TASTY WAYS TO KEEP DIABETES AT BAY

Balance blood sugar with these delicious superfoods

- ALEX FULTON

Coffee REPAIRS THE LIVER

Drinking 3 to 4 cups of java daily can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by roughly 25%, according to a review of multiple studies in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. That’s because coffee contains an anti-inflammatory compound (chlorogenic acid) that repairs and protects cells in the liver, which acts as the body’s glucose reservoir to keep bloodsugar levels steady.

Olive oil

WARDS OFF SPIKES IN BLOOD SUGAR 

The secret to enjoying even a carb-heavy meal like pasta without spiking blood sugar? Add some olive oil. It contains monounsaturated fatty acids that moderate the amount of sugar released into the blood stream after eating —even if the meal was high in carbs that would normally trigger a blood-sugar spike, say researchers in the journal Diabetes Care.

Whole grains

SLOW SUGAR ABSORPTION

A high intake of whole grains cut the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 34% in a 2018 study. These foods have a low glycemic index, so the body absorbs the sugar in them slowly to stabilize blood sugar. A slice of whole-grain toast and 1/2 cup of brown rice provide the recommended daily dose.

Chicken

IMPROVES INSULIN SENSITIVITY