High blood sugar, if left untreated, can cause many dangerous complications.
One way to help control blood sugar levels is to eat pumpkin seeds.
Dr Deborah Lee, a clinician who worked for many years at the UK's National Health Service, shared that adding these "small but mighty seeds" to breakfast can reduce blood sugar levels by up to 35%.
Following a healthy diet can be very effective in controlling high blood sugar levels.
The reason pumpkin seeds can do the above miracle is due to the following special reasons:
Magnesium Storehouse Improves Insulin Sensitivity: Just one 1-ounce serving of pumpkin seeds provides 40 percent of the daily recommended intake of magnesium. Dr. Lee explains: Increasing magnesium intake helps improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc: Another component of pumpkin seeds that plays a vital role in blood sugar metabolism is zinc. Zinc is essential for insulin synthesis. Zinc also binds to insulin receptor sites and activates insulin pathways.
Source of unsaturated fats: Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of healthy unsaturated fats that have blood sugar-lowering properties.
High in fiber: Additionally, the fiber in pumpkin seeds helps control blood sugar levels. Dr. Lee adds: Fiber enters the intestines and helps slow down the absorption of sugar. It also makes you feel fuller for longer, thus reducing cravings, while keeping blood sugar levels lower.
Adding pumpkin seeds to breakfast can reduce blood sugar levels by up to 35%.
What did the study find?
Research published in the Journal Nutrition Research , highlighted the powerful effects of pumpkin seeds on blood sugar levels.
Participants were given three carbohydrate-rich meals supplemented with 65 grams of pumpkin seeds or a control meal without pumpkin seeds for three nonconsecutive days. The test meals had similar nutritional composition.
Results showed that consuming pumpkin seeds with breakfast significantly reduced post-meal blood sugar levels.
Specifically, consuming 65 grams of pumpkin seeds with breakfast helps reduce blood sugar levels by 35%, according to the scientific journal ScienceDirect.
However, Dr. Lee suggests that just one 28-gram serving of pumpkin seeds per day is enough to be effective.
Dr Lee added: Pumpkin seeds are best eaten in the morning or can also be snacked on during the day, according to Express .
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