The blood sugar or glucose is one of the best things that Mother Nature has provided us. It is a component of our body chemistry that helps us feel alive and happy. When glucose is at the right level, you are likely to experience a great attitude, a strong immune system, little stress and also a good night’s sleep. But when the blood glucose level rises too high, then it “crashes” or notices a decrease, the effects can be devastating to the bodily processes. For this reason, the body strives to keep blood glucose levels within a narrow range through the coordinated efforts of various glands and their hormones.
Understanding Blood Sugar Control:
After eating a meal, the sugars in each of the foods you eat raise the level of sugar in your blood. The body responds by secreting insulin , a hormone produced by the pancreas.
“Insulin reduces blood sugar levels by increasing the rate at which glucose is absorbed by cells throughout the body”.
If you spend too much time without eating, or eat the wrong foods (read “junk”), or if your hormones are out of balance, your blood glucose level will fall too low. When this happens, your adrenal glands will release adrenaline and cortisol to remedy the situation. At this point, you should eat foods that will slowly and gradually raise your blood sugar levels again.
How Can You Tell if You have a Ticket for this Walk to Junk Food?
Most of the time, eating three meals a day keeps your blood sugar level in balance. But when this process gets out of control, you can find yourself on the roller coaster of blood glucose, with no one on the brake pedal.
12 signs that your blood sugar level is out of control:
Your waist is larger than your hips.
You find it difficult to lose weight.
You fancy sweets.
You feel infinitely better after eating.
It is irritated if a meal is skipped.
Cry for no reason.
Feels a little distant and disconnected.
You get anxious for no apparent reason.
He wakes frequently during the night.
He is hungry all the time.
He is very sleepy in the afternoon.
You have been tested and have high blood sugar levels or triglycerides.
There are natural solutions that can help stabilize your blood sugar level. Start treating the problem by changing your diet. Blood glucose levels that fluctuate rapidly are generally the result of more than moderate consumption of foods high in refined or simple sugars.
Eat to Control your Blood Sugar Level:
It is important to avoid foods that cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. A useful tool that tells us what foods we should avoid or eat in moderation is the glycemic index (GI). It is a numerical scale used to indicate how fast and how far a particular food raises blood glucose levels compared to glucose. Refined sugars, white flour products and other sources of simple carbohydrates and sugars are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a rapid increase in blood sugar and severely stressing blood glucose control. Therefore, it is important to avoid “junk food” and pay attention to the glycemic index of the food you eat.
The Best and Worst Foods to Control Blood Sugar:
Here is a simple list of foods that you probably already consume and how they affect you in terms of blood sugar, based on glycemic index (GI) scores. These “natural” sugars can also keep you tied to a roller coaster if you don’t know how to handle them.
Foods to Avoid:
- Foods that have a very high glycemic score should be consumed in moderation or avoided. These include refined sugar, cakes or rice cakes and granola.
- Foods that have high glycemic scores, but not so high, should be kept to a minimum. These include white bread, carrots, corn, beans, bran muffins, potatoes, white rice, bananas, raisins and beets.
Food to Eat:
- Foods with average values in the glycemic index include sweet fruits such as grapes, peaches, pineapple, oranges and melons. Starchy foods that have an average glycemic score include brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, yams and peas. Eat this when you need energy, but don’t overdo it.
- If you want to eat foods that keep your blood sugar level at a constant rate, then eat foods with a low glycemic score such as apples, apricots, cherries, grapefruit, asparagus, broccoli, celery, lentils, nuts and seeds.