Foods for Stable Sugar Lever Part 2

Yesterday's Daily Tip covered five foods for healthy blood sugar levels, from green leafy veggies to onions. Today we look at five more - add these foods to your diet, as they may help lower blood sugar levels.

1.    Maitake mushrooms. Not only contain compounds that enhance immune function, but in one study people with type 2 diabetes were given maitake along with diabetes medication, and the result was lower blood sugar readings. Cook some up and serve them as a side dish!

2.    Underground vegetables. Also known as "tubers," veggies such as leeks, potatoes and yams have been shown in studies to lower or return to normal high blood sugar levels.  

3.    Brewer's yeast. Rich in essential amino acids and B vitamins, brewer's yeast may also lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, and may improve glucose tolerance, increase insulin sensitivity, and lower cholesterol as well. Shake some on your next batch of popped corn!

4.    Prickly pear. The green pads of this plant are called nopal, and is more than a staple in Mexican cuisine - it is very low on the glycemic index and may have blood-sugar-lowering effects. Look for it at specialty or ethnic grocers.

5.    Bitter melon. When cooked and added to other dishes, bitter melon will impart a unique flavor that may help glucose tolerance of people with type 2 diabetes, and help keep blood sugar levels in the normal range.