Should your blood sugar levels matter to you?
Well yes they should do. They aren’t just a concern for individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, but for everybody else too.
So what is blood sugar? Glucose is our primary source of fuel and we get it from the food we eat, transporting it from the liver to our bloodstream, then onto to our cells and organs of which the brain is our most glucose demanding.
If we consume food and drinks containing fast releasing energy such as sugary drinks, cereals and snack bars our blood sugar quickly spikes and then plummets and it will continue in this pattern if we regularly eat in this way.
This is a problem because when our blood sugar dramatically falls we can become tired and hungry (or hangry), experience sugar and carbohydrate cravings, turning to quick snacks and caffeine to bring our energy levels back up. It can also result in poor concentration, headaches and weight gain.
Long-term the risk is that our cells become resistant to insulin (the hormone that regulates our blood sugars) and our blood sugars remain constantly high which comes with a greater risk of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome in females.
Balance your blood sugars
The good news is that what you eat really makes all the difference to your blood sugar balance so here’s three recommendations to help you get started:
Include a portion of protein at each meal to keep you feeling fuller for longer so that you aren’t as tempted to snack. Think porridge or eggs for breakfast and pulses, fish, eggs or cheese at lunch to help you avoid those mid-morning and afternoon dips in energy.
Avoid fruit juices and fizzy drinks as they will most definitely spike your blood sugars. Swap for a glass of water infused with fruit or a herbal/fruit tea or have a piece of fruit instead as this comes with fibre for a slower release of energy.
Fibre, eat lots of it by way of vegetables and wholegrain foods and pulses to help reduce blood level spikes.
There’s plenty more you can do too. Feel free to call me for a free 15 minute consultation to find out more.
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