Can diabetics eat taro?

Whether diabetics can eat taro is a common concern. While taro offers various nutrients, its high starch content can significantly impact blood sugar levels. Therefore, taro is generally not recommended for individuals with diabetes.

1. Nutritional composition of taro

Taro is a tuber rich in nutrients, belonging to the same food group as potatoes, bread or rice. Taro is a rich source of starch and many essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, magnesium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, amino acids, etc.

The high fiber content in taro helps prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease and improves the digestive system. In addition, taro also has a high content of vitamin E - an antioxidant. Therefore, taro is effective in preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer.

2. Can diabetics eat taro?

According to folk experience or word of mouth, many diabetic patients skip rice and eat sweet potatoes instead of meals. However, this is a bad habit that can make the disease worse. Taro is one of the foods that contain a large amount of starch. Taro has a glycemic index of 58. This index will increase when the potato is cooked. Therefore, eating taro can increase blood sugar in diabetic patients, directly affecting their health as well as their condition.

Therefore, diabetic patients need to limit and be careful when eating taro. Patients do not necessarily have to completely eliminate this food from their menu but need to pay attention to controlling the amount of taro they take in. Patients should only eat taro in very small amounts to be able to control their blood sugar index well. Patients should combine taro with other starchy foods, making sure not to take in more than 130g of starch/day.

3. Notes when eating taro

To avoid unwanted effects when eating taro, you need to pay attention to the following:

• When preparing taro, you should throw away the damaged and sprouted parts to avoid the risk of poisoning;
• Do not peel the taro too thickly because it will lose a large amount of protein;
• Taro has an itchy substance, so people with sensitive skin should wear gloves when peeling the taro to avoid the risk of skin irritation;
• When preparing taro, you should soak it thoroughly and cook it to reduce the calcium oxalate content in the taro;
• People having phlegm are advised not to eat taro because this food can increase the amount of phlegm in the body, hindering the recovery process;
• Patients with allergic diseases such as hives, asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis should not eat taro because it can aggravate the symptoms of the disease;
• Limit or do not let children eat taro because their digestive system is weak, digesting taro is quite slow;
  People with gout should not eat taro because this type of potato contains a large amount of calcium oxalate, which will aggravate the symptoms of gout.

4. Note on the eating habits of diabetic patients

To maintain blood sugar levels at a safe level, patients need to adjust their diet accordingly. Diabetics should pay attention to the following eating habits:

• Avoid foods high in sugar such as soft drinks, candy, sweetened milk, chocolate, fruits high in sugar (jackfruit, ripe bananas, ripe mangoes, grapes, durian, etc.) because these foods will directly affect the patient's blood sugar levels;
• Limit foods that are too high in fat such as animal organs, fried foods, fast food, etc. to reduce the risk of complications of diabetes. Instead, diabetic patients should prioritize using foods rich in fiber such as green vegetables or fruits, etc.;
• Should drink plenty of filtered water and limit the use of stimulants such as alcohol, beer or cigarettes. In addition, patients need to limit salty foods and periodically check their blood sugar to be able to adjust their diet accordingly.

Although taro is a food with many health benefits, diabetics should limit the use of this type of potato because it has a high starch content. In addition, diabetic patients also need to pay attention to changing their diet and exercise regimen, actively exercising and having regular health check-ups to better control the disease.

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