The Plate Method of the 1500 Calorie Diet Plan
The 1500 calorie diet is very popular because it helps people lose weight and it is also a great help to people who suffer from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
One of the many things which makes the 1500 calorie diet very effective is the Plate Method. The Plate Method is an approach to determining food and nutrient proportions that people can follow when they want to eat in a healthy manner. Imagine a plate being divided into three different sections. There is one section for the vegetables which is about half of the plate, another section for lean protein which is a quarter of the plate and another section for the carbohydrates which is also a quarter of the plate. Aside from the carbohydrates, protein and vegetables, a person can also add a piece of fruit and a cup of skim milk to their meals.
Why do people need to count carbohydrates when on the Plate Method? Carbohydrates break down and become glucose. Glucose is responsible for the blood sugar levels in your body. Carbohydrates are essential nutrients and should not be avoided, but you have to regulate your intake so that you will not consume so many that it constantly raises blood sugars too high above normal levels, which is the cause of diabetes and prediabetes. It is very important that people who suffer from diabetes count their carbohydrates. Foods which contain lots of carbs are bread, rice, milk, yogurt and sweets. You really cannot cut out sweets from your diet, so just eat smaller portions to avoid feeling deprived. It is very important to remember that the sizes of plates have gotten bigger during the last few years.
The basis of the Plate Method is a 9-inch plate and that is very much different from the 12-inch plates which most people use today. If you have a 12-inch plate you should adjust your food consumption accordingly. You must not eat too much. Using the diet method when on the 1500 calorie diet plan is very effective and it is one of the best fast weight loss tips for people to follow. The three pillars of diabetes treatment and diabetes prevention are based on:
- the need to follow a nutritious diet that includes appropriate diabetic-friendly foods,
- weight loss, if a condition of overweight exists, and the ongoing maintenance of a healthy weight thereafter,
- and exercise on a daily basis if possible and subject to conditions of health and physical ability. More can be found here on the Role of Exercise and for all matters relating to diabetes and prediabetes check out the List of Topics on this site.
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