Why is blood sugar important?
- Blood sugar is important for everyone, not just those with diabetes
- When we eat sugar, or simple, refined carbs, the sugar broken down and is absorbed into our blood stream, causing a spike in energy levels for a short period of time, then insulin is released to try to even levels out (but we always overcompensate), then drops and we become hungry. When blood sugar drops suddenly, we get cravings for more sugar or caffeine and the cycle begins again
- This blood sugar roller coaster is a major form of biological and chemical stress on our bodies
- Physical complications of sugar in our diet:
o Weakened immune system- destroys ability of white blood cells for 5 hours after digestion o Increases risk of CVD, and type II Diabetes and cancer o Increases risk of depression – causes serotonin levels to become irregular o Weight gain: insulin stores excess sugar as fat if receptors in the brain, muscles and blood are full… when the body is constantly producing insulin from sugar consumption then the body cant produce glucagon which takes fat from storage to be burned Keeping blood sugar balanced and avoiding the spike and crash, is the key to losing weight, reducing stress and increasing your energy. There are 7 basic ways you can balance your blood sugar for optimal health.
- Drink more water
- The benefits of drinking more water are:
o It is one of the bodies key ingredients o It aids in digestion o Fights fatigue o Regulated body temp and metabolism o Keeps kidneys healthy and functioning well o Reduces inflammation
- Evaluate the best protein source for you and add to every meal
- Your body is the most powerful, least expensive and best dietary experimentation lab!
- D be afraid to try new things and see how it make you feel.
- Remember: a diet that is right for someone else, might not be right for you! We are all different, therefore there is no “perfect” diet that is going to work for everyone
- Add healthy fats to your diet
- It has been long ingrained in our society that fat is bad for us, and we should avoid it at all costs. The truth is, is that can be really healthy for us and it is one of the three macronutrients that provide us with energy
- Fat is essential for growth and development
- Fat regulated our hormones and helps our body maintain a steady metabolism
- Can help reduce inflammation in the body
- Eat more, not less!
- Add protein, fat and fiber to each meal and snack to avoid the blood sugar roller coaster, which inevitably leads to sugar consumption
- Counting chemicals not calories
o Focus on reducing chemical count and increasing your food quality, which is the key to improving health
- Consistent meal timing
- Consistent meal timing is they key to having the most digestive power (increased nutrient absorption and less digestive upset) and the strongest metabolism
- Sleep
- Good, quality sleep is CRUCIAL for optimal health
- Sleep deprivation leads to an increase in cortisol levels in our blood (which is also linked to stress) and this will mimic the blood sugar roller coaster, along with all its health issues like diabetes, weight gain, heart attacks, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and depressed immunity
- Movement
- Movement is moving your body, not just for results but because its pleasurable
- When something is fun and exciting, you are more likely to do it and will actually start to look forward to it
-Emily