They consist of building blocks called amino acids. They help build up, maintain and replace the tissues in your body. Your muscles, organs, and immune system are made up mostly of them. Your body uses their molecules to make red blood cells to carry oxygen to every part of your body. Your body will only use so much of them and the rest will be considered excess.

In people with diabetes, eating excessive amounts of them that are not needed will be sent to the liver to be converted into glucose resulting in an increase of blood sugar levels 2-3 hours after eating. So try to eat them in moderation to avoid spiking your sugar levels several hours after you eat.

Examples of these foods are meat, fish, poultry, cheese, peanut butter, nuts, beans, and whole grains. For the best health choose the food choices high in vitamins and minerals such as beans, nuts, and whole grains. The best meats are fish and poultry. If you are partial to red meat stick to the leanest cuts and moderate portion sizes and make it only an occasional part of your diet.

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