15 Best Foods to Lower High Blood Sugar

Living with high blood sugar can be challenging. Not only do you need to monitor your diet and regulate your intake of sugar and carbs, but you also have to deal with the constant worry of your blood sugar levels getting too high or too low.

And in addition to all that, you also have to worry about complications like heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. And honestly, that’s a lot of stuff to manage mentally and physically.

However, there are ways to lessen your sufferings, and what’s better than knowing some foods that may help lower sugar levels? Well, here are just a few:

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15 Foods to Lower Sugar Levels

Sugar is a sneaky ingredient that can hide in all sorts of foods, from pasta sauce to bread. It's worth being picky about the sugar you consume because too much sugar can contribute to health problems like diabetes.

So what can you do to cut back on sugar? For starters, you can choose foods that are naturally low in sugar. Here are 15 great options:

1. Beans and Lentils

Beans and lentils are an easy way to get your daily dose of fiber, protein, or magnesium. They’re rich in nutrients that can help reduce your glucose after meals as they slow down digestion time.

According to a study, adding black beans or chickpeas to a rice meal significantly reduces post-meal blood sugar levels.

Studies show that eating beans and lentils can not only help with blood sugar regulation but may also prevent diabetes.

2. Leafy Green Vegetables

Leafy green vegetables are essential to any healthy diet, but they are especially beneficial for people with diabetes. That’s because they contain a type of carbohydrate called soluble fiber, which helps slow down sugar absorption in the bloodstream.

Eating leafy greens can help keep glucose levels under control and prevent post meal spikes. In addition, greens are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium and iron.

They contain chlorophyll, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For all these reasons, incorporating greens into your diet is a great way to manage blood sugar levels and improve your overall health.

3. Eggs

Eggs are a remarkably nutrient-dense food with a full concentration of protein, good fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Consuming eggs has been associated in several studies with better blood sugar regulation.

A research on 42 persons with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and obesity found that eating one large egg every day significantly reduced fasting blood sugar by 4.4% and improved insulin sensitivity compared to egg substitutes.

Additionally, a 14-year follow-up research in 7,002 Korean adults found that eating eggs frequently, two to four servings weekly, was connected with a 40% decreased incidence of diabetes in men but not women.

Related Article: How to Make Spicy Scrambled Eggs Recipe

4. Berries

Berries are an excellent choice for regulating glucose level, since they are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

According to a study, persons with prediabetes who consumed 2 cups (250 grams) of red raspberries with a high-carb dinner had significantly lower post-meal insulin and blood sugar levels compared to a control group.

5. Oats

Oats and oat bran contain high soluble fiber content which may help achieve better glucose management.

According to a review, oat consumption significantly decreases the level of HbA1c (marker of long-term sugar control) and fasting sugar compared to control meals.

Additionally, participants in the research were instructed to drink 7 ounces (200 mL) of water combined with 27.3 grams of oat bran before consuming white bread. This combination was found to lower post-meal blood sugar levels when compared to drinking plain water.

6. Broccoli

Broccoli produces sulforaphane (an isothiocyanate compound with blood-sugar-reducing properties) when it gets chopped or chewed. It is produced because of the reaction between glucoraphanin (chemical compound) and myrosinase (enzyme), both of which are present in broccoli.

Studies have revealed that sulforaphane-rich broccoli extract has potent anti-diabetic benefits, and oxidative stress indicators, which helps improve insulin sensitivity and lower glucose levels.

Consumption of broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables have been demonstrated to help enhance insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients while decreasing the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in other people.

The best way to increase sulforaphane availability is to have broccoli and broccoli sprouts raw or minimally steamed. Or you can prepare it with active sources of myrosinase, such as mustard seed powder.

7. Nuts

Nut consumption has potential benefits for controlling the level of sugar in your blood.

According to a study, a low carb diet including peanuts and almonds throughout the day lowered fasting and post-meal glucose levels in 25 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, a review suggests that, compared to a control diet, type 2 diabetics' fasting sugar levels and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were significantly lower on diets that prioritized tree nuts at an average daily consumption of 2 ounces (56 grams).

8. Avocados

Avocados are tasty and creamy and may also have significant advantages for controlling blood glucose. They are abundant in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, and studies have shown that including them in meals helps reduce your sugar.

According to a study, avocados may help reduce blood sugar levels and guard against the onset of metabolic/insulin syndrome — a group of illnesses that includes high blood pressure and high blood sugar and raises the risk of developing chronic diseases.

9. Okra

Okra is a nutrient-rich vegetable found in many parts of the world. Also known as Lady's Finger, okra is often used in soups and stews. Apart from being a delicious addition to any meal, okra has also shown to help reduce glucose in your blood.

Because of its high fiber content, which slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, okra is believed to be effective at controlling blood sugar spikes.

Additionally, okra is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, which has also been shown to help regulate your blood glucose.

In Turkey, okra seeds have been a natural cure for diabetes for a very long time due to their effective glucose-lowering ability.

The primary polysaccharide in okra, rhamnogalacturonan, has been discovered to possess potent anti-diabetic properties. Okra also contains the flavonoids isoquercitrin and quercetin 3-O-gentiobioside, which work by inhibiting specific enzymes from lowering blood sugar.

10. Flax Seeds

Flax seeds have been getting a lot of attention lately as a superfood. And for a good reason, they're packed with nutrients. But did you know that flax seeds can also help reduce blood sugar levels?

The flaxseed supplementation can help improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The exact mechanism is yet unknown, but it is thought that flax seeds' high fiber content helps slow the absorption of sugar from the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, the lignans present in flax seeds may help modulate insulin sensitivity. So if you're looking for a natural way to manage sugar, add some flax seeds to your diet. You just might be surprised at the results.

11. Animal Proteins: Salmon

Salmon is an excellent protein source that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and several vitamins and minerals. The fish has been shown to have numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon help reduce inflammation. It is important because chronic inflammation can lead to a variety of health problems, including diabetes.

Salmon is also a good source of vitamin D, which manages your sugar level and provides numerous health benefits. So next time you're looking for a nutritious meal, be sure to include salmon on the menu.

12. Brown Rice

We all know that overeating sugary items can lead to health problems like diabetes. But did you know that rice can also increase your risk of developing diabetes? That's because most of the rice we eat is white rice, which has a high glycemic index.

It means it raises your glucose amount more quickly than other foods. Brown rice, on the other hand, has a lower glycemic index and doesn't raise it as much.

Brown rice is rich in micronutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The fiber helps slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, which can help reduce sugar spikes. It contains a compound called ferulic acid, which is quite effective in reducing glucose.

This whole grain is also a good source of magnesium, which boosts insulin sensitivity and helps regulate the level of sugar in your blood.

13. Soybeans

Soybeans are legumes that originate from East Asia and are commonly used in Asian cuisine, and they're also a key ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Soybeans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and nutrients like iron and calcium. They also contain phytonutrients that have various health benefits, one of which is their ability to lower the quantity of sugar in the bloodstream.

Its consumption may help regulate glucose in people with diabetes. The exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, but soybeans may slow the glucose absorption from the digestive tract, which helps prevent its accumulation after meals.

14. Citrus Fruits

Despite the sweetness of many citrus fruits, research suggests they may help manage sugar levels. Citrus fruits are categorized as low glycemic index fruits since they have less impact on blood sugar than other fruit varieties like watermelon and pineapple.

Oranges and grapefruit are examples of citrus fruits that are high in fiber and include plant chemicals like naringenin, a polyphenol with potent anti-diabetic actions.

Consuming whole citrus fruits may enhance insulin sensitivity, lower HbA1c levels, and prevent the onset of diabetes.

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15. Yogurt/Fermented Food

We all know that healthy eating is essential for our overall well-being. But did you know that certain foods can help reduce glucose? One group of foods that can be particularly beneficial for people with diabetes is fermented foods.

Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut are rich in probiotics, which are live bacteria that help promote a healthy digestive system. Some probiotics can help manage blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and promoting a more efficient metabolism.

So if you're looking for a natural way to stabilize your sugar levels, add some fermented foods to your diet!