Carb Sources...

[elye]

I need advice on a nutitional crux I'm facing. I'm a long-term type one diabetic, and as a result have always watched my grain intake due to glycemic load issues. Since being diagnosed with celiac two years ago, I've gradually eliminated all grain, so that now I only have a bit of rice or corn on rare occasion. My blood sugars are, no surprise, stellar. My problem is this: I suspect I'm not taking in enough complex carbohydrate. My carbs come mainly from legumes and fruit, but I can't go crazy with fruit due to the diabetes. I eat massive amounts of vegetables, but the carbohydrate-rich choices (potatoes, peas, etc.) can cause my blood sugar to shoot up. What are some good grain-free carb sources, ideally vegetable, that I can incorporate? I'm getting a little tired of kidney beans and lentils...

[mandasmom]

I need advice on a nutitional crux I'm facing. I'm a long-term type one diabetic, and as a result have always watched my grain intake due to glycemic load issues. Since being diagnosed with celiac two years ago, I've gradually eliminated all grain, so that now I only have a bit of rice or corn on rare occasion. My blood sugars are, no surprise, stellar. My problem is this: I suspect I'm not taking in enough complex carbohydrate. My carbs come mainly from legumes and fruit, but I can't go crazy with fruit due to the diabetes. I eat massive amounts of vegetables, but the carbohydrate-rich choices (potatoes, peas, etc.) can cause my blood sugar to shoot up. What are some good grain-free carb sources, ideally vegetable, that I can incorporate? I'm getting a little tired of kidney beans and lentils...

Have you tried quinoa---an excellent and tasty source of grain..as is kasha..I believe that both of these are low on the glycemic index chart..

[RiceGuy]

Well, I've not looked into the glycemic load stuff, but I know there are numerous forms of starches. Some sources which come to mind are sweet potato, tapioca, and taro. The starch in taro is the same as that in potato.

[hathor]

Here is a list of foods where you can see their glycemic index by clicking on them.

Open Original Shared Link

Is this what you need? It looks like most other beans are as low as kidney beans (and don't forget dishes made with beans, like falafel and hummus!). You also have split peans, yams, and gluten-free bread listed as low, among those things I checked.

I believe quinoa and amaranth are both low. I like the first; I just bought a bag of the second, but I can't figure out what to do with it yet Thanks goodness for google ...

[elye]

I love quinoa and kasha, but as they are grains, I've abandoned them. The glycemic index is a chart I know so well that my kids play a game where they'll yell out a food and I've got to respond immediately with its number. They don't stump me too often...

Ursula, if you're out there, I remember some time ago in a post you remarked that one can easily get enough carbohydrate in fruits and vegetables, and that grains are simply unnecessary as a source. I'd love to hear how your diet goes. The research I've done so far suggests that cruciferous veggies have a moderate amount of carbohydrate...but is it enough to get by on? Do I need to eat five cups of cauliflower a day? Yikes...

Riceguy, what is taro?

[Nancym]

There's nothing wrong with getting your carbs from legumes, fruits and veggies.... except that we've been brainwashed into believing otherwise. I think your diet is fine, you don't need to eat refined carbohydrates to be healthy. In your case, quite the opposite. You've made a great change, stick with it!

Gosh, how do the Inuit and native Americans up near the Canadian border get by on their native diets of game meat, wild berries in season, fish and little else?

[tarnalberry]

I love quinoa and kasha, but as they are grains, I've abandoned them. The glycemic index is a chart I know so well that my kids play a game where they'll yell out a food and I've got to respond immediately with its number. They don't stump me too often...

Ursula, if you're out there, I remember some time ago in a post you remarked that one can easily get enough carbohydrate in fruits and vegetables, and that grains are simply unnecessary as a source. I'd love to hear how your diet goes. The research I've done so far suggests that cruciferous veggies have a moderate amount of carbohydrate...but is it enough to get by on? Do I need to eat five cups of cauliflower a day? Yikes...

Riceguy, what is taro?

Sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and other root vegetables are *rich* sources of complex carbs. Not to mention that if you have them with more protein/fat, you'll reduce the glycemic load of the meal.

Wild rice and buckwheat, by the way, are not true grains, and perhaps you'd tolerate them?