10 Ways To Balance Blood Sugar Naturally
Blood Sugar Balance in Plain English Before we get started with tips to balance your blood sugar, I want to cover some basic blood sugar terms that I will be using in this discussion. Blood sugar/blood glucose – Glucose is the form of sugar that is in our bloodstream. Glucose is the body’s preferred source of fuel. Insulin – the pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that shuttles glucose from the blood into body cells. It knocks on the cell and says, “Open up, I’ve got some glucose that I need to get out of the bloodstream so take it and use it for energy.” Insulin resistance – When we consume a large amount of refined carbs with very little fat and protein, our blood sugar spikes very high and the pancreas frantically overcompensates with insulin release. This overcompensation of insulin eventually causes insulin resistance, which leads to Type 2 Diabetes if poor dietary practices are continued. The good news, however, is that it can an be reversed through a healthy diet that balances your blood sugar. Glycogen – Glucose that doesn’t enter body cells is taken to the liver where it is converted to glycogen. This is a form of stored sugar that is broken down to stabilize low blood sugar levels between meals and during the night. It is healthful for the body store of glycogen, but stress and hormone dysfunction deplete our ability to store glycogen and this can contribute to blood sugar imbalance. Hyperglycemia – Hyperglycemia is another term for high blood sugar. It is normal to have a spike in blood sugar after a meal, but chronically high blood sugar causes severe health issues. Hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. Glycogen, the sugar stored in the liver, is responsible for raising blood sugar in-between meals and should prevent hypoglyc Continue reading >>
6 Habits That Help Balance Blood Sugar
With so many Americans suffering from obesity and diabetes, it is becoming more important than ever to be aware of your food’s effect on your blood sugar levels. Having high or low blood sugar can lead to myriad issues, such as decreased insulin sensitivity, mood swings, stress, headaches, and mental fogginess. But, luckily, these 6 habits can benefit your insulin sensitivity and keep you healthy in the long term. Eat enough fats. Fat slows down sugar absorption in the bloodstream and prevents a roller coaster of spikes and crashes. Many people are afraid of fat, but eating fat will not make you fat. Once more: eating fat does not make you fat. In fact, fat keeps you satisfied longer, which can discourage overeating, so don’t nix it from your diet. If you’re trying to keep your sugar levels balanced, make fats — like coconut oil, chia seeds, nuts, egg yolks, avocado — a steady part of your diet. Worried about all that saturated fat giving you heart disease? According to the research, there’s no significant link between the two. Don‘t eat constantly. Eating many small meals can actually disturb your body’s natural hunger signals. Instead of force-feeding yourself every few hours in the name of health, wait until you are authentically hungry to eat. This can be hard to get used to at first, especially if your body is used to constantly snacking. However, by restricting your eating for a few days, you’ll start to understand when your body actually needs food in contrast to when you find it comforting to have a snack. Your body knows when it needs food. Once you start listening to what your body needs, it will become infinitely easier for everything else to fall into place. Eat protein. Like fat, protein slows the absorption of sugar in the body. If you ar Continue reading >>
6 Ways To Keep Your Blood Sugar Balanced Through The Holidays
While you've heard that high blood sugar can cause serious conditions like diabetes, you may not be aware that imbalances in your blood sugar can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms. Irritability, shakiness, low sex drive, fatigue, and caffeine cravings are all common signs that your blood sugar might be out of whack. When you're visiting friends and family, you're not always in control of what's on your plate at dinner. Luckily, there are a ton of natural ways to promote better blood sugar balance in the body. Here are seven great places to start: According to a study published in 2010, EGCG—one of the active compounds in green tea—has a stabilizing effect on blood sugar levels. When you drink matcha, you're actually consuming the whole green-tea leaf, which means you're getting more EGCG for your buck. Chromium is one of those lesser-known supplements, but it has shown promise for reducing blood glucose levels in diabetics. In fact, low levels of chromium have actually been linked to high blood sugar. In one study in particular, 1,000 mcg of chromium each day showed therapeutic benefits. Remember to always work with a professional when deciding whether or not to take a supplement, but chromium might be just what you need to support your body through all those holiday parties and meals! You might not have a say in what the whole family is easting for holiday meals, but you do often have control over what you're eating during the rest of the day. Look for snacks that are high in protein, fat, and fiber and low in carbohydrates. If you need some inspiration, check these out. Who doesn't love a little mindful snacking? Adaptogens are a unique set of natural ingredients that help the body respond to stress. And the intricate connection between cortisol levels and blood Continue reading >>
Why Balancing Your Blood Sugar Is The Key To A Slimmer Waistline
Blood sugar is probably a word you’ve heard thrown around here and there, but do you actually understand what it is, and what effect it has on your body? As it turns out, balancing your blood sugar is the key to maintaining a healthy weight. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about blood sugar! Blood sugar, or glucose, is our main source of energy. It dictates how hungry and energetic we feel. Blood sugar is produced when we break down any carbohydrate—from quinoa to cake. The key idea with respect to blood sugar is balance. We feel best and lose fat when our blood sugar is balanced: not too high, not too low. Eating the right amount of protein, fat, and fiber at each meal can help you naturally stabilize blood sugar to burn fat and have consistent energy throughout the day. It will also help to keep aggressive insulin spikes at bay. Continue reading >>
Papaya Leaves Balance Blood Sugar And Boost Immunity
(NaturalHealth365) Most of us are aware of the nourishing, restorative and protective benefits of papaya fruit, but have little knowledge about the healing powers of papaya leaves – which are far more powerful than its fruit. Unlike the fruit, the leaves are bitter to taste due to its high concentration of phytonutrients – which explains its therapeutic benefits. The nutrition inside the papaya leaf is incredible! Based on the research studies, it was found that the phytonutrient compounds in papaya leaves act in synergy to display a strong antioxidant and immune enhancing impact in the bloodstream. Papain, alkaloids and phenolic compounds are responsible for their positive biological effects. The enzymes papain and chymopapain are the two biologically active components of papaya. They aid in digesting proteins and are widely used for treating indigestion, bloating, and other digestive disorders. In addition, the alkaloid compounds, carpaine, pseudocarpaine and dehydrocarpaine demonstrate chemo-preventive effects. Pure isolated alkaloids and their synthetic derivatives are used as basic medicinal agents because of their antispasmodic, analgesic, and bacterial properties. The phenolic compounds, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin and kaempferol exhibit potent antioxidant effect. Papaya leaves are also high in minerals like calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Diabetics have 3 good reasons to try papaya leaf extracts Enhances insulin sensitivity: Poor insulin sensitivity is the cause for type-2 diabetes, which causes inefficient glucose uptake by the cells. Several animal studies and some human studies have shown that papaya leaf extracts were able to demonstrate glucose lowering effect. A study on Mauritian population showed that papaya l Continue reading >>
Balance Your Blood Sugar Based On Your Gut Microbiome
There are a number of tests currently available that will analyse your gut microbiome. One such test detailed in the book is the stool sampling test and App, supplied by Day Two. Please note that Day Two testing is currently only available in the US and Israel. Testing will soon be available in the UK and Australia. Sign up to our newsletter (on the right of this page) to be kept up to date with launch dates. A word from DayTwo: DayTwo provides actionable health solutions based on gut microbiome research, utilizing the DayTwo Microbiome Platform™. We translate each person’s unique gut microbiome into surprising food recommendations personally tailored for maintaining balanced blood sugar levels. We benefit people with diabetes and pre-diabetes, as well as those with other metabolic disorders. Our technology is based on a four-year research study led by Prof. Eran Segal and Dr. Eran Elinav from the Weizmann Institute (Cell, Nov 15) and exclusively licensed to DayTwo. What’s healthy for others may not be healthy for you – our groundbreaking research shows that people respond very differently to the same food. You’ll be surprised to learn which foods raise your blood sugar levels and which help keep it in balance. When signing up to DayTwo, you first fill out a questionnaire and send us a stool sample, using the provided kit. We then sequence your gut microbiome DNA – we use our cutting-edge science to profile the composition and diversity of your gut microbiome at the genetic level because your microbiome is directly associated with your health. We run the sample through our patent-pending predictor – samples are carefully analyzed through our patent-pending algorithm, producing a unique nutrition profile just for you. Finally, you receive your personalized Continue reading >>
Herbs For Balancing Blood Sugar
Blueberries are known for being rich in antioxidants, but they also pack a powerful punch when it comes to keeping blood sugar in check. Blood sugar balance has a profound effect on your overall health — including your cardiovascular system, mood, brain function, immune health, body weight, cancer risk, and, of course, diabetes risk. The most significant forces that influence blood sugar levels are what you eat and how you move. In ancient times, you wouldn’t have had to pay much attention to such trivialities because humans generally ate smaller portions of whole foods and moved their bodies constantly in order to work and survive. Technological advancements have made life easier and food tastier — to the detriment of our health, unfortunately. While certain people are more susceptible to the ill effects of sugar excess (and movement deficiency), the modern lifestyle isn’t good for any of us. Addressing the Epidemic Imbalances of blood sugar, insulin, and metabolism set you on a dangerous road to travel. It becomes impossible for your body to function optimally, and your risk of premature death increases dramatically. Unfortunately, most of America has already begun the journey. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 50 percent of adults and 75 percent of seniors have diabetes or prediabetes. The incidence in children has risen alarmingly as well. The earlier you can catch and address blood sugar issues, the better off you’ll be. Even if you and your family don’t experience overt blood sugar issues, integrating diet, lifestyle, and tonic sugar-balancing herbs can help keep you healthy. And if you or a loved one have already developed type 2 diabetes, take comfort in knowing that it’s always possible to work your way back to better he Continue reading >>
The Benefits Of Lemons On Blood Sugar
The American Diabetes Association lists citrus fruits, including lemons, as a top 10 diabetic superfood. Lemons are best known for their vitamin C content, but their fiber and acidity also slow digestion, causing a steadier rise in blood sugar levels. By getting key nutrients through foods rather than supplementation, you have a better chance of improving your blood sugar. It’s easy to get in the habit of adding this tasty and inexpensive food to your dietary regimen. Video of the Day Carbohydrates are macronutrients found in grains, beans, vegetables and dairy foods. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into a simple sugar called glucose, which is then transported to the cells of your body. All carbohydrates, whether pasta or soda, are made up of sugar molecules, but they affect your blood sugar levels differently. How quickly a carbohydrate-containing food increases your blood sugar depends on the sugar molecules present and the rate at which you digest them. The glycemic index is a scale that compares how rapidly a food increases your blood sugar. A variety of factors affect a food's glycemic index, such as acid. Lemon juice is acidic, and it slows how quickly your stomach empties food so your body takes longer to break apart sugar molecules, causing a steadier rise in blood sugar levels. For examples, sprinkle lemon juice on white rice to lower the GI of the rice, or drink lemon water with your meal. One to two tablespoons of lemon juice may reduce the impact of a meal on your blood sugar by as much as 30 percent, according to an article in "Reader's Digest." Lemons are on the American Diabetes Association’s superfood list because of their soluble fiber content. Fiber is a carbohydrate, but your body can’t break it down so it does not impact your blood sugar le Continue reading >>
Apple Cider Vinegar And Diabetes
OK, y’all. I wrote about this several years ago, but now I’m serious. If you want to control any type of diabetes better, consume vinegar before meals and at bedtime. Start today! It lowers post-meal and fasting glucose levels. In a study from Arizona State University, subjects took a drink of 20 grams of apple cider vinegar, 40 grams of water, and 1 teaspoon of saccharin with each meal. (I think stevia might be better than saccharin.) Those with insulin resistance who drank the vinegar had 34% lower postprandial (after-meal) glucose compared to controls. These postprandial benefits had been found before. It was thought that vinegar might slow the absorption of carbohydrate into the blood, or slow the breakdown of starches into sugars. This effect would mimic the effect of drugs like acarbose (brand name Precose). But the 2004 study cited above reported that vinegar reduced postprandial glucose more in subjects who were highly insulin resistant. The authors say this result shows that vinegar increases insulin sensitivity, perhaps acting similarly to metformin. Now studies have found that vinegar at bedtime reduces fasting blood glucose in the morning, indicating that vinegar might promote insulin production, like nateglinide (Starlix). Pretty amazing that a simple chemical like vinegar (acetic acid) could have the benefits of three different classes of diabetes drugs, and all for a few cents a dose! It’s likely good for both Type 2 and Type 1, especially for lowering postprandial glucose. And postprandial glucose levels account for 30% to 70% of A1C values. Vinegar has got to be the most cost-effective medicine in history, but most people with diabetes still aren’t taking it. And doctors aren’t prescribing it. Why not? Is it because there are no “vinegar rep Continue reading >>
The Secret To Balanced Blood Sugar Levels: Protein, Probiotics, And… Testosterone Boosters?
There are many men who suffer from imbalanced blood sugar levels. Some may be too low, while others end up having high blood sugar levels. Either way, this increases the risk of getting diabetes, a very serious condition that may end up costing your life. Not only are the doctor’s appointments and medicines expensive, but it’s very painful to deal with, changing your life in a lot of ways. With that being said, it’s best to make sure that you start making lifestyle changes in order for you to lessen the chances of getting diabetes. This will call for looking into your blood sugar levels and getting the right amount of nutrients in order for you to balance it out. There are three main things that have been said to help control blood sugar: A diet rich in protein and probiotics, and a test booster. But do they really work? With that being said, it’s best to make sure that you start making lifestyle changes in order for you to lessen the chances of getting diabetes. This will call for looking into your blood sugar levels and getting the right amount of nutrients in order for you to balance it out. There are three main things that have been said to help control blood sugar: A diet rich in protein and probiotics, and a test booster. But do they really work? How Do Protein and Probiotics Help With Blood Sugar? Protein is not only for the muscle builders, but is also essential in keeping your blood circulation at ease. When mixed with the good bacteria, or probiotics, your body will have the ability to absorb carbohydrates slower. This helps keep your blood sugar stable, as taking in carbs can give it a spike. Research has been done to prove that a diet rich in probiotics will be able to help with overall blood health. Participants’ hemoglobin, blood sugar levels, an Continue reading >>
- Probiotics and Diabetes: Can Probiotics Help?
- Is broccoli a secret weapon against diabetes? Extract of the vegetable may help patients regulate their blood sugar levels
- World's first diabetes app will be able to check glucose levels without drawing a drop of blood and will be able to reveal what a can of coke REALLY does to sugar levels
5 Crucial Supplements For Blood Sugar Balance
Why does blood sugar balance matter? If you weren’t already asking, you should be. Blood sugar balance is the foundation of health. An imbalance in blood sugar is the foundation of all disease, from type 2 diabetes and heart disease, to cancer and obesity. It affects your moods, energy levels and sugar cravings, too. Maintaining steady blood sugar levels is key for mental clarity, weight loss, hormonal balance, reduced inflammation and disease prevention. All of this being said, most of us are used to riding the blood sugar roller coaster day in and day out. We walk around exhausted, cranky, with compelling sugar cravings and stubborn belly fat that nothing seems to help, and we wonder why. We help clients break free of this so they can get to their healthiest, most energetic selves with our balanced PFC (protein, fat and carbohydrates) eating approach to maintain stable blood sugar levels. We also realize that for almost all of us, focusing on food alone just isn’t enough. If you are sensitive to blood sugar swings, prone to sugar cravings or if you have a family history of diabetes, a form of diabetes or even insulin resistance yourself, then you can benefit from natural supplementation for blood sugar support. Top 5 supplements for Blood Sugar Control: 1. GlucoVive™: This is a key supplement to take at meals, as it helps promote stable blood sugar levels and healthy glucose metabolism. Those who are sugar sensitive find this supplement to be extremely effective in helping with blood sugar balance, and it can helps to reduce the blood sugar crashes that cause sugar cravings. 2. Metabolic synergy: This multivitamin, designed by a doctor specifically for those seeking blood sugar support, is the one we recommend. It helps by assisting in the conversion of carbohyd Continue reading >>
Fascinating Facts About Balancing Your Blood Sugar With Herbs And Supplements
Balanced blood sugar is essential for overall health, but for some, keeping blood glucose (a.k.a blood sugar) levels in a healthy range can be challenging. Knowing and understanding the symptoms of high and low blood sugar is very important, especially for those living with diabetes, not to mention their friends and family members. Sugar is everywhere. It’s almost impossible to avoid. The foods you eat every day have varying amounts of sugar in them. Your body breaks down the carbohydrates and sugars in your food into a simple sugar called glucose. The purpose of glucose is to give your body the energy it needs to function at the cellular level. Insulin helps to move the sugar from your bloodstream into your cells. Any time that your body can’t process glucose and get it into your cells for the energy it needs, you have a blood sugar problem. The most common blood sugar disorders are diabetes (types 1, 2 and gestational) and non-diabetic low blood sugar (hypoglycemia.) Type 1 diabetes usually begins in childhood. With type 1 the body can’t manufacture insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes is where your body doesn’t respond well to insulin — this is called insulin resistance — so your blood sugar is constantly too high. Gestational diabetes is a bit different. It only develops during pregnancy and often goes away after the baby is born. In cases of gestational diabetes, the mother develops type 2 diabetes while pregnant, which can put her baby at risk of lifelong obesity and low blood sugar levels at birth. Gestational diabetes can also make the baby more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as an adult. Low Blood Sugar When the amount of blood glucose, or sugar in your blood, drops below your target range, it’s called low blood glucose or hypoglycemia. Low blood su Continue reading >>
How To Stabilize Your Blood Sugar
Life with type 2 diabetes can sometimes seem like an hourly or even minute-by-minute effort to stabilize your blood sugar. All of the recommendations and drugs you’ve been given as part of your type 2 diabetes treatment plan are intended to help you reach — and keep — healthy blood sugar levels most of the time. But doctors are learning that to control type 2 diabetes well, better information about why blood sugar matters and how to manage it is essential. The Facts About Diabetes and Blood Sugar As the American Diabetes Association (ADA) explains, your body needs sugar (glucose) for fuel, and there’s a fairly complicated process that makes it possible for your body to use that sugar. Insulin, which is made by the pancreas, is the hormone that enables the cells in your body to take advantage of sugar. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body isn’t able to remove sugar from your blood. This can happen if your body stops being sensitive to insulin or if it starts to respond in a delayed or exaggerated way to changes in your blood sugar. Diabetes is signaled by an elevated blood sugar level of more than 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for a fasting blood test, or more than 200 mg/dL at any time during the day. It can also be indicated by a hemoglobin A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher, a measure of the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin in the blood during the past two to three months. (Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. So an A1C of 6.5 means that 6.5 percent of your red blood cells have sugar attached to them.) Unchecked high blood sugar gradually damages the blood vessels in your body. Over the long term, this slow, progressive harm can lead to a dangerous loss of sensation in your legs and fe Continue reading >>
Balancing Blood Sugar/ Preventing Inflammation
Today we continue on to Part 3 of our ‘Month of Motivation’ with a really important topic: Balancing Blood Sugar and Preventing Inflammation. You may wonder why I chose to pair Balancing Blood Sugar with Inflammation. This is why: rapid rises and falls of blood sugar cause inflammation, inflammation causes disease…almost all disease in fact! What Are The Benefits of Stabilizing Blood Sugar? Prevents Inflammation thereby preventing disease Stabilizes mood (no crazy mood swings ladies) Weight loss/ breaks down body fat Helps you control sugar cravings Keeps hormones in check (see ‘mood swings’ above) Increased energy and mental alertness Increased lean muscle mass which increases metabolism How Do I Stabilize My Blood Sugar? It’s actually rather simple. Blood sugar rises too high too quickly when you consume sugar and processed foods, in other words, foods that are high on the ‘glycemic index’. Blood sugar rises slowly and stays level when you eat foods low on the glycemic index. It will not surprise you to find out cake, breads, candy (sugar in all it’s tempting forms) pastas, french fries, alcoholic beverages and soda are high on the glycemic index. It should also not surprise you that beef, chicken, fish, legumes (beans and lentils) vegetables, nuts, and many fruits are low on the glycemic index. Why is it important to Control Inflammation? We can chat till we are blue in the face about how good you will look and feel if you eat well, thereby stabilizing blood sugar but the most important aspect of controlling blood sugar levels is controlling inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s natural healing response. We injure ourselves, the area floods with water (swelling/inflammation) the injury heals and we are on our merry way. Thank you inflammation! Continue reading >>
8 Steps To Balancing Blood Sugar
By now it's safe to say we all know that sugar is bad for us. When we were children, our parents told us it was bad for our teeth. But what about the rest of the body? What exactly happens when sugar is consumed and how does the body compensate for such high concentrations of sugar? You may have heard how important blood sugar balance is in the body, but why? What is ‘low glycemic', and how is weight gain associated with sugar? This blog is Sugar Basics 101 and includes foods and lifestyle suggestions that might be helpful when it comes to this balancing act. Did you know that having steady blood sugar levels is the one thing that every person who lives over 100 (centurion) has in common? Research shows that the best foods for enjoying good weight are those that don't cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels. Balanced blood sugar is associated with physical and emotional health, as well as, and of course, longevity. If you are having problems losing weight, feeling moody, or feel the need for caffeine, you may have a problem balancing your blood sugar. Fortunately, not all blood sugar imbalances require drug treatments, and by taking control of your sugar consumption, you can greatly improve the way you feel. Blood sugar refers to glucose carried in the blood stream. Glucose is the immediate source of energy for all of the body's cells. The levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by the pancreas and are tightly regulated by several hormones. The body has the ability to store glucose in the form of glycogen in the muscles and the liver. When sugar or refined carbs are digested, they are initially absorbed in the small intestine. However, they do not enter the blood circulation directly and have to go to the liver first. Under hormone control, the liver will releas Continue reading >>
