From Today's NY Times
jaygreen55
Posts: 315 Member
REALLY? MARCH 18, 2013, 12:13 PM 58 Comments
Really? Diabetics Should Avoid Eating Fruit
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
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REALLY?
Anahad O’Connor tackles health myths.
THE FACTS
For most people, eating fruit goes along with a healthy diet. But for people with diabetes, it’s a different story.
Should fruit be kept to a minimum or even avoided altogether because of its sugar content? Or do the fiber and other nutrients it contains minimize its effect on blood sugar? Because of a lack of research, and conflicting advice, there has not been a clear answer.
But a new study in Nutrition Journal should provide some guidance: It found that restricting fruit intake did not seem to benefit diabetics.
In the study, the first randomized trial to address the issue, researchers recruited 63 overweight men and women with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. All of the subjects were given medical care and nutrition advice, including suggestions to limit calories. But some were randomly assigned to limit their fruit intake, while a second group was instructed to eat at least two pieces of fruit daily. The goal was to see how this affected their levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, which provides an indication of blood sugar level over time.
The first group ended up consuming about 135 grams of fruit a day, roughly equivalent to a single orange or banana, while the second group consumed about 320 grams of fruit daily.
After 12 weeks, both groups had lost weight and had smaller waists, but those who ate more fruit had the greatest reductions. And there was no significant difference between the two groups when it came to their blood sugar measures.
“Considering the many possible beneficial effects of fruit,” the authors wrote, “we recommend that fruit intake should not be restricted in Type 2 diabetic subjects.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
Avoiding fruit may not prove beneficial for Type 2 diabetics, but more research is needed.
A version of this article appeared in print on 03/19/2013, on
Really? Diabetics Should Avoid Eating Fruit
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
GOOGLE+
SAVE
SHARE
REALLY?
Anahad O’Connor tackles health myths.
THE FACTS
For most people, eating fruit goes along with a healthy diet. But for people with diabetes, it’s a different story.
Should fruit be kept to a minimum or even avoided altogether because of its sugar content? Or do the fiber and other nutrients it contains minimize its effect on blood sugar? Because of a lack of research, and conflicting advice, there has not been a clear answer.
But a new study in Nutrition Journal should provide some guidance: It found that restricting fruit intake did not seem to benefit diabetics.
In the study, the first randomized trial to address the issue, researchers recruited 63 overweight men and women with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. All of the subjects were given medical care and nutrition advice, including suggestions to limit calories. But some were randomly assigned to limit their fruit intake, while a second group was instructed to eat at least two pieces of fruit daily. The goal was to see how this affected their levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, which provides an indication of blood sugar level over time.
The first group ended up consuming about 135 grams of fruit a day, roughly equivalent to a single orange or banana, while the second group consumed about 320 grams of fruit daily.
After 12 weeks, both groups had lost weight and had smaller waists, but those who ate more fruit had the greatest reductions. And there was no significant difference between the two groups when it came to their blood sugar measures.
“Considering the many possible beneficial effects of fruit,” the authors wrote, “we recommend that fruit intake should not be restricted in Type 2 diabetic subjects.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
Avoiding fruit may not prove beneficial for Type 2 diabetics, but more research is needed.
A version of this article appeared in print on 03/19/2013, on
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Replies
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Thanks for sharing this very interesting article. It shows yet again that Diabetes is a very individual condition and there is no general perscriptive approach. Only by trial and error can we develop a plan which suits us as individuals. Information and education are vital tools in helping us to achieve an optimum approach as is the shared experience we benefit from in being members of this group. Thanks again for taking the time to share this information.0
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Thanks so much for this post!0
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I would like to know what kind of nutritional advice all the subjects were given. I would also like to know if the fruit eating group and the limited fruit eating group were eating differing amounts of total carbs.0
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Great article.. Thanks for sharing with the group.
WCUCATS770 -
That is interesting... I still haven't test most fruit.0
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I was just asking my health coach about eating fruit today. This article was very interesting. Thanks for sharing it. Off I go to buy fruit! I'm glad, because I like fruit in moderation.0
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I would like to know what kind of nutritional advice all the subjects were given. I would also like to know if the fruit eating group and the limited fruit eating group were eating differing amounts of total carbs.
Here is a link to the original scientific article. You can read the parameters of the study here. It's a very interesting journal with interesting studies about lots of things
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/290 -
My question is, did both groups eat banan's (very high sugar) or did one eat banana's and other eat berries? makes a big difference.
I try to get at least 3 fruits in a day. If not a berry type, I usually eat the fruit by itself as one of my snacks. That way it doesn't raise my sugars so bad.
I can eat some fruit with other foods, but it is limited. All banana's (eat only 1/2, apples, pears, plums, need to be eaten by self). I can eat an orange with breakfast (if that breakfast is eggs and not oatmeal). Same with prunes, but only 1/2 serving size.
It is all trial and error and testing before/after meals.0 -
I enjoy eating fruit, and haven't really noticed a difference in my blood sugars. Mine our pretty good right now though anyway.0
