Brussels sprouts could lower high blood sugar levels: Study

Darielle Britto | Updated: Dec 16, 2019, 17:34 IST
Treat type 2 diabetes by consuming brussels sprouts as it can help lower high blood sugar levels, according to a new study.

If you live with diabetes then you know keeping track of what you eat is crucial.Brussels sprouts is a cruciferous vegetable that is loaded with nutrients that can help treat health issues like type 2 diabetes. This is because it is a rich source of fibre, which can help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Because fibre moves through the body slowly, it also helps to slow down the process of sugar being absorbed into the blood. This vegetable is also loaded with alpha-lipoid acid, which is a powerful antioxidant.

For the study, researchers from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health wanted to explore the potential benefits of these sprouts for type 2 diabetes patients.

In a separate study, 12 diabetes patients took alpha-lipoic acid supplements. The team found it increased insulin sensitivity. Researchers speculate the alpha-lipoid acid helped the insulin to lower blood sugar levels.

When your body is unable to produce enough insulin, it makes it difficult for your body to function well and causes you to develop type 2 diabetes. "Fill up on array of vegetables, keep an eye on portion sizes and if having dessert, try stick to one portion," Diabetes UK states on their website.

A University of Cambridge study suggests weight loss can make type 2 diabetes remission possible. "We've known for some time now that it's possible to send diabetes into remission using fairly drastic measures such as intensive weight loss programmes and extreme calorie restriction,"Dr Hajira Dambha-Miller from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care told a news portal.

Adding, "These interventions can be very challenging to individuals and difficult to achieve. But, our results suggest that it may be possible to get rid of diabetes, for at least five years, with a more modest weight loss of 10%. This will be more motivating and hence more achievable for many people."

The study's findings reinforce the notion that maintaining a healthy weight is important. "This reinforces the importance of managing one's weight, which can be achieved through changes in diet and increasing physical activity. Type 2 diabetes, while a chronic disease, can lead to significant complications, but as our study shows, can be controlled and even reversed," senior author Professor Simon Griffin of the MRC Epidemiology Unit told a news portal.


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