A traditional snack commonly made from peanuts and sugar or jaggery, chikki contains a lot of added sugars. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that is quickly converted to glucose and absorbed in the bloodstream. This causes sudden blood sugar spikes followed by crashes. This results in greater glycaemic variability (GV) or fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
The Nutty Strategy to Manage Blood Sugar Levels while Enjoying Chikki
• Reduce the portion of chikki and have just 1/4th of what you would typically eat. Savour a small piece for a long time to satisfy your sweet cravings.
• Add lots of nuts and seeds if you’re making chikki at home. The unsaturated fats in nuts and seeds will help slow down the glucose release into the bloodstream.
• Use natural sweeteners like stevia, agave nectar, etc., instead of sugar in the chikki to prevent blood sugar spikes.
If you have a sweet tooth and want something sweet to satisfy your cravings, choose dark chocolate (with around 70%-80% cocoa) instead of sugary sweets like chikki. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that offer several health benefits. Also, choosing dark chocolates with nuts can help to prevent blood sugar spikes.
