Control Blood Sugar...Lose the Weight

A friend of mine shared an article with me about how our blood sugar can effect our weight loss, so I thought I would share!

 When we think about cutting back on what we eat, we tend to cut the calories, and not so much on our sugar intake.  Your blood sugar level has a direct effect on how hungry you are as well as how sluggish you may feel.  More importantly, it determines whether your body is burning fat or storing it.

Whenever you eat, your body converts the carbohydrates in your food to glucose.  The more carbs in your food (particularly refined or simple carbs), the higher your blood sugar levels.  As your blood sugar increases, your pancreas creates insulin that transports the glucose out of your blood into your cells where it will be used for energy.

The problem comes when you eat too many simple carbs.  Simple carbs break down into glucose very rapidly, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar, which triggers a massive release of insulin.  When that much insulin is released, weight loss becomes nearly impossible.  The more insulin your body produces, the more fat is stored in your body.

Your body needs carbs. Natural carbohydrate-rich foods contain important vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  Carbohydrates are what provide energy for your muscles, making carbs essential to support a healthy exercise routine.  When you eat too few carbs, your blood sugar drops.  As a result, you feel irritable, you crave sweets, and your energy level plummets! 

Here are four ways to help balance your blood sugar...

1)  Eat less, more often
     Eat 5-6 small meals per day.  This allows you to eat something every few hours, which helps normalize blood sugar levels rather than produce 3 large spikes. (From only having 3 meals.)  However, make sure you do not increase your calorie intake.

2)  Drink more water
      Try to drink the number of ounces equal to half of your body weight. (If you're 120 lbs., aim for 60 oz. daily.)

3)  Fill up on fiber
     Fiber helps keep cravings at bay.  Fiber also helps slow down glucose absorption, so you're less likely to have a blood sugar spike and crash.

4)  Exercise
     Exercising 45 minutes a day has been shown to have a significant blood sugar balancing effect.  With continued moderate exercise, your muscles take up glucose at almost 20 times the normal rate and insulin levels drop.

Take the challenge, cut back on your sugar intake, and I promise you'll see results and feel great!!!