Top 20 Super Foods for Diabetics

Here are the Top 20 Super Foods for Diabetics. Not only are these foods a great way to control your weight and blood glucose levels, they are also easy to find and prepare.

Join me in counting down the Top 20 Super Foods for Diabetics based on fiber content, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals:

20. Yogurt - an excellent source of calcium, vitamin B2, zinc and protein.
19. Tomatoes - high in vitamin C, potassium and lycopene. For optimal lycopene absorption, cook your tomatoes instead of consuming them raw.
18. Tea - whether you drink it hot or cold, tea contains antioxidants which may prevent disease. White and green teas have more antioxidants than black teas.
17. Soy - even if you aren't a vegetarian you can still benefit from the protein, zinc, iron and potassium present in soy beans. For maximum protein, try baby green soybeans called edamame.
16. Spinach - loaded with vitamins and minerals including B2 and B6, potassium, zinc, fiber and beta-carotene.
15. Raspberries - packed with fiber and vitamin C.
14. Red Onions - a good source of fiber, potassium and folate.
13. Oatmeal - the soluble fiber in oats can lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure and stabilize blood glucose. Oats also provide vitamin E, B, magnesium and potassium.
12. Nuts - walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans and hazelnuts help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Nuts are also a great source of fiber, protein, vitamin E and healthy fats.
11. Melon - high in vitamin C and potassium. Includes watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, casaba and more.
10. Apples - the soluble and insoluble fiber in apples may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and may stabilize blood glucose.
9. Cranberries - packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.
8. Flaxseed - high in fiber and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a fatty acid with similar benefits as omega-3 fatty acids. Which brings us to...
7. Fish - salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, mackerel and herring are especially rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
6. Carrots - cooked or raw, carrots contain beta-carotene, which provides vitamin A, and are a great source of fiber.
5. Broccoli - with more vitamin C per 100 grams than an orange, fiber and beta-carotene, broccoli truly is a super food.
4. Beans - high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
3. Red Grapefruit - a truly heart-healthy fruit, rich in vitamin C.
2. Blueberries - fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants make blueberries effective disease fighters.
1. Asparagus - high in fiber, vitamin B folate and vitamin C.

Black Tea May Fight Diabetes

According to Science Daily and the Journal of Food Science, black tea may useful in controlling diabetes.

Researchers from the Tianjin Key Laboratory in China studied the polysaccharide levels in black, green and oolong teas. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate which may help retard the absorption of glucose in people with diabetes. The researchers found that the polysaccharides in black tea were the most sucessful at inhibiting glucose and would be the most valuable for diabetes management.

So, drink up! Whether you prefer your black tea hot or iced, with milk or lemon, drink to your health.