Features of the effect of apples on the body in diabetes

Apples are fragrant, juicy and crunchy, often found in our diet. They have a lot of healthy properties. They contain carbohydrates that affect blood sugar. The article raises the question of whether apples increase blood sugar or not and what is their effect on the body in diabetes.

Characteristics and chemical composition of apples

Apples are mainly made up of carbohydrates and water. But diabetics are interested in the question of whether there is sugar in apples. Of course, the fruits are rich in sugar, but most of it is fructose, and sucrose and glucose are also present. When eating fresh apples, fructose does not increase sugar levels, so their glycemic index is low and ranges from 29 to 44 GI. And it is good for diabetics. But do not eat baked fruits, their glycemic index will be an order of magnitude higher than that of raw fruits.

Did you know? The main symptoms of diabetes: excessive urination, weight loss and intense thirst, were identified more than 1200 years ago. The disease was then called differently. The first written record of this dates back to 1500 BC. It is made in the Egyptian papyrus Ebers.

Perhaps the low glycemic index of the fruit is due to the large amount of fiber and polyphenols contained in them. They contribute to the slow absorption of carbohydrates, while slowing down the absorption of sugar and the digestion process as a whole. In practice, this means that slowly digesting sugar is not capable of a sharp increase in blood.

Fiber, which is found in fruits, is considered highly digestible and soluble. It can lower blood cholesterol, slow down the absorption of glucose, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is useful in recovering from diabetes-related infections.

The recommended daily intake of fiber is from 25 g for women and up to 38 g for men. The peel of 1 apple gives 3 grams of fiber, which is about 12% of the recommended daily dose. Apples are not too rich in vitamins. Their number from the daily norm does not exceed 3%. However, they contain a decent dose of vitamin C.

Vitamin composition 100 g of fruit:

Vitamin Nameamount% of the daily rate
Folate3 mcgone
Niacin0, 091 mgone
Pantothenic acid0.061 mgone
Pyridoxine0.041 mg3
Thiamine0.017 mgone
Vitamin A54 IU2
Vitamin C4.6 mg8
Vitamin E0.18 mgone
Vitamin K2.2 mcg2

Delicious crispy fruits are characterized by an impressive list of phytonutrients and antioxidants. They also contain small amounts of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. Potassium is essential for the body to control heart rate and blood pressure. It is an important component of cell fluids and is involved in many metabolic processes.

The mineral composition of 100 g of apples:

Mineral nameamount% of the daily rate
Sodium1 mg0
Potassium107 mg2
Calcium6 mg0.6
Iron0.12 mgone
Magnesium5 mgone
Phosphorus11 mg2
Zinc0.04 mg0

Calorie content and nutritional value

One medium-sized apple contains only 95 calories, about 16 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber. 100 g also contains:

  • total - 52 calories;
  • about 86% of water;
  • a little protein - 0.3 g;
  • the average amount of sugar is 10.4 g;
  • almost the same amount of carbohydrates - 13.8 g;
  • some fiber - 2.4 g;
  • as well as a minimum of fat - 0.2 g;
  • monounsaturated fatty acids - 0.01 g;
  • polyunsaturated - 0.05 g;
  • saturated - 0.03 g;
  • Omega-6 - 0.04 g;
  • Omega-3 - 0.01 g;
  • trans fats - 0 g.

Did you know? In ancient times, diabetes was diagnosed according to the taste of urine. To do this, they tasted it. The specialists who were responsible for the tasting and diagnostics were called "water tasters."

Is it possible to eat apples for diabetes

There is no doubt that fruits and vegetables are a healthy and important part of the diet for everyone, including diabetics, although many people with diabetes are afraid to eat fruits. They believe that a high sugar content is harmful in their illness. But due to the high fiber content and high nutritional value, apples fit into the nutrition plan without causing a sharp increase in blood sugar, so they can be a safe addition to any diabetic diet if you include them in the total amount of carbohydrates when calculating the diet. Only fruits need to be eaten raw and whole, not baked. They reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Apple's diabetes properties

In medicine, two types of diabetes are distinguished. Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes means that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for human life. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for transporting sugar from blood to cells. In this case, the person needs insulin injections.

Diagnosed type 2 diabetes means that insulin is produced, but cannot transport sugar, as the cells do not respond to it. The process is called insulin resistance. Fruits may decrease insulin resistance over time. And this means that by consuming them, you lower your blood sugar or at least not raise it. The skin contains polyphenols, they also stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas and help cells absorb sugar.

Important! About a third of all people with diabetes do not know that they are sick. This is because type 2 diabetes often has no symptoms.

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits is good for everyone. It is especially useful for people with chronic diseases, since with the help of a diet you can adjust your health condition. When processing fruits, fibers, antioxidants and other nutrients have the maximum effect on the body, help strengthen the immune system and overall health.

Eating raw fruits provides the greatest benefit.

Benefits and healing properties

The healing properties of apples are well documented in the biomedical literature. Their consumption has been the subject of a number of studies to reduce the risk of cancer.

  • Studies have confirmed that:
  • apple juice, pectin and peel reduce the risk of liver cancer and help in the fight against the existing disease;
  • these fruits prevent and inhibit breast cancer in animals;
  • carotenoids isolated from fruits inhibit the proliferation of drug resistant cancer cells;
  • procyanidin derived from fruits inhibits esophageal cancer;
  • one way in which apple components prevent stomach cancer is by inhibiting Helicobacter pylori, one of the main infectious agents associated with both ulcer and stomach cancer.

It seems that no matter what part of the apple is being studied, it has antitumor properties. Fresh fruits also remove toxins and carcinogenic radioisotopes from the body.
  • Other noteworthy “evidence” healing properties of the fruit include:
  • treatment of non-specific diarrhea in children;
  • preventing the progression of atherosclerosis;
  • significant weight loss associated with daily consumption of three apples among overweight individuals;
  • reduction in intestinal inflammation;
  • normalization of the digestive tract;
  • decrease in blood "bad" cholesterol;
  • improving neurological health;
  • improving memory and preventing dementia;
  • stroke risk reduction;
  • reduced risk of diabetes;
  • prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Important! After Chernobyl, apple pectin was used to reduce the level of cesium-137 in children exposed to radiation, in some cases by more than 60%. As a result, the level of Cs-137 in children's organs decreased after each course of pectin addition on average by 30 - 40%.

Harm and contraindications

Apples are generally safe for most people. Especially if you do not eat their seeds. Side effects associated with apple juice or the fruits themselves were not detected. Polyphenols in fruits are safe when taken orally and applied briefly to the skin. During pregnancy and lactation, it is recommended to eat apples in quantities that are usual for you. They almost do not cause allergies.

The exception is people with an allergy to apricot or plants sensitive to the Rosaceae family. This category includes apricot, almond, plum, peach, pear and strawberry. In such cases, before eating apples, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Important! Apple seeds contain cyanide and are poisonous. Eating large quantities of seeds (up to 100 g) can lead to death. As the seeds are digested, cyanide is released in the stomach, so it may take several hours for the symptoms of poisoning to appear.

Features of the choice of fresh and high-quality apples

When choosing apples, it is recommended to take medium-sized specimens weighing 130–150 g. They can be of different colors, but must have a smooth elastic skin and a delicate apple flavor. Do not buy too big fruits. To grow them, they often use special substances that can be harmful to the body.

Do not take:

  • apples with signs of disease, rot and other damage;
  • softened - they are most likely overripe;
  • too hard - they did not finish;
  • shriveled are fruits that were stored at the wrong temperature and began to age;
  • with sticky or slippery peel - these are signs of treatment from pests that are difficult to wash off.

It is believed that the "apple with a worm" is a sign of the absence of nitrates in it. But such a fruit will quickly deteriorate, so buying it is a moot point. Spring beautiful fruits on the shelves - guests from distant countries. To bring the crop intact, it is treated with chemical compounds. Such fruits are beautiful, but not very useful.

Did you know? Most apple trees can be grown in more northern areas than other fruits. This is possible because their flowering occurs at the end of spring, minimizing damage from frost.

How to use it correctly and often

If the question is posed as “the rate of consumption of fruit per day”, then this is a wrong statement of the question. It doesn't matter which foods are the source of carbohydrates. It is important to plan your diet and determine how it changes with the medications you take. To verify this, it is enough to measure the level of insulin on an empty stomach and after eating, for example, one apple or another product.

At the same time, the patient is planned his diet completely, but some products can be replaced by others so that the overall tog does not change. Your diet as a diabetic is 100% unique to you, so if you have questions, you should definitely consult your doctor.

But still there are a number of general recommendations on how to eat apples for diabetics:

  1. Eat the whole fruit to get the most benefit. Most fiber and other nutrients are found in the skin.
  2. Eliminate apple juice from the diet: it does not have the same benefits as the whole fruit, since it has more sugar and not enough fiber.
  3. Stick to 1 average apple. An increase in apple mass will indicate an increase in glycemic load.
  4. Distribute your fruit intake evenly throughout the day to keep your blood sugar stable.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the features of eating pears, plums, melons and grapes for diabetes.

At the 1st type

If you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) and the question arose about how many apples you can eat or other food, then you will be surprised, but you can eat any product with a low glycemic index. It can be 1-2 apples. It is important that the overall diet is balanced. In the past, people with this diagnosis were on a very strict diet. But this was because insulin availability was limited, and treatment methods were not flexible. The doctor is now creating a balanced diet for you based on your insulin needs and food preferences.

You will definitely need to avoid all those foods that increase blood sugar and do it drastically. Due to fiber, the apple can not dramatically increase sugar levels, so it is not considered dangerous. In addition, you definitely need carbohydrates. Since carbohydrate-free insulin can cause a drop in blood glucose. An apple is a source of healthy carbohydrates that does not contain salt, unhealthy sugar and saturated fats.

Did you know? The longest-lived apple tree in America was planted in 1647 by Peter Styvesant in his Manhattan Garden. She still bore fruit when in 1866 she was broken by a derailed train.

With type 2

In type 2 diabetes, there is insulin in the body, but the cells do not perceive it, and it cannot deliver glucose to them. It is also called non-insulin dependent. To raise glucose in the blood or lower it, a corrective diet is prescribed. And apples are quite suitable for this. After all, their index is about 35, while the norm for a diabetic is 55 GI. The recommended apple intake per day is one for type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that the daily rate depends on the amount of carbohydrates in your diet and the reaction of the body.

Features of storing apples

Autumn varieties of apples can be stored for months, if the storage conditions are properly organized. To organize the process, you need fruits, boxes or baskets and the paper with which you will transfer them, or other material.

You will be interested to know if frozen apples are healthy.

Storage technology:

  1. Take fruits for storage without damage. They should not have dents, cracks, damage from insects or soft areas.
  2. Sort them by size: small, large, medium. Large can not be stored for a long time, so they need to be eaten first.
  3. Sorting by grades also does not hurt, since you first need to eat apples of early varieties.
  4. Place sorted fruits in boxes or baskets. To extend their shelf life, wrap each fruit in a newspaper before putting it in a box. If one of the apples deteriorates, then the paper will protect the remaining fruits from contact.
  5. Place the fruit boxes in a cool place. It can be a basement, a barn, a garage or a refrigerator. Apples will feel great if the air temperature in this room is 0 ° C and humidity is about 90%.
  6. At temperatures below 0 ° C, they can suffer from cold, so try to keep the temperature at a given level.
  7. Regularly check for spoiled and discard rotten fruits before they can spoil other fruits.

Apples are great fruits that you can include in your diet for diabetes. When choosing fruits, limit yourself to medium-sized fruits and remember that any changes in the diet must be discussed with your doctor.

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