Have you ever considered offering coconut oil preparations to your diabetic relatives or loved ones but wondered if it is safe? Well, coconut oil is known to boost skin and hair health, but is coconut oil good for diabetes control? How to use coconut oil for diabetes? What is the link between coconut oil and diabetes? Let's explore the benefits of coconut oil as an essential cooking ingredient and its effects on people with diabetes.
Contents:Coconut oil is widely used as a base in most kitchen preparations with its unique, wholesome flavor. A tablespoon of coconut oil offers about 117 calories and 14g of fat; approximately 12g is saturated fat. A rare plant source of saturated fat, coconut oil, is derived from the meat of coconut fruit.
100 ml of coconut cooking oil contains the following nutrients:
Protein: 0 g |
Sugars: 0 g |
Calories: 40 |
Sodium: 0 mg |
Fat: 4.5 g |
Carbohydrates: 0g |
Fiber: 0 g |
It has a relatively low glycemic index (GI) of 42 and is a perfect choice for cooking preparations if you have high blood sugar levels. Besides, it is enriched with lauric acid, which is supposed to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.
Coconut oil gets metabolized quickly, provides instant energy, and causes a slow and gradual release of sugars in your blood. Its low glycemic index ensures that it doesn't spike blood sugar. Moreover, here are some of its other health benefits for diabetics.
Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to sauté or stir-fry vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, and even deep-fry cutlets or chips.
Bake your favorite cookies, brownies, or cakes using coconut oil.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut oil to your favourite smoothy, tea, or coffee. You can also drizzle it over popcorn instead of butter for its unique richness.
Compared to other oils or ghee, coconut oil is quickly and easily digestible. Therefore, you can incorporate it into any snack or meal at any time of the day, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, it must be consumed in moderation, especially at night, as it has high levels of saturated fat.
Although coconut oil is relatively healthy, it still contains saturated fats. Overconsumption of food high in saturated fat can raise LDL (bad cholesterol) cholesterol levels thus increasing your risk of heart attacks or stroke. Also, excess coconut oil may cause stomach problems like cramps or diarrhea. So, ensure to consume coconut oil preparations in moderation.
As a diabetic, you need to be aware of the nutritional content of each and every thing you consume. So when it comes to carbs, which are good and which are bad? In this article, we help you tell the difference.
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