One of the most common recommendations given to someone living with Type 2 diabetes is to count your calories.
Under the guidance of your dietitian, you may currently be aware of how many calories you should be shooting for every day. What you may not be as clear of, however, is that not all calories are created equal.
"As far as weight gain is concerned, a calorie is a calorie," says Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD. In this regard, diabetics are encouraged to restrict their calorie intake for the sake of maintaining a healthy weight.
Weight maintenance (and weight loss, for some individuals) can help stabilize blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and it will help to maintain long-term health.
"When you lose weight, you need less insulin," says Ken Fujioka, MD, director of the Center for Weight Management.
"Also, you will use the insulin you have in your body more effectively, which means you may be able to take fewer pills or, possibly, come off medication altogether."
But food cannot be merely reduced to the number of calories it contains. A piece of cake with 100 calories is not equal to a handful of nuts with 100 calories, just as a chocolate milkshake with 200 calories is not the same as a fillet of fish with 200 calories.
It is always better to consider the protein, fiber, and nutrients in the food you choose, first and foremost - then from there, choose what serving size is appropriate.
In this regard, you will end up eating not only a healthy range of calories, but you will ensure a balanced diet of protein, fat, and fiber.
Choosing your calories from vegetable, fruit, and whole grain sources gives you more bang for your buck, as you are getting more fiber, protein, and nutrients per calorie in each bite.
Take a bowl of macaroni and cheese, for example, which is little more than white pasta and processed cheese. For the same 400-ish calories, you could instead eat a bowl of brown rice with steamed vegetables and flaked salmon.
In the brown rice bowl, your calories might be comparable to the macaroni and cheese bowl, but you are now getting heart-healthy fats, protein, and phytochemicals. What a difference!
The bottom line? Counting calories will certainly help you keep your weight down, but choose your calories wisely and you'll be ensuring optimal health all around.
Eat less white flour, pasta, sugars, and starchy vegetables. Opt for more lean protein, whole grains, and fresh produce.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body.
Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers
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