Health gurus have been juicing for decades. The practice has now become more famous and widespread than ever due to its nutritional benefits. While juicing is uncomplicated for some people, it isn’t so for diabetics. That’s because many popular juices have a tremendous amount of natural sugar, so they can cause blood sugar spikes that are problematic for people with diabetes. It’s no wonder diabetics are usually recommended not to drink fruit juices.
However, with the right information, people with diabetes can reap just as many benefits from juicing as non-diabetics. What’s more, with the right recipes, they can even gain control over the disease.
Juicing Tips for People with Diabetes
Diabetics have to plan adequately prior to juicing to avoid using excessive amounts of ingredients that can cause abrupt changes in their sugar levels. And they need to also look into available juicer that is considered best in the market to try the recipes we are going to discuss.
Below are the rules they should they should follow to ensure they juice responsibly:
- Limit the fruit serving in your juice to just one. That will add some sweetness to the drink without causing a drastic spike in your blood sugar.
- If your juice is unappetizing or too bitter, add more sweet vegetables like yams and carrots, but not more fruit.
- For green vegetables, focus on the non-starchy types. These won’t have a big impact on your blood sugar.
- At any one time, only drink about 4 to 8 ounces of juice.
- It’s best to drink your juice with meals. That will help you get fiber, protein, and fats that could lower the effects of the sugar in the juice. Drinking your juice separately could bump up your glucose level quicker.
Best and Worst Juicing Foods for Diabetics
Some foods can be described as superfoods for diabetics. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals and have a minimal impact on blood sugar. As a result, they’re perfect for juicing. They include:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Collard greens
- Asparagus
- Artichoke
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Squash
- Radishes
- Peppers
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
Some fruits are high on the glycemic index (GI), meaning they can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. It’s best not to include them in juice recipes. These fruits include:
- Pineapple
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Papaya
It’s safer to include these low-glycemic fruits in diabetic juice recipes:
- Oranges
- Apples
- Peaches
- Plums
- Pears
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Limes
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
But let’s not forget; only one piece of a low-glycemic fruit should be included per serving and per recipe.
Best Juicing Recipes for Diabetics
Of course, buying all the necessary equipment and foods can get quite costly, especially when living and managing your diabetes condition. Thankfully, you can now use online services that pay cash when you sell diabetic test strips. A quick Google search will bring back many services you can consider looking into. Here are some of the best recipes that diabetics can safely incorporate into their diets:
Mixed Veggie Juice
- 2 stalks celery
- ½ cucumber
- 1 medium organic red pepper or orange
- 1 small bunch of spinach
- ½ bunch cilantro
- 1 carrot
- 1 lime squeeze
Celery and cucumber are high-water content vegetables. Therefore, they add volume to the juice as well as dilute the ingredients that are more potent. They also help lower blood sugar. Cucumber helps reduce the sugar in urine. Carrot is high in carotenoids and vitamin A. It helps to improve eyesight and regulate blood sugar. It also makes the juice sweeter.
Spinach is a great vegetable for diabetics because it’s extremely low in carbohydrates. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, and a variety of phytonutrients that have no serious effects on blood sugar levels. The peppers, lime, and cilantro add a somewhat Mexican flair to the drink. For a fresh taste, add the squeeze of lime to the final extract.
Sweet Broccoli Juice
- 1 stalk broccoli
- 2 green apples
- 3 or 4 carrots
Studies show that broccoli could reverse diabetes damage by encouraging the production of protective enzymes. Apples contain pectin, which helps control blood sugar. Combining these two ingredients with carrots makes a sweet-tasting juice that’s excellent for diabetics.
Alkalizing Juice
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 cucumber
- 1 cup organic spinach
- 1 green apple
This healthy juice will have a mild taste due to the spinach. To sweeten it, add one small carrot. However, the sugar levels will be lower if the carrot isn’t added.
Kiwi, Bell Pepper, and Beet Juice
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 red bell pepper or orange
- 2 handfuls spinach
- 2 kiwis
- 1 beet with greens included
The kiwifruit is an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. It also helps control sugar levels. Its sweetness coupled with pepper’s zing makes this juice delicious.
Simple Tomato Lettuce Juice
- 1 cup chopped green lettuce
- 4 tomatoes
People living with diabetes are more prone to developing blood clots. Unsweetened tomato juice reduces this risk. It also boosts the immune system and reduces heart problems due to its high lycopene and vitamin C content. The ingredients above make an excellent juice when they’re juiced with a cold press juicer.
Bountiful B6 Juice
- 2 cups string beans
- 10-12 Brussels sprouts
- 1 peeled lemon
- 1 cucumber
Thanks to the string beans and Brussels sprouts, this juice delivers a generous amount of vitamin B6, which aids in the stabilization of blood sugar.
Spinach and Celery Juice
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 bunch spinach
- 2 carrots
- 1 green apple
Spinach is excellent for diabetics. Combining it with carrots, celery, and green apples adds a nutrient and flavor kick to the juice. When blending the ingredients together, make sure the apple and carrots are peeled. To add extra health benefits or make the final product less thick, add one whole cucumber.
Carrot, Cucumber, and Tomato Juice
- 1 cucumber
- 1 carrot
- 2 tomatoes
All the ingredients in the juice help in the regulation of sugar in the body. The carrot enhances the taste profile of the drink.
Easy Vegetable Juice
- 1 small bunch spinach
- 4 small carrots
This juice is not only nutritious but also very easy to make. A bit of ginger can be added to give the drink some zing.
Sweet Spinach Juice
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup berries
While spinach is highly beneficial for diabetics, it doesn’t have a great taste. Berries are a great way to improve the taste significantly without using excessive sugar.
All these juices help keep the blood sugar levels in check when consumed in moderation. But they aren’t the only juicing recipes that diabetes can try out. They can experiment with the different recommended fruits and vegetables on our lists until they find their perfect vegetable juice combination. You can also order a healthy food delivery plan using these ingredients to have a nutritional and balanced diet.