Minerals like Manganese, Magnesium and Chromium are invaluable in the treatment of diabetes; as they are capable of lowering blood sugar.
Manganese: Manganese helps in the production of natural insulin and hence occupies an important place in the treatment of diabetes.
Rich sources of Manganese
- Cereals and pulses like finger millet, whole green gram and soybeans, whole wheat, kidney beans, lentil, split green gram and barley.
- Nuts and oil seeds like areca nuts, walnuts, mustard seeds, almonds, cashew and groundnuts.
Benefits Of Magnesium For Diabetes
There is loss of magnesium during diabetic ketosis. 37% of infants born to diabetic mothers are short of Magnesium.
If magnesium is increased in the diet, xanthurenic acid in the blood is reduced for good. Magnesium is also necessary to activate enzymes containing Vitamin B6. Diabetes can result from a combined deficiency of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. It is advisable for any person with diabetes or a family history of the disease to take at-least 500 milligram of Magnesium and 10 milligrams of Vitamin B6 daily.
Rich Food Sources Of Magnesium
Magnesium is present in chlorophyll of green leaves.
Other rich sources are:
- Cereals like Sorghum (Jowar), par-boiled and hand pounded rice, dry maize, spiked millet and finger millet.
- Pulses and legumes like black soy beans, kidney beans, whole Bengal gram and black gram, roasted peas, lentil and split red gram.
- Nuts like cashews, walnuts and almonds.
- Vegetables like betel leaves, dry lotus stems, amaranth, radishes, onion stalk, spinach, celery and cluster beans.
- Fruits like apple, figs, plums, green grapes, pomegranate, black berry and pineapple.
Chromium For Blood Sugar Control
Chromium is a mineral that normalizes all blood sugar problems. Deficiency of chromium in the diet increased prevalence of type-2 diabetes. Chromium improves glucose tolerance.
Chromium is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. It enhances insulin production in the body, increases energy and helps stabilize blood sugar. In patients affected with glucose tolerance, chromium supplements improved conditions. 50 to 200 micrograms is the recommended daily allowance.
Rich Sources Of Chromium
- Cereals like finger millet, spiked millet, barley and whole wheat.
- Pulses and legumes like whole Bengal gram, dry peas, soybeans, kidney beans, lentil and split black gram.
- Vegetables like betel leaves, green mangoes; bottle gourd and onion stalk.
- Nuts and oil seeds like raw and processed areca nut, cashews, almonds and walnut.