Good news: You don’t need to change everything about your life to prevent diabetes. According to a recent study, a few enjoyable indulgences can help you eat, drink, and play your way to improved blood sugar levels. Here are three healthy ideas for you to try: a delectable snack, a fun workout, and a drink-filled treat.
Two Truffles a Day Keep Diabetes Away!
A nibble of two chocolate truffles every day improves blood sugar levels. Epicatechin monomers in cocoa, according to researchers at Brigham Young University, stimulate the pancreas to generate insulin, which enhances the body’s capacity to remove glucose from the bloodstream. Additionally, chocolate is loaded with magnesium, which reduces the incidence of diabetes by up to 47%, according to studies published in Diabetes Care. The key is to choose sugar-free dark chocolate, which has higher levels of glucose-regulating chemicals and won’t cause blood sugar increases, up to one ounce (about two truffles).
Walks in the Mall
A study published in the Diabetologia journal discovered that visiting the mall twice a week (even if you’re simply window shopping) can lower your risk of developing diabetes by up to 25%. Even though it might not seem like it, walking through air-conditioned aisles for a little over an hour twice a week is a simple method to keep active, particularly during the hottest parts of the summer. The same British study also found that even a half-hour of exercise increases insulin sensitivity, leading to better blood sugar control for up to 72 hours. Bonus: Engaging in regular light exercise, such as mall wandering, reduces the risk of heart attack by 42%.
A Glass of Red Wine
According to Tulane University research, drinking red wine or chilled rosé with supper at least twice a week may reduce the chance of acquiring diabetes by 14%. Polyphenols in grape skins, which give the wine its red or pink tint, are credited by scientists with decreasing blood sugar, especially when consumed with food. How? They increase insulin sensitivity by lowering the quantity of glucose that enters the bloodstream.