Balance your blood sugar to balance your scales.
The US is obsessed with thinness and overwhelmed by
obesity. The bookstores are filled with the latest and greatest weight
loss guides. You can't turn on the television without seeing the answer
to all your weight loss dreams. So what's the problem? Why are we
still fat? The research has been done; the answers are out there.
Now it is up to us. I know, I was hoping for the magic pill too.
Here is the story. What works for Margaret next door will not necessarily
work for you. What worked for you will not necessarily work for me.
Humans are complex, completely individual, one of kind units; no two
are exactly the same. So this complicates the quest for the answer
to all our weight loss needs. There is no one answer.
So that is the bad news.
The good news is that it doesn't require drastic extremes of deprivation
and endurance (unless you really want it to). Everything in nature
strives for equilibrium, it is a basic scientific fact. The body by
nature wants to be in balance and as a result healthy. It is designed
to thrive, to live. If given the fuel and tools needed it can heal
and rebuild. Unfortunately, the world that we live in presents us
with physical and mental challenges that constantly keep our bodies
working hard to stay balanced and healthy. It is amazing what the
human body can endure. Somehow we adapt. This adaptation is not always
to our aesthetic liking or the best long-term health solution. But
without a choice or support the body will do what it takes to survive.
If this means storing fat, it will store fat, if this means burning
muscle it will burn muscle, if this means leeching calcium from the
bones so be it. In oriental medicine there is the theory that the
body functions within a hierarchy of the organs, the heart and brain
being the King and Queen. In order to survive it will sacrifice tissue
in a hierarchical manner with the heart then the brain being the last
to go.
So how does this relate to weight?
Being overweight is a symptom of imbalance, of ill health. And research
has given us volumes of information about what those imbalances are.
Some of the most supported are psychological and hormonal. These two
areas span a huge assortment of possibilities and interestingly are
often related. Insulin resistance and it's relation to the blood sugar
metabolism is one hormonal imbalance that I would like to focus on
in particular because it can actually play a role in the development
and exasperation of other hormonal imbalances. There have been many
informative books written on how to address this imbalance, why it
exists, and the diets that will fix it. Unfortunately, there are also
just as many contradicting reports that advocate totally opposing
diets. So what do you believe? All of it and none of it, remember
earlier when I said we are all different? That is the key. My blood
sugar metabolism is different then yours. They may have started out
similar when we were born but that's where it ended. Since day one
our blood sugar metabolism has been hard at work reacting to the foods
we eat, the emotions we experience and the toxins we are exposed to.
So ultimately you need to find out the state of your blood sugar metabolism,
what are its weaknesses and strengths. And what dietary changes work
for you. Without expensive extensive testing there is no way to asses
your blood sugar metabolism to a definitive degree but you can look
at certain areas and ascertain some general guidelines, then work
within those guidelines to find what works best for you and your lifestyle.
By giving your body the nutrients it requires to function in the form
of whole foods and quality supplements it is possible to reverse the
negative effects and nutrient deficiencies that have been created
by years of stress, poor nutritional choices, starvation and bingeing.
Insulin Resistance- the imbalance caused by imbalance.
Sorry, we have to go through some biology. Understanding how and why
is important.
Insulin is a hormone released from the pancreas in response to high
blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels increase after we eat or drink
foods that contain carbohydrates. Insulin is responsible for lowering
the high blood sugar levels back to a normal range by "unlocking"
the cells so they can accept glucose to burn for energy. Insulin also
stimulates the storage of energy in the body by "turning on"
the production of fat, glycogen (carbohydrate storage in the Liver)
and protein.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the insulin receptors of
the cell no longer respond well to the hormone so blood sugar levels
do not effectively drop and blood levels of both insulin and glucose
stay high. With the blood glucose levels still remaining high, the
body will again signal for insulin to be produced. It doesn't work.
Remember the body is always striving for balance. So what does the
body do with the excess glucose and insulin in the blood stream? Insulin
is a hormone that "turns on" storage and that includes fat.
Some of the blood glucose is converted to fat and sent directly to
your thighs, bottom and belly for long term storage. The rest is made
into fat particles in the blood that can endanger blood vessels. The
most common cause of insulin resistance is the frequent consumption
of sweet and starchy simple carbohydrates (such as candy, sodas, chips,
fries, donuts, cookies, breads, pasta, pastries, bagels, juices and
even "energy" bars) that keep blood sugar levels elevated.
This puts a constant demand on the pancreas to provide insulin. In
time, because the body has the amazing capacity to adapt, the cells
simply lose their sensitivity to insulin. It has been identified that
insulin resistance can be a precursor to seriously degenerative diseases
such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Are you insulin resistant?
Cheryl is 43 and has a weight problem. She is 35 pounds overweight,
has tried every diet plan to come along in the last two decades, and
nothing seems to work. Cheryl's sluggish metabolism and chronically
low energy levels make it hard for her to get started on "another
diet" or feel hopeful about any breakthrough in nutrition science
that might help her.
Does this sound familiar?
Here is a simple questionnaire that can help you identify if you
potentially suffer from insulin resistance and at what level.
1. Do you have a family history of diabetes? Yes/No
2. Do you get indigestion after meals? Yes/No
3. Do you get sleepy after meals? Yes/No
4. Do you have water retention? Yes/No
5. Do you engage in regular aerobic exercise? Yes/No
6. Do you have addictions, especially to carbohydrates or chocolate?
Yes/No
7. Do you take the birth control pill? Yes/No
8. Are you over 60 years of age? Yes/No
9. Do you drink four or more cups of caffeinated drinks daily? Yes/No
10. Do you sweat a lot or get excessively thirsty? Yes/No
11. Do you have increased fat stores in spite of exercise and a low
calorie diet? Yes/No
12. Do you have increased fat stores but have approximately normal
weight for your height? Yes/No
13. Do you get dizzy or irritable if you don't eat often? Yes/No
14. Are you 14 lbs. or more over your ideal weight? Yes/No
15. Are you tired all the time? Yes/No
16. Do you get cravings for something sweet after meals? Yes/No
17. Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Yes/No
Score
| Level |
Yes answers |
Status |
| One |
0-4 |
Stable blood sugar levels |
| Two |
5-10 |
Minor imbalances |
| Three |
11-17 |
Marked imbalances |
Dietary Action Plan
To what degree you implement these suggestions are up to you. No one
knows your body like you do, so listen to it and take action where
appropriate.
No matter what level you are at it is important to support this program
by cutting down on stimulants (coffee and tea), cigarettes and refined
carbohydrates (i.e. products made with flour, sugars of all kinds,
white rice and box cereals). Include the following in strict moderation,
concentrated fruit juices (dilute 1:1 with water), dried fruits and
alcohol.
To avoid blood sugar yo-yoing:
· Eat small, frequent meals, preferably containing complex
carbohydrates, protein and a little fat.
· Always eat breakfast. Oats is a good choice.
· Include foods high in fiber.
Some handy blood sugar maintenance tips:
1. Always carry a snack with you. Such as a handful of almonds, trail
mix or a protein bar.
2. Replace all your current "white" foods to "brown"
whole grain versions.
3. If you must have something sweet, try to have it after you have
eaten some protein and/or fat.
4. Bread and pasta are luxuries not staples.
5. Energy bars are not the same as protein bars- read the labels.
While changing your dietary choices is important, it is only one third
of the equation. The other two areas that must be addressed are exercise
and nutrient supplementation.
Exercise
Exercise can be very effective in balancing blood sugar levels by
lowering them. Exercising at least three times a week for as little
as 20 minutes each time can help normalize blood sugar issues. More
on exercise.
Nutritional Supplements
Hair and blood analysis have shown that those who suffer from insulin
resistance or have low blood sugar issues often are deficient in essential
vitamins, minerals and trace minerals. A good quality
supplement can make a huge difference helping you to correct old
deficiencies while giving your body what it needs to correct imbalances
and heal.
Nutrients of particular importance are:
Chromium- Essential for the glucose metabolism, may help restore some
of the body's sensitivity to insulin.
Magnesium- Necessary for the enzyme system that controls the glucose
metabolism.
Vitamin B complex including biotin and inositol- Important for carbohydrate
metabolism.
Bottom line.
Your ideal weight really has little to do with your dress size and
everything to do with your health. If your body is being fed with
nutrient-rich whole foods that contribute more to the body's nutrient
pool then take away from it, then your body will find the weight that
is best for it. Blood sugar imbalances are more prolific then we can
even measure because of the variance in each person's individual make
up. Widespread presence of degenerative diseases that have been linked
to blood sugar imbalances such as diabetes and cardio vascular disease
and their connection with excess weight makes the case for taking
care of your blood sugar metabolism a good one. And who knows you
might just loose some weight!
The ALL ONE powdered multivitamin and mineral formulas
are the ideal supplement to help you feed your body the nutrients
it needs to thrive. The ALL ONE powders are formulated with amino
acids that allow for easy digestion and assimilation while offering
blood sugar stabilizing proteins.
There is an ALL ONE formulation for everyone.
