10 Ways To Naturally Lower Your Blood Sugar
Ranked #1 in Healthy Living, #5 overall
How to Lower Your Blood Sugar Naturally
Lowering your blood sugar is important to avoid pre-diabetes, diabetes, insulin resistance and overweight issues. Lowering your blood sugar naturally keeps your health vital and strong.
Here's how it works: You eat something and the stomach and intestines breaks the food down into glucose. The cells need glucose for energy, but for the cells to be able to use glucose they also need insulin which the pancreas emits in the response to glucose.
The body, however, can become resistant to using the insulin if there are certain factors occurring, in particular excess fat. So the glucose stays in the blood, which makes the pancreas secrete more insulin. Eventually the pancreas gets tired, very tired and gives up. That's when pre-diabetes becomes diabetes. What a bummer.
Keeping glucose sugar levels balanced also helps promote weight loss as having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) will trigger binge eating, which causes the rebound effect of high blood sugar or glucose. The body will rapidly store this high blood sugar as fat.
With a few tricks up your sleeve, you can easily control your glucose levels and avoid more serious health problems.
Ready? Read on!
Note: In 2007 my health care provider said I had metabolic syndrome and was prediabetic. I gave myself 6 months to turn it around naturally and, if not successful, I was going to go with allopathic medicines. This lens shares what I did to turn it around permanently. These are tools that helped me but are not meant to replace the care of your medical provider.
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Highlights
- Blood Sugar Level Chart
- All About High Blood Sugar
- Lower Your Glucose Fast
- Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Sugar
- Lower Blood Sugar by Getting Rid of Belly Fat
- Foods that Lower Blood Sugar
- Lower Blood Sugar With The Right Sweets
- Digestive and Pancreas Support
- Avoid Insulin Resistance
- Advice From Others for Lowering Blood Sugar
Blood Sugar Level Chart
Order a Glucose Monitor
Before breakfast, your levels should be between 80 and 120. This is considered to be a healthy range.
Before meals your levels should also be between 80 and 120.
Two hours after you eat meals, your levels should be 170 or less.
Before you go to bed, it is ideal to be between 100 and 140.
While fasting, it is ideal that you stay in the 70 to 100 range.
Home Diagnostics True Track Smart System Blood Glucose Monitor
Amazon Price: $1.00 (as of 05/21/2012)
TrueTrack requires a tiny blood sample, provides fast results in just 10 seconds, and with two simple steps, is very easy to use. Not to mention, sophisticated data management capabilities. It's ease and convenience makes it the ideal meter for the moderate to frequent tester with an active, on-the-go lifestyle.
All About High Blood Sugar
Hyperglycemia versus hypoglycemia
High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia versus low level blood sugar which is called hypoglycemia.Blood sugar levels are considered high when they're above 110 mg/dl first thing in the morning (assuming you weren't midnight snacking). You can get a simple kit to monitor your blood sugar and find out what foods might be affecting you negatively and what your fasting blood glucose level is.
Besides high blood sugar making you feel wonky, it can negatively affect many organs over a longer period of time.
Hyperglycemia can cause damage to the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.
In this site, natural solutions to balancing or lowering blood sugar are listed in the grey boxes, with explanations following. These are tried and true solutions and extremely powerful. If you get overwhelmed with all the information, start with exercise and getting processed grains and sugar out of your diet. Then add some supplements, some sweeteners that are okay, and start eating Chia seeds! Finally add some "tricks" for those special times when you've had sugar (i.e. the herb supplement called Salacia) To your health!
Check eBay for Great Deals on Glucose Monitors
Lower Your Glucose Fast
Your Muscles Are Glucose Burners
Burn, Baby, Burn!
If Americans are the biggest consumers in the world, muscles are the glucose consumer equivalent. Getting physically active is one of the easiest ways to use up glucose and "force" the body out of insulin resistance. Exercise vigorously for 20-30 minutes a day to get optimal benefits. Get Up Off of That Couch!
Take a dance class to burn glucose
Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Sugar
No Highs Or Lows: Keep Your Blood Sugar Even
Eat small amounts throughout the day
The body does much better eating smaller amounts of food, more often throughout the day. It's easier on the intestines, the pancreas, and the digestive enzymes.Depending on your caloric intake you could eat 4-6 meals, of 400-600 calories each. Eat at least every four hours.
Also increase your water. Being chronically dehydrated is hard on the blood, the carrier of not only the blood sugar but also insulin itself.
More Ways to Naturally Lower Blood Sugar
Lower Blood Sugar by Getting Rid of Belly Fat
Belly Fat, Stress, and Insulin Resistance
Belly fat increases heart disease and insulin resistance. It is particularly hard to get rid of by women in their menopause years. Insulin resistance means that the blood sugar stays in the blood instead of getting into the tissue cells.Belly fat can increase dramatically under acute and chronic high stress because of the hormone release of cortisol from the adrenals. Exercise helps reduce stress levels as does massage, meditation, yoga, relaxing baths, etc.
The recommended waist measurement for men is less than 40 inches and for women, less than 35 inches.
Dr. Oz on Creating Health
You, on a Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management
Amazon Price: $1.98 (as of 05/21/2012)
Prevention's Flat Belly Diet
Flat Belly Diet
Amazon Price: $2.92 (as of 05/21/2012)
Foods that Lower Blood Sugar
The Power of Chia Seeds for Lowering Blood Sugar
A Chia Seed Recipe for Your Optimal Health
Chia Porridge
Pour about 1/2 Cup of boiling water over 2 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds and 2 Tablespoons of Hemp Seeds and let sit for 3-4 minutes.
Add 1 teaspoon coconut oil, coconut flakes, raw nuts such as cashews, dried fruit, yogurt and fresh fruit.
Enjoy!
Lower Blood Sugar by Eating Low Glycemic Foods
Choosing the right foods can significantly lower your blood sugar
Less Than 50
- Artichoke <15
- Asparagus <15
- Avocado < 15
- Broccoli <15
- Cauliflower <15
- Celery <15
- Cucumber <15
- Eggplant <15
- Green beans <15
- Lettuce, all varieties <15
- Low-fat yogurt, artificially sweetened <15
- Peanuts <15
- Peppers, all varieties <15
- Snow peas <15
- Spinach <15
- Canned kidney beans 52
- Kiwifruit 52
- Orange juice, not from concentrate 52
- Banana 53
- Sweet potato 54
- Brown Rice 55
- Linguine 55
- Popcorn 55
- Sweet corn 55
- Muesli 56
- Bagel 72
- Corn chips 72
- Watermelon 72
- Honey 73
- Mashed potatoes 73
- Bread stuffing mix 74
- Cheerios 74
- Cream of Wheat, instant 74
- Graham crackers 74
- Doughnuts 75
- French fries 76
- Frozen waffles 76
- Pretzels 81
- Rice cakes 82
Lower Blood Sugar With The Right Sweets
Stevia, Agave and Xylitol
Read food labels...many foods have added sugars and corn syrup. The less processed your foods the better to avoid these traps.
There are sweeteners that can be used that don't dramatically increase the blood glucose level. Some have additional health benefits as well.
Food Combinations that Can Lower Blood Sugar
Fiber and Protein to Lower Your Blood Sugar
Foods that quickly raise the blood sugar levels are refined foods, primarily white sugar and flour. But any food that converts rapidly into glucose will cause a sudden leap in glucose or blood sugar levels including juice, and refined breakfast cereals.Which brings us to the first food friend:
Fiber: Eat foods high in fiber including apples, oatmeal, whole, unrefined grains, bulky vegetables, nuts and seeds. Take a digestive aid such as Zypan (made by Standard Process), if your digestive system has a hard time digesting lots of fiber and wants to make gas instead.
Protein: If you just can't resist that Krispy Kreme donut, eat it with a slice of cheese or a hard boiled egg. The protein will slow the break down of the carbohydrates into glucose. Not recommended for cheating every day, but it can help you cheat once in a while!
Digestive and Pancreas Support
Standard Process
zypan 330 tablets by standard process
Amazon Price: $35.90 (as of 05/21/2012)
Zypan Combines Pancreatin, Pepsin, and Betaine Hydrochloride to Facilitate Healthy Digestion The job of the digestive system is to break down food-proteins, fats, and carbohydrates-into smaller compounds to support the building and nourishing of cells and to provide energy. This process requires enzymatic support from many glands and organs including the stomach and the pancreas. In the absence of thorough digestion and enzymatic action, the cells in our bodies will fail to get all the nutrients provided by the foods we eat. Many people require extra enzymatic support to help them properly digest food. Zypan can help. It is a unique digestive supplement that mimics the phases of healthy digestion.
Avoid Insulin Resistance
Metabolic Syndrome and How It Relates to Your Blood Sugar
A precursor to insulin resistance
High cholesterol (of the bad sort) is part of a group of symptoms that together have been labeled metabolic syndrome. This condition is the precursor to heart disease and a host of other problems including diabetes.
Technically speaking, getting your cholesterol in right balance doesn't really lower your blood sugar levels. It does speak to overall improved health and less likelihood of becoming insulin resistant (which does affect high blood sugar).
Chinese tonic herbs are very beneficial for helping the body to come into balance. Two in particular are "kings" when it comes to health benefits for the body including balancing cholesterol.
The Link Between High Blood Sugar and the Thyroid
Your Doctor Won't Tell You This
There is a link between your thyroid and your pancreas. If your thyroid is not working properly, it can create a pancreatic imbalance which leads to insulin resistance in the body.Get it checked and get the thyroid balanced. Women, as they age, seem to lose more of their thyroid capability.
A reader's tip is to find a chiropractor who is a "functional endrochronologist." They specialize in helping thyroid and pancreatic issues.
Lower Blood Sugar Naturally and Fast
How to Lower Your Blood Sugar FAST
Two amazing plants to help you with blood sugar stabilizing
Two food/dietary supplements are stand out helpers in improving blood sugar levels.Salacia: This aryuvedic herb from India helps normalize blood sugar and insulin levels, and supports healthy blood lipids. Salacia contains two potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors that may help regulate carbohydrate-metabolic imbalances. Salacia will bring down glucose levels within 20 minutes after taking. It's best to use this super helper as needed versus every day. Salacia can be ordered from Amazon.
Cinnamon: This wonderful tasting spice has been shown to lower fasting blood sugar levels AND balance cholesterol levels. A fabulous two-fer! Cinnamon is recommended at amounts of 1 gram a day and if taken for 40 days will continue to promote benefits for an additional 20 days. One delicious way to take cinnamon is to make tea with cinnamon sticks (boiling 2-3 sticks in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes). Or just add it to oatmeal, smoothies, or cinnamon toast (use whole grain bread such as Ezekiel and one of the recommended sweeteners above). Cinnamon capsules can be be ordered on Amazon.
Get Informed about Blood Sugar, Metabolic Syndrome and More
Advice From Others for Lowering Blood Sugar
- Experimental bariatric surgery can lower blood sugar levels in rats with type ...
- For the first time, scientists at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute have shown that an experimental bariatric surgery can lower blood sugar levels in rats with type 1 diabetes. A team led by Dr. Tony Lam and Dr. Danna Breen, ...
- Added Sugar is the Number One Culprit in the American Health Crisis
- The link between sugar consumption and diabetes is common knowledge: the pancreas secretes insulin to lower blood sugar after eating, and simple sugars like cane sugar and HFCS cause blood sugar to skyrocket, requiring the pancreas to pump out more ...
- Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Emotions
- Exercise, alcohol and many other factors can lower blood-sugar levels unpredictably. The problem, Solowiejczyk said, is ?that the brain operates totally on glucose. When you don't have enough glucose, things start breaking down and your cognitive ...
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Reader's Wisdom
If you're not new to the problem of insulin intolerance and high blood sugar, you've probably learned a few tricks of your own. Please share those with us.
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al9166
May 20, 2012 @ 1:06 pm | delete
- Love Healthy Living.. Its makes your Life more precious especially when you work from internet. It is important to know your limitations to maintain a good Lifesytle.
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J-Ellen
May 20, 2012 @ 8:55 am | delete
- To keep from needing to add milk sugars of dairy or other nondairy milks to my steel-cut oats, I add a little extra water when cooking and add a little ground flaxseed and a little peanut butter and cinnamon to my hot oats and stir. Also, agave comes in maple flavor now, and a touch of that is awesome in this combo.
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lclchors
May 19, 2012 @ 9:23 pm | delete
- I read this lens weeks ago and bookmarked it waiting for the day I could do what I am about to do right now. I just got my wings and this is the first lens I came to. I am sorry I can not give you a giant squid like as I gave you a baby newbysquid like weeks ago. But this is my first every BLESSING I came here to give it to you
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Ener-G May 19, 2012 @ 9:26 pm | delete
- Thank you! I am so honored!
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Romesh Chander
May 19, 2012 @ 8:40 am | delete
- Thanks! I had learnt lots to control Blood Sugar level from this article.
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Beameye
May 18, 2012 @ 8:21 am | delete
- Useful information given. Congratulation as this article has open my eyes on the importance of keeping blood sugar balance.
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dellgirl
May 18, 2012 @ 1:17 am | delete
- This is a very informative lens, it’s very helpful! Thank you for sharing, I learned something today.
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nisa786
May 17, 2012 @ 8:36 pm | delete
- helpful information
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blazingzone
May 17, 2012 @ 2:53 am | delete
- Very informative lens. Thanks
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amythomson187
May 15, 2012 @ 6:08 pm | delete
- Thank you... You have some great information on here. Health is a very important part to all our lives. Just try and remember a few simple rules, Eat anything that is green and drink enough water for your body height and weight. An easy way to remember is the 80/20 rule, 80% of your diet should be water based... so eat a lot of veg!! it will save your life :) Amy x
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- rscottgunter
- RT @EatThisNotThat: Doc says: "You have high blood sugar." Eat this: oatmeal, apples, unsalted nuts, tuna, beans!
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- Johnsjolund
- Saved by #Timesulin today.I woke up with a low blood sugar,ate before I took my insulin, then headed off to work.Forgot my injection.Fixed
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- MedicaPharmacyS
- MNT Diabetes - In Rat Model Of Diabetes, Experimental Bariatric Surgery Controls Blood Sugar http://t.co/4Yji1PrK
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- darlabft
- Coffee has two minerals shown to help regulate insulin levels and help shuttle blood sugar into the cells.
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- DonnaAdams3
- In Rat Model Of Diabetes, Experimental Bariatric Surgery Controls Blood Sugar: For the first time, scientists at the Toronto General ...
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The Blood Sugar Solution
by Mark Hyman
The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!
Amazon Price: $13.25 (as of 05/21/2012)
Dr. Hyman describes the seven keys to achieving wellness-nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism, and a calm mind-and explains his revolutionary six-week healthy-living program.
The Ultrametabolism Cookbook
by Mark Hyman
The UltraMetabolism Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes that Will Turn on Your Fat-Burning DNA
Amazon Price: $13.84 (as of 05/21/2012)
The UltraMetabolism Cookbook puts Ultra-Metabolism into overdrive with 200 convenient, easy-to-prepare, and, of course, delicious recipes for the right foods that will bring on a lifetime of good health and healthy weight.
Fat to Skinny
Lower Blood Sugar with these Easy Tips
FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! Revised and Expanded with Over 200 Recipes: Eat Great, Lose Weight, and Lower Blood Sugar Without Exercise
Amazon Price: $10.25 (as of 05/21/2012)
Varrieur distills the "science" behind low-carb eating and lays out an amazingly simple system for eliminating the chief offender in weight gain: sugar.
