Can a diabetic eat Dates?
Yes, a diabetic can eat dates as dates offer great health benefits. People with diabetes may wonder if dates raise blood sugar levels as they are sweet to taste. It is true dates contain natural sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose. However, as dates have low glycaemic index (GI) and all sugar dates contain is natural sugar, dates do not cause blood sugar spikes. Moreover, dates are high in fibre, antioxidants and nutrients that help promote your health and well-being. So, a diabetic can eat dates without any fear of blood sugar spikes or diabetes complications.
Do dates have low glycaemic index and glycaemic load (GL)?
Dates are sweet to taste. However, dates have low glycaemic index (GI) and medium glycaemic load (GL). This means eating dates does not dangerously spike your blood sugar levels.
Do dates raise blood sugar levels?
As dates have low glycaemic index and medium glycaemic load, they do not cause any blood sugar spikes. Moreover, all sugar that dates contain are natural sugars. Natural sugar does not cause dangerous blood sugar spikes. If you are concerned about blood sugar spikes after eating dates, you can check your blood sugar level before and after eating dates. This is a good way to understand how eating dates affects your blood sugar level. A blood glucose monitor like this one can be handy to check blood glucose level at home.
Are dates a Superfood?
The humble looking dates are rich in nutrition and offer great health benefits. High fibre in dates helps improve digestion, boost metabolism, gives strong immunity etc. Dates are rich in antioxidants that help fight against tumour or inflammation. Some alternative therapies use dates to assist in treatment of various ailments. Due to such benefits, experts consider dates as superfood.
How many dates can a diabetic eat?
Experts say dates are nutritious and rich in iron, fibre, antioxidants and can be beneficial for yoru health. However, dates are high in sugar and calories too. Natural sugar in dates is not harmful for diabetics. However, moderation is important when eating dates. Experts say a diabetic can benefit from nutrition in dates by eating around 4 dates a day. Eating dates daily can help boost immunity and lose weight too. You will notice significant improvement in yoru energy levels by eating dates daily in moderation. A word of caution is that eating too many dates daily can only lead to health problems and weight gain.
