Are you worried about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels? If so,
you may also be worried about your risk of DIABETIC NEUROPATHY.
What's that?
This condition is a type of nerve damage which can affect diabetics. Chronic high
blood sugar can wreck havoc in your body, and it can be especially damaging to your nerves.
That's why older diabetics often suffer from tingling, numbness, and pain in their hands and
feet. And nutrition can either work to increase or decrease the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
If you'd like to get a clear understanding of the most harmful foods for your nervous system,
check out our previous vid, The Top 5 Worst Foods For Your Nerves.
But now it's time to flip the script - so we're about to showcase 5 especially beneficial,
nutrient-rich foods that have been proven to aid the health of your nervous system...
...and help you avoid neuropathy.
There are actually MANY foods which can improve the health of your nerves,
while also helping you to fight diabetes.
That's why you should stay tuned to the end of this video,
because we've got a secret, extra PLUS-1!
OK, let's let you in on the foods which are secretly helping you ward off dangerous,
diabetes-related nerve damage, with...
THE TOP 5 FOODS THAT FIGHT DIABETIC NERVE PAIN
5. CHICKEN
Chicken is an excellent lean protein choice for diabetics,
and it can help slow your digestion, which, in effect, aids your glucose control.
But the macro and micronutrients in chicken can also help your body in a number of ways,
including helping you to lessen nerve pain.
Protein itself is important for supporting muscle health and muscle strength. Having strong
and healthy muscles can improve balance, which decreases the risk of developing neuropathic pain.
Chicken can also aid your nerve health due to its wealth of micronutrients,
including a variety of antioxidant B vitamins, like NIACIN, PYRIDOXINE, RIBOFLAVIN, and THIAMINE.
B vitamins are utilized by the body in the maintenance of the nervous system. They
aid the metabolism of neurotransmitters, and they play a vital role in maintaining normal
electrical impulse signals, which fire throughout the nervous system.
B vitamins are also beneficial in your fight against nerve pain via their antioxidant powers,
which help protect against oxidative damage to neurons.
Chicken also contains SELENIUM, which has been found to reduce inflammation
associated with diabetes-related nerve damage.
Plus, chicken supplies ZINC, which the body uses to help repair damaged nerve
endings. Zinc has also been shown to reduce nerve-damaging oxidative stress.
So, if you eat meat, keep it lean and nutritious, with nerve-aiding chicken!
4. AVOCADO
It isn't just your taste buds that love avocado, it's also your nervous system!
Just like chicken, avocado is an excellent source of B VITAMINS,
including FOLATE, NIACIN, and RIBOFLAVIN.
So avocado can supply the same nerve-protecting benefits as chicken,
due to its wealth of antioxidant B vitamins.
Avos are also rich in monounsaturated fats, including OLEIC ACID, which has been found
to reduce neuropathy-associated inflammation. Unsaturated fatty
acids have also been found to improve the transmission of signals between neurons.
They also contain the carotenoid antioxidants LUTEIN and ZEAXANTHIN,
which, importantly for diabetics, can reduce the risk of macular degeneration.
Avocados also contain other powerful micronutrients, including...
- VITAMINS C, E, and K - BETA-CAROTENE
- MAGNESIUM - and POTASSIUM...
...which, among many benefits, can work to reduce the oxidative
stress and free radical damage that can lead to neurodegenerative conditions.
VITAMINS C and E, specifically, have been found to enhance blood circulation in hands and feet,
thus improving nerve function affected by neuropathy.
And POTASSIUM has been found to play a crucial role in the proper firing of nerve signals.
So, yes, you can healthfully include avocado in your regular diet. It not only aids your
blood sugar control and your satiety, it also helps to improve the health of your nerves!
Today's number 1, and our secret, extra PLUS-1, are just ahead! But which filling
and satisfying diabetes SUPERFOOD can also help you lower your nerve pain? Try...
3. BEANS
While beans supply carbohydrates, they are also a fantastic plant-based source of DIETARY FIBER,
which works to slow the introduction of glucose into the blood stream.
Plus, like chicken, beans are an excellent place to go for your daily protein requirement. In fact,
beans contain all 9 essential amino acids, which makes them a COMPLETE PROTEIN choice. Protein is
also a key macronutrient for aiding post-meal glucose control, as it works to slow digestion.
And as we've mentioned, protein is critical to your health,
and more specifically, the health of your nervous system. Studies
show amino acids protect your nerve tissues against oxidative stress.
Plus, beans are positively loaded with B VITAMINS. Are we sensing a pattern here?
In fact, one cup of black beans can give you approximately 65% of
your daily requirement for FOLATE, and 35% of the RDI for THIAMINE.
Beans are also rich in MAGNESIUM, which aids nervous system regulation.
Plus, they supply a king's ransom of POTASSIUM,
which is another key nutrient for maintaining healthy nerve function.
And, thanks to their fiber, protein, and antioxidant content,
regularly eating beans has been found to improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
This works to maintain the health of your nerves, while also helping
to prevent further nerve damage for those already suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
So, pretty much any type of bean can be an excellent option for aiding your nerve health.
What are the 2 best foods for helping you fight the symptoms of neuropathy? They're just ahead.
But, real quick, we want to say thanks for watching by giving away 3 free gifts!
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Now let's get back to the list!
2. BLUEBERRIES
There's a good reason why blueberries are often
mentioned in the conversation of the world's healthiest foods.
Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, with a wealth of...
- VITAMIN K
- MANGANESE
- and VITAMIN C
In fact, the antioxidant vitamin C a.k.a. ASCORBIC ACID is critical to the health of
nervous system cells and tissues, as it has been found to stimulate the growth
and health of MYELIN, the insulating protection layer surrounding nerves.
Vitamin C also helps to boost circulation,
thus delivering oxygen to damaged nerve cells more efficiently.
Blueberries are actually considered to be one of the most concentrated food sources
of antioxidants, largely because of their supply of polyphenols...
...specifically, flavonoid ANTHOCYANINS the pigment which gives them their purple hue.
Anthocyanins have been found to lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease,
while also aiding brain health and memory.
And studies show anthocyanins may play an anti-neuroinflammatory role inside the body.
Plus, blueberries contain the flavonoid MYRICITRIN,
which has been shown to improve nerve conduction velocity. This aids nerves
in sending more efficient signals, which works to reduce nerve pain.
And, thanks to their wealth of antioxidants, blueberries supply anti-inflammatory properties,
which can work to alleviate inflammation-related nerve pain.
So, though berries can contain a helping of sugar, their fiber and antioxidants can
help you avoid a blood sugar spike, while also working to improve your brain and nerve health.
Can you guess today s secret PLUS-1? The mystery guest is about to arrive.
But now it's time to discover THE VERY BEST FOOD for your nerves!
If you can work up the nerve, then chow down on...
1. BROCCOLI
It may not sound like the most appetizing choice,
but ease your nervousness over broccoli, because it can be amazing for your nervous system!
Broccoli is another excellent source of various B VITAMINS, especially FOLATE, which has been found
to help prevent multiple diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's disease.
Plus, by including broccoli in your meal, you'll be sure to acquire healthy doses of...
- CALCIUM - MAGNESIUM
- ZINC - POTASSIUM
- and VITAMIN C.
As we've already noted, vitamin C and potassium each play crucial roles in healthy nerve function.
Zinc, the second-most abundant trace mineral in the human body,
is also essential to the normal growth of the nervous system,
as it aids the formation and function of various proteins and enzymes involved in neurodevelopment.
Magnesium also works to regulate neurotransmitters,
and it plays a critical role in neuromuscular conduction.
And calcium is also essential to your nervous system, as it helps generate
neuronal electrical signals while also initiating and regulating the responses
of nervous system tissues during an injury.
Plus, broccoli supplies a wealth of other diabetes-fighting,
nerve-protecting micronutrients, including the carotenoids LUTEIN,
ZEAXANTHIN, and BETA-CAROTENE, along with SULFORAPHANE, an antioxidant which
neutralizes free radicals before they can cause oxidative damage.
And, of course, broccoli is one of the very best foods for glucose control,
as it is high in dietary fiber and antioxidants. So if you can stomach the taste,
broccoli can provide incredible health benefits for your entire body, including your nerves!
So, those were our 5 favorite foods for fighting diabetic neuropathy. But, we re not quite done,
because there is something else you can and should consume to help you decrease nerve pain.
Today, and every day, you MUST get...
PLUS-1. WATER
It's simple, but true. Water is essential to life on planet Earth, and life inside planet YOU!
Water works to flush potentially dangerous toxins from your body,
before they can cause or worsen neuropathy symptoms.
And staying hydrated aids blood circulation, which keeps your nerve function healthy,
and it also helps to reduce numbness, tingling, and pain symptoms caused by nerve damage.
Plus, dehydration can cause muscles to become stiff, which can lead to
nerve pain. But staying hydrated works to make your muscles loose and relaxed,
which reduces inflammatory nerve pain in hands and feet.
So, don't forget about these 5 foods - and WATER - to decrease your symptoms of diabetic neuropathy!
Well, we've reached the end of another Diabetes Smarts vid. What did you think of this topic?
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