Ada Diet Diabetes

Help me please someone - what is Ada Diet Diabetes. It will help me a lot if someone can answer?
(October 27, 2010)

Ada Diabetic Diet

The ada diabetic diet or American Diabetic Association diet refers to an eating plan formulated by the ADA. It is considered to be a suitable diet for individuals who need to regulate their blood sugar levels due to diabetes. It is not a strictly regimented diet, although the association does propagate a reduced daily calorie intake. The ada diabetic diet also encourages consumption of a variety of foods and a limited consumption of certain foods such as fried foods, alcohol and fruits. The most significant features of this diet are the controlled quantities of fats, carbohydrates and foods rich in processed sugars that are allowed.

According to the ada diabetic diet, the recommended daily intake of calories should be about 1600 to 2800 calories. It recommends that women focus on maintaining a lower range of calorie intake. Active women should aim at mid-range. Men also need to consume the mid-range calorie intake, while active men must aim to consume at least 2800 calories every day. Depending on the calorie requirements of an individual, starches and grains should constitute about six to eleven servings daily. In ada diet menus, one serving of starch or grain may consist of a slice of bread, half a cup of beans, half a cup of potato and one third cup of pasta. Such foods are categorized as carbohydrates and hence must be regulated according to the ADA diet. High fiber vegetables are also recommended by the plan and the daily intake should be about three to five servings. One serving of vegetables may consist of half a cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of raw vegetables. Starchy vegetables do not fall in this category. Vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach and tomatoes may be included.

Fruits contain carbohydrates and so the intake must be limited to two to four servings daily as per the ada diabetic diet. A fruit serving may incorporate an apple, banana or a cup of strawberries. Fruits are rich in fiber and hence an important part of the diet, however their intake must be moderate. The recommended intake of dairy products is two to three servings per day. A single serving would include just a cup of yogurt or milk. Cheese is not included in this category, as it comes within the protein category. Proteins must be limited to four to six daily servings. One protein serving may include one egg, half a cup of tofu or one ounce of fish or lean chicken. In the ada diet, diabetes is kept under control by ensuring that all meals are within the appropriate range of carbohydrate intake.

Ada Diet Diabetes 

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the need of nutrients for a diabetic is analogous to the normal diet. Slight modifications make it individualised for different diabetics. Moderate sugar is allowed, though care is essential in ensuring normal blood glucose levels. Weight maintenance is important, as reduction of body weight results in reduced need for insulin. Reduction of body fat also aids in reducing the blood pressure. Thus, it also reduces the risk of cardio vascular problems.

The principle of a diabetic diet is high fibre, low fat, moderate carbohydrate and moderate protein. Avoid refined flour, such as refined flour and opt for whole wheat flour. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables are preferred, as they contribute to dietary fibre. Foods rich in cholesterol, Trans fats and saturated fats, such as egg yolk, butter, clarified butter and margarine are abstained from. Poly unsaturated oils are preferred. Choice of right foods helps in keeping a check on the body weight. The ideal body weight is calculated and maintained. Calorie counting is helpful in regulating the body weight. Obesity increases the risk of heart problems, thereby increasing the chances of death. Sodium is kept under control, by avoiding processed foods and preserved foods. High blood pressure or hypertension is associated with high sodium content. Increased sodium also results in water retention or oedema, which results in weight increase.

The effect of various foods on the blood glucose levels vary, as carbohydrates take around 5 minutes to 3 hours for conversion to sugar. Reading the labels is important, especially for diabetics. This helps in avoiding the unnecessary ingredients. Certain labels of food stuffs reveal values based on a high calorie diet. It is as high as that for a 2000 calorie diet, which is much higher than a diabetic's diet.