A diet plan is an eating strategy for achieving and sustaining a healthy weight. Unfortunately, many diet plans create feelings of deprivation and are difficult to sustain over time. Nutrition programs teach dieters how to embrace nutritionally balanced eating habits that produce sustainable results.
Avoid foods that contain added sugars, refined grains and processed fats. Focus on fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean protein sources.
Blood Sugar Control
When you are diabetic, controlling your blood sugar levels is key. This includes having a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats at each meal. Also, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar throughout the day, especially in the morning after awakening, before meals and when exercising. A common symptom of low blood sugar is thirst or hunger, which can be corrected by drinking water or eating a small snack such as a baked sweet potato (microwaves in less than 10 minutes), a cup of yogurt or a sliced apple. If you still feel hypoglycemic, take some rapid-acting insulin or a glucosamine supplement.
Heart Health
A heart-healthy diet plan can help you manage your weight and blood pressure, while also improving your cholesterol levels. This eating plan limits foods that are high in saturated fat, added sugars and sodium (salt).
Aim for 7-10 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. These are full of important nutrients like fibre, vitamins and minerals. They are also low in calories, which can aid weight management. Vegetables and fruit contain antioxidants that can protect the body from heart disease.
Replace some of the fat in your diet with healthy unsaturated fats like olive, canola, safflower and peanut oils. Incorporate more plant-based proteins like beans, lentils and tofu. Include oily fish in your meals a few times a week.
Avoid junk foods and processed meats as they increase your risk for heart disease. If you do indulge in a treat, try to make it the exception rather than the rule. This will help ensure that you get the maximum health benefits from your dieting plan.
