within that guide, in theory should be enough a week”.
The nutritionist also explained that it doesn’t really matter when you enjoy this glass, as it is a health issue.
But added one thing to note when you buy this drink. Hobson was clear in saying that: «You want the pure juice, not anything with waterif you want to get the healing effect.
“Sometimes, you can find a drink pomegranate flavoredit’s on a carton and it looks like a giant juice, but it could just be pomegranate juice with lots of water and added sugar or worse: it could be sugar water and artificial flavor from Granada».
That is of no use, but, on the contrary, can only harm a diabetic patient.
One thing he also cautioned about is that the studies did not look at is whether this juicing regimen can be combined with metformin, a diabetes drug«you may need to consider it,» he concluded.
For this reason, if you plan to incorporate this beneficial fruit into your diet, we recommend that you ask your diabetes specialist.