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Dr. Liu shook his head, his expression a little helpless. "A lot of people think that taro is a 'blood sugar killer', but that's not the case. Regarding the nutritional value of taro, we actually need to have a more comprehensive understanding. "
Li Ying had been listening carefully to the doctor's explanation, her brows furrowed slightly, full of doubts. As a retired bank teller, she has always taken her health seriously, especially to keep her blood sugar under control. Some time ago, she also looked up a lot of relevant information on the Internet, and came to the conclusion that the effect of taro on blood sugar may not be as great as imagined. But the doctor's words just now made her a little confused.
"So what exactly does taro do on blood sugar? I've heard it's high in sugar, so it's not very suitable for diabetics, right?" She grabbed the doctor's sleeve and asked anxiously.
The doctor patiently explained: "Many people do have such misconceptions. Although taro is rich in carbohydrates, this carbohydrate is mainly starch and is not equivalent to free sugar. In contrast, white rice, which is also high in sugar, has a much greater impact on blood sugar. "
Li Ying suddenly realized, and couldn't help but sigh: "So that's the case, then I can eat taro with confidence in the future?"
"It's not that simple." The doctor sighed, "Although taro itself may not have a big effect on blood sugar, I still recommend that you control your food intake appropriately. After all, taro is also a high-calorie food, and if you consume too much, it can easily lead to weight gain, which will affect the stability of blood sugar. "
Li Ying nodded thoughtfully, indicating that she understood what the doctor meant.
"In addition, there are some other vegetables that you would better eat sparingly." The doctor's tone became more serious, "For example, starch-rich vegetables such as sweet potatoes and potatoes may have a greater impact on blood sugar. On the contrary, some vegetables rich in dietary fiber, such as green peppers and broccoli, are more conducive to blood sugar stabilization. "
Li Ying nodded again and again, and carefully noted down the doctor's advice. She has always been very concerned about her health.
"Okay, I'll pay attention to the adjustment of my diet and try to eat more vegetables that are good for blood sugar stability. However, these vegetables are also very nutritious, so can I increase the amount of food I eat?"
"Absolutely." The doctor's tone became gentle, "As long as you can control your overall calorie intake, it's okay to add some vegetables that are good for blood sugar stability." The focus is on cultivating good eating habits and being 'small and varied'. "
Li Ying had a relieved smile on her face. After this exchange, she has a more comprehensive understanding of the role of taro and other vegetables in controlling blood sugar. Not only that, but the doctor's patient answers also made her more determined to improve her diet.
"Thank you very much, doctor. I will definitely adjust my diet according to your advice and take responsibility for my own health. "
The doctor smiled and nodded, "I'm glad you take your health so seriously." Take care and wish you good health. "
Seeing Li Ying leave, the doctor couldn't help but sigh that such a serious and responsible patient is too rare. He hopes that more people can take the initiative to pay attention to their own health like Li Ying, and learn to regulate their diet scientifically and reasonably, so as to better manage their chronic diseases.
Is taro a "blood sugar killer"? The story of the retired bank teller has once again raised questions about this. As doctors say, although taro does contain a lot of carbohydrates, these carbohydrates are mainly in the form of starch and do not have as much of an impact on blood sugar as one might think. On the contrary, some other starch-rich vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and potatoes, may have a greater impact on blood sugar.
So, what kind of vegetables are better for blood sugar? According to relevant medical research, vegetables rich in dietary fiber, such as green peppers and broccoli, can effectively delay the absorption of carbohydrates, thereby stabilizing blood sugar.
Although taro also contains a certain amount of starch, it is also rich in dietary fiber, which can inhibit the impact on blood sugar to a certain extent. Of course, this does not mean that diabetics can eat taro unscrupulously, and moderation is the key.
According to a study published in the Chinese Medical Journal in 2019, taro contains a special polysaccharide, taro polysaccharides, which have the effect of lowering blood sugar levels after meals. The study showed that compared with the control group, the blood glucose level of the participants in the taro polysaccharide supplementation group decreased significantly at 2 hours after meals, and the onset of blood glucose peak was delayed. This is further evidence of taro's potential in blood sugar control.
Another study published in the Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2021 also found that long-term consumption of taro can significantly improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Compared with the control group without taro consumption, the taro intake group had significantly lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and a decrease in insulin resistance. This suggests that taro may be a good choice for diabetic patients.
Of course, this does not mean that diabetics can eat taro with impunity. Moderate consumption is key. According to a 2020 guideline from the Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, it is best for diabetic patients to control the carbohydrates of vegetables at about 15-30 grams per meal.
For starch-rich vegetables such as taro, it is recommended to reduce the amount of food consumed appropriately and eat more vegetables with higher dietary fiber content, such as green peppers and broccoli.
In summary, although taro is rich in starch, it also contains a lot of dietary fiber, which may not have as much effect on blood sugar as people think. In contrast, some other high-starch vegetables, such as white potatoes, potatoes, etc., may have a greater impact on blood sugar.
In view of this, doctors suggest that diabetic patients can appropriately reduce the consumption of these vegetables, and instead eat more vegetables rich in dietary fiber, such as green peppers, broccoli, etc., which will help stabilize blood sugar. Of course, for starch-rich vegetables such as taro, you also need to control the amount of food you eat to achieve "small and varied" so that you can better manage your blood sugar levels.