What you eat can have a profound effect on your diabetes.  Most diabetics need the following:

• Chromium-rich foods
• Magnesium-rich foods
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Low glycemic foods
• Complex carbohydrates
• Fiber

Everyone has a different list of the top superfoods, but what most experts and nutritionists agree on is that superfoods must meet at least three of the following criteria:

• provide fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in abundance, compared to other foods
• are unusually high in antioxidants and phytonutrients
• spark chemical reactions or processes in our bodies
• low in calories
• easy to find and buy

What makes diabetes unique from other diseases is that every person who has diabetes might have a different eating plan or diet depending upon their symptoms.  This eating plan usually incorporates the foods on the low end of the Glycemic Index.  Most diabetics can eat anything; it really is about balance and food choices.  We have a list of superfoods, but they need to fit into your own eating plan.  If you don’t have one, consult a doctor or nutritionist immediately.

If you have diabetes, in general you want to eat chromium-rich foods:

		Romaine lettuce	Onions
		Tomatoes	Potatoes
		Oysters	Liver

Fruits and vegetables that help balance sugar:

		Apples	Pumpkin
		Onions	Leeks
		Garlic	Berries
		Cabbages	Dandelions
		Artichokes	Carrots

Low-glycemic fruits and vegetables (partial list)

		Apples	Artichokes
		Asparagus	Avocado
		Broccoli	Cauliflower
		Celery	Cucumber
		Eggplant	Lettuce
		Summer squash	Zucchini
		Tomatoes	Cherries
		Grapefruit	Peach
		Peanuts	Peppers
		Pear	Spinach

If you are striving for an overall healthy heart, try these foods:

• Wheat germ
• Buckwheat
• Alfalfa sprouts

If you are trying to reduce your blood pressure, these natural foods might help:

• Barley
• Oats and oat bran
• Garlic
• Brewer’s yeast

Even if you are not trying to reduce your cholesterol or lower your blood pressure, but rather live with diabetes, we always recommend our list of superfoods as part of a balanced diet for optimum health:

• Berries – blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, boysenberries, elderberries, raspberries and goji berries
• Pomegranate – drink 2 ounces per day (or at least a few times per week)
• Tropical fruits – mango, pineapple, passion fruit and papaya
• Sea vegetables – dulse, hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori and wakame
• Teas & Infusions – white, green, black, rooibos and Yerba Mate
• Green foods – spriulina, chlorella, blue green algae
• Green leafy veggies – chard, spinach, collard greens, turnip, beet and mustard greens
• Cruciferous veggies – broccoli, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage
• Grasses & Sprouts – barley, wheat, oat, alfalfa and radish
• Walnuts & Almonds – eat a handful every day
• Fish – fatty cold-water fish like salmon, sardine and herring
• Olive oil – for cooking, salad dressings and dipping

If you have high blood pressure, there are foods, which are not necessarily “super” by our above definition, but they will help you lower your blood pressure.  They are:

Potassium-rich foods:

		Honeydew, cantaloupe, or watermelon	Apricots
		Prunes	Banana
		Lean veal	Pumpkin
		Lima beans	Spinach
		Sardines	Cod – not processed
		Milk – low-fat	Stewed tomatoes
		Potatoes	Orange juice
		Peas	Flounder
		Sweet potatoes	Green beans
		Peaches	Potatoes
		Squash – winter is best
		Yogurt – low-fat

Magnesium-rich foods:

		Beans and legumes	Okra
		Broccoli	Oysters
		Spinach	Chard
		Tofu	Croaker
		Scallops	Whole grains
		Mackerel	Nuts & Seeds

Eat the following calcium-rich foods:

		Broccoli	Perch
		Turnip greens	Tofu
		Cheese – but only low-fat cheeses	Salmon
		Dairy products – only low-fat	Almonds
		Barley	Bran
		Brazil nuts	Brown rice
		Brussel sprouts	Cabbage
		Carrots	Cauliflower
		Coconut	Corn meal
		Egg yolks (no more than 1-2 per week)	Figs
		Hazelnuts (filberts)	Leafy greens
		Kelp	Lentils
		Millet	Oats
		Prunes	Rye seeds
		Sesame seeds	Soy milk
		Watercress	Whole wheat

Other good foods to help lower your blood pressure:

		Asparagus	Celery
		Currants	Chocolate
		Dandelion	Garlic
		Onion	Kiwi
		Mangos