For many Diabetics, staying in control of cravings is a daily challenge. Especially if Diabetics have a difficult time regulating their blood sugar levels, cravings for food may come quickly and strongly. Being able to control those cravings is often an instrumental part of controlling blood sugar level and of staying healthy through proper nutrition.

Protein not only helps people build strong muscles and stay healthy, but it is also known to help control appetite in most people. According to TypeFree, protein-rich foods should make up about 15 percent of the daily diet, which amounts to about 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy and about 2-3 servings of lean meat products each day. (source: http://imtypefree.com/Protein-and-Diabetes.html) These proteins are instrumental in proper cell function, which influences all aspects of health.

Here are a few things that you should know about protein - not only to keep your appetite in check, but also to ensure that your muscles and cells continue to function optimally:

There are three broad types of food groups that everyone should eat on a daily basis: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The majority of your meals should consist of carbohydrates. Protein should account for about 15 percent of your meals. Carbohydrates should account for about half of your calories each day. The remaining 35 percent of your food should come from healthy fats, like almonds, dairy fats, and vegetable fats, according to CBS News' Early Show.

This means that the average adult should consume between 50 and 60 grams of protein each day, which is about eight ounces of meat. Children only need about 22 to 28 grams a day.

Why is protein so important?

Protein is important for the body for so many reasons. Protein makes amino acids, which then help the body's cells to make new proteins that repair muscles, help organ functions, keep blood healthy, and build strong bones. Protein is also essential for making the blood clot and for creating antibodies. As far as Diabetics are concerned, protein is important because it helps the body to regulate its hormones, such as insulin and glucagon.

There are 22 different types of amino acids that the body needs to perform all of the proper functions. However, the body only produces 13 of these 22. The remaining amino acids are derived from food sources that are high in proteins. Therefore, it is important for Diabetics to make sure that they eat enough protein not only to control their appetites, but also to ensure that they are getting the right tools to control their hormone levels.

Protein-rich foods include meat, dairy, many nuts, and animal products (such as eggs).

Resources:

http://imtypefree.com/Protein-and-Diabetes.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/11/earlyshow/health/main655224.shtml

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1995802/protein_natural_appetit...