| French bean is one of the most commonly used | | | | The onion has been used as a treatment for |
| vegetables all over the world. There are several | | | | diabetes since ancient times. Recent research studies |
| varieties, the most widely used being the French | | | | have proved that this pungent vegetable can lower |
| bean, is also known as common or kidney bean. | | | | blood sugar in diabetes. In recent investigations in |
| Beans are high in carbohydrates and fiber. They | | | | India, scientists fed onion juice and whole onions in |
| should be eaten liberally to keep diabetes under | | | | does of 25 to 200 grams to a group of diabetics and |
| control. | | | | found that the greater the dose, the faster the |
| A decoction prepared from the beans is an excellent | | | | decrease in blood sugar levels. It made no |
| remedy for diabetes. This decoction is prepared by | | | | difference whether the onion was eaten raw or |
| boiling 60 grams of fresh kidney bean pods, after | | | | cooked. It was found that the onion affected the |
| removing their seeds, in four liters of water on a | | | | liver’s metabolism of glucose, or release of |
| slow fire for four hours. It is then strained through | | | | insulin, or prevented the destruction of insulin. |
| fine muslin cloth and allowed to stand for eight hours. | | | | The probable active hypoglycaemic substances in the |
| One glass of this decoction every two hours during | | | | onion are allyl, propyl, disulphide and allicin. In fact, as |
| the day is recommended. This treatment should be | | | | early as 1923, researchers had detected the blood |
| continued for four to eight weeks along with the | | | | sugar lowering properties of onion. And in the 1960s, |
| prescribed diet restrictions. The decoction must be | | | | scientists isolated anti-diabetic compounds from |
| made fresh every day, as it loses it medicinal value | | | | onions, which are similar to the common anti-diabetic |
| after 24 hours. | | | | pharmaceuticals that are used to stimulate insulin |
| The juice extracted from French beans is also | | | | synthesis and release. |
| valuable in controlling diabetes. It stimulates the | | | | Soya bean |
| production of insulin. This juice is generally used in | | | | Soya bean is one of the most nutritious foods of the |
| combination with the juice of Brussels sprouts. The | | | | great value in the treatment of diabetes. The journal |
| patient must, however be on a controlled diet. | | | | of the American Medical Association quotes from an |
| Dr. James Anderson of the Human Nutrition Research | | | | article by Dr. Christian Becker published in an |
| Center of the US Department of Agriculture insists | | | | authoritative German Medical journal. In this article, Dr. |
| that the same foods that lower cholesterol and fight | | | | Becker points out that the Soya bean bread is a |
| heart disease are also excellent for diabetics, who are | | | | valuable food for diabetics. It contains very little |
| at high risk of heart disease. This puts foods like | | | | starch, but is rich in fat and protein, both the |
| beans that are high in soluble fiber in “highly | | | | excellent quality. Soya bean has steadily grown in |
| recommended” category. Dr. Anderson quotes | | | | importance from a therapeutic point of view, since |
| confirm that high fiber foods significantly reduce | | | | 1910 when studies indicated it to be a valuable part |
| blood sugar along with cholesterol. | | | | of diabetic diet. Its usefulness in diabetes is |
| Lettuce | | | | attributable not only to its richness in protein and its |
| Lettuce belongs to that group of vegetables that | | | | palatability, but also to its ability to cause, in some |
| contain three percent or less of carbohydrates. It is | | | | unexplained way, a reduction in the percentage and |
| among the important foods that can be prescribed | | | | the total quantity of urinary sugar in diabetes patients |
| for diabetes. Diabetics can use it freely. | | | | on the usual dietary restrictions. |
| Onion | | | | |