Is Chicken Noodle Soup Good for Diabetes? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Chicken noodle soup is not very good for diabetes. Because it has sodium, carbohydrates, and cholesterol, and they can raise your blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, respectively.

Diabetes is a condition that affects your blood sugar levels and how your body uses glucose, a type of sugar that is your main source of energy.

In diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter your cells, or can’t use the insulin it makes effectively.

This causes glucose to build up in your blood, which can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and more.

One of the key factors in managing diabetes is diet.

What you consume can affect your blood glucose levels, which can impact your diabetes symptoms and overall health.

To effectively manage diabetes, you should consume fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and avoid refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and saturated fats like white bread, candy, pastries, and butter.

Now, chicken noodle soup is a type of soup that contains chicken, noodles, broth, and sometimes vegetables.

People usually eat chicken noodle soup as a comfort food, especially when they are sick or cold.

Chicken noodle soup is not very good for diabetes because it contains high amounts of sodium, carbohydrates, and cholesterol, which can raise your blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, respectively.

These can worsen your diabetes and increase your risk of complications.

Chicken noodle soup may also have little fiber, protein, and vitamins, which are important for your health.

One cup of chicken noodle soup can give you about 65 calories, 2.4 grams of fat (3% of your daily needs), 7.4 grams of carbohydrates (3% of your daily needs), and 3.2 grams of protein (6% of your daily needs).

It also contains about 868 milligrams of sodium (38% of your daily needs), 14 milligrams of cholesterol (5% of your daily needs), and 1 gram of fiber (4% of your daily needs).

Sodium can increase your blood pressure and damage your kidneys, which are already vulnerable in diabetes.

Cholesterol can clog your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in diabetes.

Carbohydrates can raise your blood sugar levels and make it harder to control your diabetes.

Fiber can help lower your blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels, and keep you feeling full and satisfied.

Furthermore, chicken noodle soup is a processed food and processed foods are bad for diabetes.

Because, they often contain preservatives, additives, and artificial ingredients that can harm your health and interfere with your blood sugar regulation.

That’s why I suggest you limit your chicken noodle soup intake to avoid high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and other complications.

Stick to one cup or less per day to minimize the negative effects.

You can also try making your own chicken noodle soup with low-sodium broth, whole wheat noodles, lean chicken, and more vegetables to make it healthier and more nutritious.

Also, you shouldn’t eat chicken noodle soup if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease to prevent worsening your condition.

Because, it can increase your sodium, fluid, and cholesterol intake, which can aggravate your symptoms and cause more damage.

You can buy canned or packaged chicken noodle soup in your local market or can order it from online.

Always choose low-sodium, low-fat, and low-carb options.

Because, they can help you reduce your intake of harmful nutrients and improve your diabetes management.

You can store them in a cool and dry place for up to a year.

Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and essential medical care is key to managing diabetes effectively.

I always recommend my diabetes patients to follow a diabetes-friendly diet to improve their blood sugar levels, prevent complications, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.

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About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

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