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By Noralyn Dudt
SUGAR—we all love
the sweet white stuff: in our coffee and other beverages, in cakes and cookies,
even in spaghetti sauce. While the body
uses sugar for energy, excessive amounts can be damaging. As sugar travels through your bloodstream to
your cells, it's called blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. The term
glucose is derived from the Greek for sweet. blood glucose is crucial for
bodily functions and provides a source
of energy for most cells. However, maintaining normal blood glucose levels is
an important part of avoiding long-term health issues, managing weight and
supporting overall well-being. An unbalanced sugar intake can start a cycle of
blood sugar imbalance. An "enseymada"
(sweet roll) in the morning breaks down into glucose, spiking blood
sugar levels. The pancreas releases insulin which drops blood sugar levels. A
rapid rise and rapid drop in blood sugar levels can cause fatigue, and signal
the release of cortisol, a stress hormone. As cortisol levels rise, feelings of
anxiety, jitters and hunger for more processed carbs and sugar rise. This cycle
of sugar imbalance can result in countless health and wellness problems.
The body has the mechanism to regulate glucose levels so that
they remain within an appropriate range, helping to ensure there is enough
glucose to fuel your cells. However, it's really up to us through the food that we eat, and the
lifestyle we lead to keep the levels normal, and to make sure that we do
not overload our bloodstream.
It's typical for blood glucose levels to fluctuate throughout the
day, but big swings can make you feel fatigued, and for those living with
diabetes, the fluctuations can be more considerable and happen more often.
What impacts blood sugar levels? Several factors can increase
blood glucose levels, including low
physical activity, stress, illness, and
a diet heavy in carbohydrates
When we eat food
containing carbohydrates, the digestive system breaks down the digestible ones
into sugar which enters the blood.
As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas produces insulin, a
hormone that prompts cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage. As
cells absorb blood sugar, levels in the bloodstream begin to fall. When this
happens, the pancreas start making glucagon, a hormone that signals the liver
to start releasing stored sugar. This interplay of insulin and glucagon ensures
that cells throughout the body, and especially in the brain, have a steady
supply of blood sugar.
Carbohydrate metabolism plays an important role in the
development of type 2 diabetes and myriad of illnesses which occur when the
body cannot make enough insulin or can not properly use the insulin it makes.
How do we maintain normal
glucose levels? It's really that simple: avoid those sugary beverages, stop
putting sugar in your coffee, and try to limit your intake of starchy food
(carbohydrates) as they breakdown quickly into sugar. Research studies
indicate that increasing physical
activity simply by walking helps decrease blood glucose levels. Walk up the
steps instead of taking the elevator. Good diet and exercise cost nothing, maintain wellness and keep you
away from medicines that are not only
costly but have side effects as well.
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