Guest Post: Cucumbers and Little Identified Ways to Prevent Diabetic Issues

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In my Yes! to Cookies review and giveaway I shared with you cookies that allow diabetics to get there sweet fix.  I was recently approached by Suzanne Ault regarding a very similar topic.  In the following article, Suzanne gives helpful eating tips and a delicious salad recipe.  Enjoy!

Cucumbers and Little Identified Ways to Prevent Diabetic Issues

written by: Suzanne Ault 

Are you cool as a cucumber? Not merely is the cucumber known for it’s power to cool down the body, it has additionally been recognized to assist with jaundice, diarrhea, epilepsy, sore throat, conjunctivitis (redness of the eye) and swelling of extremities.

Often you should attempt to deseed the cucumber as the body can have a hard time digesting the seeds. You can deseed them yourself easily by cutting them in two and using a spoon to take out the seeds or if you want to eliminate this task it is possible to buy cucumbers that are already seeded.

Fresh cucumbers are simple to add to salads and for an easy salad just toss diced cucumbers with sliced red onions, red tomatoes and your favorite all-natural, low-fat balsamic vinaigrette. This can be a fast way to make a refreshing salad that reaps some great benefits of cucumber.

Anti-diabetic Benefits of Cucumber:

Beta cells within the pancreas produce the hormone insulin.Cucumber is found to possess a hormone necessary for beta cells in the insulin production. Moreover, the Glycemic Index of cucumbers is found to be zero.

Why Cucumbers have not a glycemic index listed? Does this imply that they don't raise blood glucose?

Not at all. It simply means that under the "rules" for the definition of the glycemic index, it is too hard to get an accurate number. This is because you'll need to eat a very big amount of the food to get 50 grams of carbohydrate at the same time in order to be tested. Generally, the lower the amount of carbohydrate in a vegetable and the more fiber it has, the less the rise in blood sugar levels will be.

The carbohydrates are primarily responsible of the raise of the glucose level.But the carbohydrates within the cucumber are easily digestible in a diabetes patient’s stomach.

Tricks for Preparing Cucumbers:

Unwaxed cucumbers don't need to be peeled but should be washed before cutting. Cucumbers may be sliced, diced or cut into sticks.

A couple of Quick Serving Ideas:

• Use half-inch thick cucumber slices as petite serving "dishes" for chopped vegetable salads.
• Mix diced cucumbers with sugar snap peas and mint leaves and toss with rice wine vinaigrette.
• For refreshing cold gazpacho soup that takes five minutes or less to make, simply purée cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions, then add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add diced cucumber to tuna fish or chicken salad recipes.

Cool Cucumber Salad Recipe:

Ingredients:

- 3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch slices

- 1 carrot, peeled and shredded

- 1/2 red onion, sliced paper-thin

- 1/3 cup minced cilantro

Dressing:

- 1/2 cup rice vinegar

- 2 tsp. honey

- 2 tsp. Reduced-sodium soy sauce

- 1 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

- Pinch dried red pepper flakes

Preparation per 8 servings:

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Marinating time: 1 hour

1. Combine the cucumbers, carrots, red onion, and cilantro in a large bowl.

2. Combine the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over cucumbers, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Salad may be eaten using a fork.

Nutritional Values per Meal: 1/2 cup

- Calories: 25

- Calories From Fat: 10

- Total Fat: 1 gram

- Saturated Fat: .1 grams

- Cholesterol: milligrams

- Sodium: 50 milligrams (without added salt)

- Total Carbohydrate: 5 grams

- Soluble fiber: 1 gram

- Sugars: 3 grams

- Protein: 1 grams

Who am i ?:

Suzanne Ault writes for the diabetic diet recipes blog, her personal hobby web page dedicated to cooking ways to prevent diabetes.

My Complete Bio: http://www.diabeticdietrecipes.org/about

My Photo: http://www.diabeticdietrecipes.org/suzanne.jpg

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