What Are the Best Foods for Diabetics?

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The best food choices for diabetics include vegetables, fruit and lean sources of protein such as skinless poultry, fish, tofu, eggs and beans, according to WebMD. Whole grains such as brown rice, baked sweet potato, whole-grain cereal and foods made from whole-wheat flour and corn are preferable to processed grains such as white rice and white-flour products.

Diabetics should follow a diet plan that emphasizes fresh or frozen produce over canned products to limit or avoid high amounts of added sodium and sugar, states WebMD. Fresh vegetables can be eaten raw or are best prepared by roasting, grilling or lightly steaming. Canned fruits should be packaged in natural fruit juice rather than heavy syrup. Sugary beverages are poor choices, including sodas, flavored coffees, energy drinks and many fruit beverages. Water, unsweetened tea and coffee with low-fat milk and an alternative sweetener are the best beverage choices.

Those following a healthy diabetes diet plan should prepare meat and other forms of protein by baking, broiling, grilling or stewing, notes WebMD. Fish can be steamed, and tofu can be sauteed lightly. Deep-fried foods or those prepared with butter, hydrogenated vegetable shortening or lard are not part of a healthy diet. Saturated fat which is found in many cuts of red meat and whole-milk dairy products should be limited. The best dairy choices for diabetics are low-fat or fat-free products such as 1 percent milk, nonfat creamer, and low-fat alternatives of yogurt, cottage cheese and sour cream.

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