What Is The Best Type of Milk For People Living With Diabetes

Presently, a controversial issue is whether consuming milk is healthy or not. And should people with diabetes drink milk?

According to ADA people should consume from 2 to 3 servings of low-fat milk or low-fat dairy on a daily basis. But what about people that have diabetes?

What Does Milk Contain?

In one package of milk, there is carbs, protein, and fat. In one liter of normal cow’s milk, there is from 30 to 25 g of protein, mostly as casein.

Also, it contains different minerals, other proteins, but in small amounts and vitamins B complex, E, C, K, A and D.

Is There Connection Between Type 1 Diabetes and Milk Consumption?

According to some controversial studies, there is a link between juvenile onset diabetes, i.e., type 1 diabetes and consumption of cow’s milk.

Scientists came to the discovery that the composition of protein in the cow’s milk, particularly A1 beta-casein molecule is very different from the one in the human milk. Therefore, humans find it hard to digest it.

Although, on this topic there is need of more research, studies note that the bovine insulin and A1 beta-casein found in cow’s milk might trigger an autoimmune reaction in kids with particular human leukocyte antigen, i.e., HLA complex.

What Is The Best Type of Milk For People Living With Diabetes

Due to this autoimmune reaction, the body can make antibodies against the beta cells. These are the cells which make insulin, the pancreas will gradually destroy these cells, and that can lead to type 1 diabetes.

To stay on the safe side, mothers could try to breastfeed the babies until the first birthday.

Is There Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Milk Consumption?

Believe it or not, but according to a review made out of 16 studies, full-fat milk can protect against heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It seems that a fatty acid, i.e., the trans-palmitoleic acid in milk fat can help improve insulin sensitivity and insulin levels.

As a matter of fact, in another study, the participants who had highest levels of this acid had 60 percent lower risk of obtaining diabetes in comparison to those participants who had the lowest levels.

Furthermore, the fat found in milk products has butyrate. This is said to improve gut flora and inhibit inflammation that has been linked to chronic disease like heart disease and diabetes.

Another fatty acid is known as phytanic acid and CLA, i.e., conjugated linolenic acid which is a natural trans fat were found to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Can People with Diabetes Consume Milk?

People with diabetes can consume full-fat milk from grass-fed animals. Avoid the diabetic milk, since they are just marketing scams.

How Much Milk Can People With Diabetes Consume?

In order to find out how much you can consume there is need of some tests. Test your blood sugar levels before you consume milk and then test your levels one more time half an hour after you consume milk.

Bear in mind that during the day the insulin sensitivity varies. To be more specific, in case you want to consume milk 2 times per day for example at night and in the morning, ensure to test your blood sugar levels each time.

Can People with Diabetes Consume Non-Dairy Milks?

You should know that this depends on the kind of non-dairy milk. Some non-dairy milks have high carb content which can send your blood sugar on a roller-coaster. Those non-dairy milk are rice milk, any sweetened non-dairy milk, and oat milk.

Avoid soy milk; some say it is good, some that is bad. To stay on the safe side, do not consume it. Consume almond milk or full-fat coconut milk. These products have natural fat which can prevent blood sugar spikes.

Opt for the unsweetened versions which are free from chemical additives like guar gum and sodium metabisulphite. If you find this article useful, share it with your friends and family.




Source: diabeteshealthpage