Usually, Hominy grits are one of those dishes I am not interested in, but last Wednesday, my hubby made some for the family and I was so drawn to it. In a moment of weakness, I try to have a taste, and he goes, Honey “is hominy good for diabetics”, oh dear Lord, did you have to ruin the moment? Yeah, that was my response.
Then, I began to wonder, can diabetics have hominy? it has never crossed my mind, mostly because I had no interest in hominy grits in the first place. This article has been well-researched and explores some of your questions about hominy grits and their effects on diabetics, whether they’re healthy or not.
What is Hominy
Hominy is a southern deliciousness made from corn. It is no longer just corn because it undergoes a special kind of processing called nixtamalization. The end product of this spa treatment is a rough grounded corn, which when cooked with hot water, milk, or broth, turns into a creamy, tasty, and thick porridge, which can be had comfortably with breakfast or lunch.
Wait, it’s still corn, isn’t that high in carbohydrates? Yes, you guessed right, hominy grits are still high in carbs, and pose risks of blood sugar spikes and this is why we may have some doubts about hominy for diabetics.
Is hominy Good for diabetics?
Hominy grits can be good or healthy for diabetics. The keyword there is “CAN”. Depending on the portion and the kind of grit you indulge in, you may be taking a lot of carbs that can raise blood sugar levels. However, diabetics can still have hominy because they are not totally off limits, plus there are certain guidelines that you can follow like;
- Getting the right kind of grit for your dish
- Eating just the right portion, depending on your diabetes type
- Eat alongside meals with a lot of protein, fat, and fiber.
I mentioned that one way for a diabetic to manage blood sugar spikes in grits is to make sure that they’re getting the right kind and trust me never to leave you hanging. So what’s the right Hominy for diabetics?
Best choice of Corn grits for Diabetics
There are three different ways in which grits are processed, and these styles of processing have a lot to do with the rate at which they can raise your blood sugar, they include:
- Hominy
- stone-ground
- quick/regular and instant
The stone ground grit is made from ground whole corn coarsely, then the hominy is made from corn that was soaked in an alkaline solution to remove the outer shell before grinding.
Quick/regular/instant is the most available on the markets outside of Southern America, and they have been processed to remove the outer shell and germ, ground to a fine powder, precooked, and even dehydrated. They also make for a quick and easy breakfast for the family but without the flavor and nutrition of the other kinds of grits.
If you noticed from my explanation, the stone-ground grits are the least processed among the three, and the outer shell of the corn kernel is where the high amount of fiber lives, getting rid of this mostly leaves you with a little fiber and a high amount of carbs.
Therefore, stone-ground grits are the best choice for diabetics who still want to enjoy their comfort food, a small bowl of hominy will also get the job done pretty well.
Does hominy raise blood sugar?
Hominy has the potential for raising blood sugar, but it wouldn’t have to if you don’t give it a chance. Being cautious of what you eat and how you eat is how you strike a balance in a healthy diet, especially for diabetics.
For example, if You eat a bowl of hominy grits, containing 3 cups (726grams) of cooked grits, expect a quick increase in blood sugar than when you eat 1 cup (242grams) along with some diabetic-friendly vegetable soup and eggs on the side.
Read about: Vegetable soup for diabetics
Conclusion
Life could be a bit tough for those battling diabetes and trying to lose weight at the same time. It’s enough struggle dealing with one of these in the first place. However, with the right support and information, it doesn’t have to be so, because you would be ready for anything and everything, don’t be scared to try some new things, just remember the importance of portion control.
FAQ
Is hominy healthier than Corn?
No Hominy isn’t healthier than corn, they are quite similar but if you have to choose, pick the whole corn. Corn still has all the nutrients like fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Aside from the tastier nature of hominy, the process it (of nixtamalization rids it of some of these nutrients but mostly retains more of the carbohydrate.
