We regularly hear about how fish like tuna is a healthier option to red meat. This is because tuna is touted for containing omega-3 fats that help to prevent heart disease. However, you may wonder whether tuna is good for preventing diabetes. This article answers this question as well as outlines research conducted into the benefits of eating tuna as a diabetic. You can also visit this page for more information.
Tuna is classified as a saltwater fish that is often used within the culinary world. There are more than a dozen species of tuna fish including yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, big eye tuna, skipjack tuna, and bluefin tuna. These are just some of the varieties of tuna available to consume.
Due to the widely diverse nature of this species, the appearance, flavor and use of tuna fish is widely varied. Of course, tuna can be consumed from a can. However, it can also be eaten raw in sushi or prepared as a steak.
Nutritional Facts
Tuna is a fabulous source of protein that does not contain any carbohydrates. Similarly to other forms of fish, tuna contains an abundance of omega-3 fats. A single serving of bluefin tuna meets the intake level of 1.1-1.6 grams of omega-3 fats per day.
This makes it the perfect selection for someone who is aiming to reduce their intake of carbohydrates in order to control their blood sugar levels. In addition, tuna is a brilliant source of a variety of other nutrients. Each service of tuna contains the following:
– 37% DV for Vitamin A
– 22% DV for phosphorus
– Over 50% of your recommended daily intake of selenium.
It is worth noting that every single species of tuna provides a similar amount of nutritional value.
How Does Tuna Compare To Other Forms of Protein?
Tuna, as well as poultry and red meat, contains 7 grams of protein per ounce (approximately). This means that a 3 oz portion of protein provides your body with 21 grams of protein. None of these sources of protein contain any carbohydrates (unless they are breaded, of course). The biggest difference between tuna and other forms of protein is the amount of fat contained within these sources.
When compared to non-marine forms of protein, tuna contains an abundance of omega-3 fats. This particular type of polyunsaturated fat is very healthy while being renowned for improving the health of your heart, and reducing the chance of having cardiovascular diseases by proxy. Other types of fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel also contain an abundance of omega-3.
Tuna also contains far less saturated fat when compared to other types of protein. It is crucial to note that saturated fat is commonly misunderstood. It is not essential to avoid all forms of saturated fats. However, varying your protein sources inherently ensures that you are provided with the optimal profile in regard to nutrients obtained from a multifaceted diet.
Research Into Tuna and Diabetes
The vast majority of health benefits related to consuming tuna as a diabetic are linked to the level of omega-3 contained within tuna fish. Omega-3 has anti-inflammatory qualities that reduce the amount of inflammation within the body overall. Diabetes is classified as an inflammatory disease. Thus, choosing foods that have these anti-inflammatory properties is essential in order to control your blood sugar levels and diabetes overall.
A study conducted in 2014 demonstrated how omega-3 levels within the blood were far lower in those patients that had type 2 diabetes. This is why it is important to include an abundance of tuna fish in your diet if you have this type of diabetes.
Insulin sensitivity was prone to increase in over 300 patients with diabetes after they increased the amount of omega-3 fats that they consumed. Additionally, research has indicated that increasing your intake of omega 3 drastically improves HbA1c levels as well as fasting blood sugar levels.
Omega-3 also helps to reduce the risk of developing diabetes in the first instance. One study has indicated that consuming 80-gram portions of fatty fish per day reduces your risk of developing diabetes by 20%.
Conclusion
To conclude, this article has outlined the many benefits of consuming tuna if you are diabetic. Tuna contains an abundance of omega-3 fats that reduce your risk of developing heart disease as a result of your diabetes. Omega-3 also helps to enhance insulin sensitivity within the blood, reducing your blood sugar levels overall. I hope that you have found this article to be insightful. Thank you for reading.
