Proper diet is essential for diabetics. Eliminating excess fats and salt helps manage high cholesterol and other conditions to which diabetics are prone. The challenge is creating dishes that are flavorful without the fat and salt that make so many foods enjoyable. Certain herbs and spices have shown some promise in controlling diabetes and related issues, but if you have a seasoning that contains no salt, feel free to use it in your food preparation.
Cinnamon
Believed to lower bad cholesterol and improve blood-sugar readings when given as a supplement, cinnamon performed the best in a study of insulin activity conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2000. While definitive evidence of positive effects does not exist when used as a seasoning, cinnamon is considered safe by the American Diabetes Association. Add it to your sugar-free recipes for pumpkin cookies, apple crisp or oatmeal.
Ginger
Ginger has not yet been tested for diabetic effects in people, but encouraging results in preliminary tests show it may positively affect insulin sensitivity and cholesterol, according to a 2005 study at Jamia Hamdard University in India and a 2004 study at the L.M. College of Pharmacology in India. Both studies showed decreases in lipids, triglycerides and blood pressure. A common seasoning in Asian foods, the uses for ginger are abundant. Create a homemade ginger salad dressing in place of the sugary and salty varieties sold in stores. Add it to chicken dishes and soups. Spice up your cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving with a little ginger.
Fenugreek
The seeds of this plant have shown some promise in lowering blood-sugar levels and decreasing insulin resistance at the cellular level in tests conducted at the University of Guelph in Canada and the Indian Institute of Technology. A separate study at the Dehli Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research found fenugreek fights the reactions that result in diabetic-related cataracts. Not a well-known seasoning, you can find ground fenugreek at specialty spice shops. Exported from the Mediterranean, fenugreek added to beef dishes and vegetables boosts flavor. Fenugreek is present in many curries, but you can enjoy it with less salt when you add it to dishes yourself.
Other Seasonings
Raw garlic and coriander have both been shown to lower glucose levels through studies at Kuwait University in 2006 and a Moroccan university in 2011, respectively. No formal studies on turmeric's effect on diabetes patients have been undertaken as of September 2011, but general research at the University of Texas found this root seasoning is a powerful anti-inflammatory. In addition, turmeric appears to help dysfunctional insulin pathways work better. Cumin and red chili pepper have also shown positive results in diabetics in studies at the Universite Montpellier in France and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, respectively.
References
- American Diabetes Association; What Types of Spices Can I Put on My Foods and Meats?; Cassie Rico
- Diabetes Action; Add Spice and Add Life!; Ryan Bradley, N.D.; July 2006
- Medicinal Herbs and Spices: Fenugreek
- A Pinch of...: All About Fenugreek
- Medicinal Herbs and Spices: Garlic
- Medicinal Herbs and Spices: Coriander
