Lifestyle disease, diabetes has now reached epidemic proportions among adults and children worldwide, making it a chronic condition. Diabetes is a serious condition and can lead to many serious consequences that include heart diseases, kidney diseases and also blindness. An uncontrolled diet and high levels of blood sugar leads can make this condition worse. Hence, keeping one’s sugar levels and insulin levels in check is often advised for diabetes. Diabetics are also asked to avoid sugar and sugary foods. Even naturally sweet dry fruits like dry fruits.
However, according to a new study, that may be just a bunch of hogwash.
Raisins are made out of seedless sundried grapes. They are a great source of potassium, magnesium, and an array of antioxidants, raisins contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. They are also excellent sources of fibre.
According to research, fruits with high levels of fruit fibre are extremely essential in lowering the risk of coronary heart disease. They even reduce the risk of stroke and control one’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
By this logic, raisins can easily be considered a hero ingredient. As per a 2015 randomised study of raisins versus alternative snacks on glycemic control and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared to alternative processed snacks, those who consumed raisins had a significant 23 per cent reduction in postprandial (after fasting) glucose levels. Also compared to snacks, those who consumed raisins had a 19 per cent reduction in fasting glucose and 0.12 per cent reduction in haemoglobin A1c, although these latter findings did not achieve statistical significance.
While highly processed foods, such as white bread, have a high GI, foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole wheat-based products have a lower GI and do not dramatically raise blood sugar levels.
Studies have found that raisins also enhance satiety, decrease appetite, and offer an effective way to incorporate a fibre-rich, antioxidant-packed food into your diet.
So what’s the bottom line? Diabetics who are regular with their medicines can have raisins but its good to keep a check on the quantity consumed.
