|
Check your scores against the charts below.
If your scores are high, the Healthnuts recommend:
Nature's Way Blood Sugar
along with other dietary changes and supplements below.
Part A: Hypoglycemia
Part B: Hyperglycemia
Please note: Our experts' answers are not intended to treat or diagnose any health condition or to serve as a substitute for the advice of a medical practitioner.
Part A: Hypoglycemia
| 12 - 21+ |
High Priority |
| 6 - 11 |
Moderate Priority |
| 1 - 5 |
Low Priority
|
If you scored anywhere between 6 (Mode rate) and 21+ (High) you may consider trying to keep the blood sugar balanced with a little help.
Hypoglycemia results when there are low levels of glucose in the blood. Usually this happens from oversecretion of insulin by the pancreas. Many Americans have this disorder because of a diet high in simple carbohydrates, sugars, alcohol, caffeine and soft drinks and high stress levels. The brain usually feels it first by these symptoms:
- depression
- anxiety
- confusion
- mental disturbances with focus and memory
- aggressive and criminal behavior
- leg cramps or weakness
- pms
- angina
- dizziness
- headache
- rapid heart rate
- swollen feet
- insomnia
- constant hunger
- tightness in chest
- night sweats
Any or all of these may occur a few hours after eating sweets or fats. Many other disorders can cause low blood sugar. They are low adrenal gland, thyroid disorder, pituitary disorders, kidney disease, pancreatitis, chronic liver failure.
Here are some things to try for low blood sugar:
- Chromium Picolinate - 300 to 600 mcg. daily vital in glucose metabolism.
- Pancreatin - Needed for proper protein digestion
- Spirulina - an algae - between meals helps stabilize blood sugar.
- Avocados are great food for hypoglycemia- protein and fat.
- Dandelion, the herb, supports pancreas and liver.
- Vitamin B complex - 50-100mg daily because it is important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. And they help the body to tolerate foods that produce low blood sugar reactions.
- Proteolytic Enzymes between meals for protein metabolism.
- During a low blood sugar reaction, eat something protein and fiber together like, rice crackers and cheese or almond butter.
top
| 12 - 24+ |
High Priority |
| 6 - 11 |
Moderate Priority |
| 1 - 5 |
Low Priority
|
If you scored anywhere between 6 (Moderate) and 24+ (High) priority you should probably get your blood sugar levels checked, and here are some things you can try to balance your sugar levels.
Most of the foods we eat are turned into glucose for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas makes the hormone insulin. Insulin takes the glucose from the blood to the cells. Without insulin, the body does not have its source of energy. When your body does not make enough insulin or can't use it's own insulin, sugar builds up in the blood.
A person is considered hyperglycemic when he has a blood sugar reading over 200mg/dL. However symptoms usually only happen when blood sugar raises over 350 or over 200mg/dL. for several hours at a time. Symptoms include; frequent urination, extreme thirst, dry skin, hunger, blurred vision, drowsiness and nausea.
To help keep the blood sugar down, here are some things you may do:
- Fiber in the diet helps sustain blood sugar elevations
- Proteins help to stabilize blood sugar levels, nuts are a good example. Choose low fat protein like chicken, fish or veal.
- Avoid saturated fats and simple sugars.
- Don't take fish oil capsules or supplements containing large amounts of PABA. These may result in elevation of sugar.
- Don't take cysteine (amino acid) as it breaks down the bonds of insulin and interferes with the absorption of insulin by the cells.
- Take a good trace mineral supplement
- Exercise helps to increase insulin sensitivity and lower insulin needs, improves glucose tolerance, reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and promotes weight loss.
- Spirulina helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Bitter Melon has been shown to lower blood sugar.
- Fenugreek is reported to have improved glucose tolerance.
- Gymnema Sylvestre Extract 200mg. 2 times a day improves blood sugar levels.
- Psyllium Seed is a soluble fiber that reduces blood sugar.
- Chromium Picolinate may benefit people with high blood sugar who are low in this trace mineral. It increases insulin's effectiveness. 200mcg to 400mcg per day
- Magnesium helps improve insulin action and Vitamin B6 is necessary for magnesium to get into cells.
|
