Diet and Diabetes Food Pyramid

Food provides us with carbohydrates, proteins and fats (which are major sources of energy to the body) and vitamins and minerals. Nutritious food accompanied by sensible and balanced eating is the path towards good health, energy and vitality. Good food improves the effectiveness of the body and helps maintain ideal body weight. It also reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  

It is very important to be aware of the nutritional content of the food that we eat, particularly fat content. Fatness is a result of the fat that we eat. However do not starve yourself or eat less.

Diet plays an important role in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetics require well-balanced and nourishing diet when compared with others. The body’s daily food and nutrition requirement is to be understood first. This helps in preventing and controlling diabetes.

The Diabetes Food Pyramid:
The diabetes food pyramid gives us an idea about the food that can be consumed in larger quantities and which food need to be curtailed in the diet. The diabetes food pyramid is divided into six sections that vary in size.

• The largest group at the base includes starchy vegetables like corn and potatoes, pastas, beans and grains. It signifies that we should eat more servings of these food items than others.
• Second and third section includes leafy vegetables like spinach and fenugreek; lettuce, broccoli and cabbage; and fruits like jambul (a type of berry), guava, oranges, papaya, apples and grapefruit. Food under these groups also can be consumed in large quantities.   
• Fourth and fifth sections include cereals and legumes, and milk and milk products. These need to be consumed in moderation.
• Fats, oils, alcohol, sugar, sweets and chocolates belong to the sixth section, which is the smallest and topmost. It signifies that very little or preferably nothing should be eaten from this section.  

The exact quantity of food that can be consumed depends on the nutrition, needs, calories, lifestyle and diabetes goals. Maintain a diary of the food that you have eaten. Write down everything you have eaten for a week. Compare it with the diet pyramid to find out what changes are to be made.