Limit canned foods, add herbs like cinnamon and garlic to enhance the flavor of dishes, help reduce salt consumption, and prevent diabetes complications.
Salt is abundant in food and can be hidden in processed meat, canned meat, soup, seaweed, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, pickled foods, snacks…
Diabetics should limit foods high in salt because they increase blood pressure, increase the risk of cardiovascular complications and problems with the eyes, feet, and nerves. Diabetic people’s kidneys are more susceptible to damage than normal, and eating a lot of salt can accelerate the process of kidney function decline. In addition, richly flavored dishes stimulate the taste buds, causing patients to eat more, affecting weight control and blood sugar levels.
Diabetics should not eat more than 2,300 mg of salt a day. Here are some tips that contribute to reducing salt in the diet.
Use fresh ingredients or foods without added salt. Try using orange or pineapple juice, cinnamon, as basic ingredients to marinate meat and also help deodorize.
Avoid canned foods, pasta, and mixed rice Because they contain salt, use instant cereals and pudding mixes instead to reduce salt. If you crave these foods, diabetics should check the nutrition label on the packaging and consider foods with sodium content less than 600 mg. Limit salt when eating fruit and dishes with lots of sauce.
Use spices instead of salt. Herbs are a solution to improve the natural flavor of food without using salt. Beneficial spices such as basil, celery seeds, chili powder, chives, cinnamon, cocoa powder, flavoring extracts (vanilla, almond), garlic, lemon or lime juice, marjoram, mint, rosemary…
Choose healthy foods when eating out. Appetizers should use fresh fruits or vegetables, salad; Avoid soups, breads and rolls with salty, buttery crusts. Limit pickles, bacon, and seasoned toast. The main dish should be simple such as grilled meat, poultry, fish or shellfish, with priority given to boiled or steamed vegetables. It is not recommended to indulge in stews, mixed dishes, gravies and sauces, and fried potatoes. People with diabetes should have fresh fruit, pudding, or jelly as dessert instead of salty cakes.
You should slowly reduce salt for about two weeks to let your body adapt, then limit it to a minimum. However, salt is necessary for normal body functions and should not be completely cut from the diet. To control blood sugar well, people with diabetes need to eat healthy, get enough sleep and take medication as prescribed by their doctor (if any). Reduce stress and tension, exercise at least 30 minutes a day and maintain it for at least 5 days a week.