Type 2 diabetes: 5 foods to avoid when you have diabetes
While ready meals are meant to be healthy and convenient, they are not the healthiest option for anyone. Prepared foods are often full of added sodium, sugar, and artificial ingredients. Fast foods can also contain a large dose of refined carbohydrates that disrupt blood sugar.
These are the main prepared foods that increase blood sugar level …
1. Frozen dinners. Frozen dinners are known to contain tons of added sodium, not to mention additives. Better to skip these and eat as much food as you can. If you’re short on time, try mixing up a salad with lots of greens and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
2. Soft drinks and juices. Both sodas and juices are loaded with sugar! So don’t be fooled by diet sodas. Diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners that are just as harmful as refined sugar. Skip the soda and fruit juice, and choose sparkling water sweetened with a splash of fresh lemon or lime juice.
3. Granola bars. While they are often considered healthy snack options, granola bars can contain as much added sugar as a candy bar. If granola bars are your snack, be sure to read the nutrition label and skip anything that includes sugar as one of the first ingredients. Try to stick to a granola bar naturally sweetened with ingredients like nuts, raw honey, or pure maple syrup.
4. Flavored yogurt. While a convenient breakfast or snack option, flavored yogurts are high in sugar. The good news is that you can still enjoy yogurt; choose unsweetened and unsweetened Greek yogurt and sweeten yourself with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey.
5. Protein shakes. While not all protein shakes are unhealthy, many protein powders contain added sugar and artificial ingredients. Added unhealthy ingredients can be harmful to the digestive system, can trigger inflammation, and can also cause blood sugar imbalances. If you like to enjoy a protein shake as a convenient snack, try sticking to a protein powder with no added ingredients: protein powder like collagen protein or hemp protein.
While convenience foods can make eating on the go easy, they are not all healthy and can lead to a number of problems when it comes to balancing blood sugar levels. Skip the foods on this list and choose one of the following healthier and more convenient food options …
- a piece of fruit with a handful of walnuts,
- unsweetened whole yogurt with fruit,
- a bowl of overnight oats, gold
- avocado toast.
