Being diabetic definitely does not mean that you have to miss out on deliciously refreshing and filling treats. As the world focuses on Diabetes Awareness during the month of November it’s a good time to remember the nutritious and delicious options Parmalat’s range of no added sugar Fabulite yoghurt offers, and to include it in your diet as one of the suggested three servings of dairy a day adults should consume.

Fabulite eating yoghurt, Parmalat’s healthy alternative, is 100% no added sugar and fat-free, and offers a variety of great-tasting Fruit and Smooth flavours.

With fewer kilojoules than regular yoghurt, Fabulite is a guilt-free and delightful snack that can be enjoyed by health-conscious consumers.

The Fabulite Smooth range consists of Plain, Vanilla, Strawberry and Black Cherry flavours.

Fabulite has been part of the Parmalat family, known for its focus on quality, since its launch almost ten years ago (in 2008) when it was endorsed by the GI Foundation of South Africa (GIFSA) and Diabetes SA.

* The Parmalat Fabulite range is available in 175g and 1kg packs (Plain, Vanilla, Strawberry and Black Cherry flavours). The 6x100g variety pack is available in the following varients: Strawberry, Black Cherry and Vanilla.

Smooth(ie) sailing

Smoothies made of healthy ingredients are a great way to boost your nutritional intake in a quick, all-in-one meal, snack or treat. But it’s important to make sure that the ingredients you use for a diabetic-friendly smoothie are healthy and not too high in sugar, fats or calories.

Enter Parmalat Fabulite… the perfect NO ADDED SUGAR, FAT-FREE dairy and fruit combo to use when you’re craving a deliciously healthy smoothie for a good start to the day or an anytime treat. Fabulite is of course also perfect for enjoying on its own as an on-the-go and healthy breakfast, snack or treat.

People living with diabetes who want to enjoy yoghurt should avoid yoghurts with packaged toppings and not buy yoghurt without checking the on-pack nutritional information.

Whole grains could be a great addition to a smoothie to make it crunchier and up the nutrition stakes. Just ensure that what you add contains no hidden sugars that will contribute to increased blood sugar. And always remember to control the serving size! You can consider using oats or bran when making a smoothie, but keep an eye on the product’s nutritional info, sugar and carbohydrate content; when the added up it should all still be within your daily allowed totals.

Another option for a fabulous Fabulite smoothie is adding some fresh blueberries and sliced almonds to a tub of Fabulite yoghurt of your choice.

GOOD ADVICE

The Nutrition Information Centre at Stellenbosch University (NICUS) provides a few diet tips to help prevent and treat type-2 diabetes:

Losing as little as five to 10% of your body weight improves insulin resistance;
Try to have at least two cups of dairy (milk, cottage cheese or yoghurt, or a plant milk alternative) per day, preferably low-fat products, because these products contain all the necessary protein and calcium, but with less fat.
Eat at least three balanced meals a day;
Drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day;
Increase your fibre intake by including foods such as wholewheat bread and pasta, whole grains, brown rice, legumes, fruit and veg, and oats in your daily diet;
Limit your fat intake, especially that of foods containing saturated and transfats. Rather opt for mono-unsaturated fats in limited amounts (for example use canola or olive oil instead of sunflower oil, or use avocado or peanut butter instead of margarine on bread);
Eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day and include as much variety as possible;
Use healthy cooking methods (eat food raw, or boil, steam, bake, grill or braai it and use as little fat as possible when preparing your food);
If you consume alcohol (beer and wine), do so moderately (one to two glasses a day, and always with a meal), and
Manage your sugar intake and limit or avoid food that is very high in energy, but low in nutrients.

DID YOU KNOW?

2016 statistics from the International Diabetes Federation, the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control paint a gloomy picture.

Worldwide, 415 million people were diagnosed as diabetic as opposed to 35 million patients with HIV and 14 million with cancer. Every six seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes. Every 10 seconds two people develop diabetes and every 30 seconds, a lower limb is amputated due to diabetes-related complications.

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