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Healthy eating for diabetes Archive

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Soup up your meals

With the right ingredients, a warm bowl of soup can also be an easy way to boost intake of vegetables and important nutrients. A good option is a broth-based soup with vegetables, whole grains, and a healthy protein such as beans or chicken. Mixing and matching ingredients can not only accommodate taste preferences but nutritional needs.

Exercise may heal the heart as well as prevent future problems

Exercise may help to reverse some types of heart damage. Not only can workouts prevent heart problems, but it may help to improve conditions that may raise risk for cardiovascular events. A 2021 study, for example, showed that a yearlong exercise program helped improve heart health in people who were at increased risk for heart failure.

Treating low vitamin D levels may help people live longer

Treating people who have low levels of vitamin D with supplements may reduce their risk for heart attacks and death from any cause.

FDA urges the food industry to cut back on salt

The FDA called for the food industry to voluntarily cut the amount of sodium in processed, packed, and prepared foods. Those products provide about 70% of the sodium in the typical American diet.

Meal of the month: Healthy meals for 2022

Easy-to-prepare meals that promote heart health often include plant-based ingredients but can also feature fish or small amounts of chicken or beef.

How a sugary diet may sabotage your heart health

Reducing added sugar in sweetened beverages and packaged foods may help reduce obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the United States, which could lead to substantial health care cost savings. Most of the added sugar in the typical American diet comes from sugary beverages, which add extra calories that have no nutritional advantages and may contribute to weight gain. Replacing sugar with artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners is one popular option, but it's not clear that eating such products offers any health advantages. A better option would be to substitute fresh, whole foods such as fruit for processed junk food and to drink sparkling water with a splash of juice instead of a soda.

Saturated fat and low-carb diets: Still more to learn?

Low-carbohydrate diets have been popular for many years, but due to the high amounts of saturated fat, doctors and nutritionists worry about possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A study comparing three diets found that eating a high-fat diet did not necessarily raise heart risk, but the types and quantities of food make a difference.

Naps: Make the most of them and know when to stop them

As babies become toddlers, when they need to nap and for how long evolves, so parents and caregivers need to know how to handle the changes, as well as how to know when naps are no longer needed.

Smarter food shopping

Nutrition does not have to be expensive. Some of the healthiest foods at grocery stores also are some of the least costly. By following some basic shopping strategies and knowing how to properly prepare and store produce, people can keep their refrigerator and pantry stocked with nutritious and inexpensive foods that support their health and their budget.

What’s new in diabetes drugs

Two classes of diabetes drugs—GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors—have received much attention lately. They not only lower blood sugar, they also help with weight reduction and may lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. The drugs can be taken as daily oral tablets or in some cases weekly injections, both of which are preferable over daily insulin shots.

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