Yesterday, I was visiting my aunt, who is diabetic. She…
2 reactions
Yesterday, I was visiting my aunt, who is diabetic. She told me, "I've stopped eating cucumbers; I was told they cause blood sugar levels to drop too drastically."
I found that odd, so I looked into it.
In reality, cucumbers have a glycemic index (GI) of 15—which is very low—and half a cup contains only 8 calories. So yes, it’s one of the few foods you can eat almost without restriction when monitoring your blood sugar. That’s why the American Diabetes Association classifies it as a non-starchy vegetable.
But no, it isn't a medication. Studies showing a drop in blood sugar involved concentrated extracts tested on rats, not just a couple of slices in your salad. It won't cure you, cleanse your liver, or regulate your heart function on its own.
My aunt now eats them in her salad every day—just washed with water; no bleach needed. It helps her feel lighter, but she continues her medical treatment and follows her doctor's advice.
Have you ever heard this "miracle food" myth where you live?
I found that odd, so I looked into it.
In reality, cucumbers have a glycemic index (GI) of 15—which is very low—and half a cup contains only 8 calories. So yes, it’s one of the few foods you can eat almost without restriction when monitoring your blood sugar. That’s why the American Diabetes Association classifies it as a non-starchy vegetable.
But no, it isn't a medication. Studies showing a drop in blood sugar involved concentrated extracts tested on rats, not just a couple of slices in your salad. It won't cure you, cleanse your liver, or regulate your heart function on its own.
My aunt now eats them in her salad every day—just washed with water; no bleach needed. It helps her feel lighter, but she continues her medical treatment and follows her doctor's advice.
Have you ever heard this "miracle food" myth where you live?
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comments
Stopping cucumbers over a crash that the numbers do not support is the odd part. A glycemic index of 15 is a whisper, not a plunge, and eight calories in half a cup is hardly something that yanks blood sugar off a cliff. The side-by-side vessels make the mix-up clearer too: a few glucose specks versus a vessel packed with them. People hear low and jump straight to drop. Did that warning come from a handout, or has it just been floating around the family?
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