2

How Sugary Is Your Blood?

Keep The Glucose Spikes Outta Your Blood

I GUESS it could be said (cause I’m about to say it) that a good diet is one that accounts for blood sugar (aka “glucose”) control.

Controlling blood sugar via your diet necessitates understanding how the carbohydrates you eat effect your blood sugar.

Enter the Glycemic Index (“GI”).

Low GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily into the blood stream.  High GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person experiencing hypoglycemia.

A diet dominated by high GI foods could produce a few health problems, such as adult-onset (“Type-2”) diabetes, and obesity. Wikipedia’s write-up on the Glycemic Index (“GI”) is informative and can be read here. Medical News Today has a substantial amount of information about insulin and the pancreas here.

My father had adult–onset diabetes, which meant in his case that the diabetes was a result of his poor eating habits, not genetics.  But what if there was a genetic propensity?  I’m not taking any chances!  I eat well, pay attention to the Glycemic Index of the foods I eat, and take these supplements:

Chromium GTF (200mcg, 120 small tablets) This is an essential mineral that promotes proper insulin levels.

L-Glutamine 500mg (500mg, 60 medium capsules) This is one of those multiple-function supplements. It helps with weight control, blood sugar, muscle development, and more.   I don’t take it regularly, but instead use it for special purposes, like if I’m about to intensify my resistance training, or seek to lose fat.

Green Tea Mega EGCG (100 vegetarian capsules) Green tea is being researched to test various health benefits, its effect on blood sugar being one of them: this study provides evidence that green tea has an antidiabetic effect. This formulation contains a potent source of polyphenols and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) – two antioxidant compounds that are 25 to 100 times more potent than that of vitamins A, C and E – which are thought to protect fragile DNA and cells from destructive free radicals. Antioxidants neutralize harmful oxygen-containing molecules in your body called free radicals and peroxides.  Each capsule of Green Tea Mega EGCG provides the equivalent of 10 cups of tea without the caffeine or diuretic effects brought on by drinking significant amounts of tea.

White Chia Seeds (16oz, 454 Grams) This baby is fairly new to my arsenal.  I really like it. Chia Seeds help you absorb food, improves digestion and slows glucose (blood sugar) absorption.  I liberally sprinkle it on anything that has a high Glycemic Index rating (simple carbs), such as fruit or fruit smoothies, sweet yogurt, etc.

WellBetX Glucose Balance This is a revolutionary fiber complex that binds to the water in the digestive tract to form a gelatinous, viscous mass which slows glucose absorption and creates a sense of satiety (fullness) while reducing the absorption of calories.  Recommended by Dr. Mark Hyman, this PGX Blend, short for PolyGlycopleX, exerts 3 to 5 times the effects of other fibers. The  key component of PGX is glucomannan, a soluble fiber from the root of konjac. It is 3 times more viscous than guar and 7 times more viscous than psyllium. But when combined with PGX, this formulation has a viscosity 3 to 5 times greater than glucomannan alone. PGX:  lowers postprandial blood glucose by 20%;  lowers insulin secretion by 40%; and improves whole body insulin sensitivity by nearly 50%. PGX capsules also contain an extract of mulberry leaves, shown to block certain enzymes that break down starches and sugars in the body, thereby diminishing after-meal rises in glucose and insulin.

There are other supplements you could choose to help control blood sugar, these among them, but recognize that nothing will achieve this better than diet and its accomplice — exercise.

 

Go here for a list of Product Categories.

Supplement Disclaimer

Just as with the descriptive statements made at the various company sites that manufacture and/or sell the supplement products presented in this blog, none, or nearly none, of the potential benefits stated here have been evaluated by the FDA. Likewise none, or nearly none, of the products here can be represented to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Before engaging a supplement program, it always makes sense to get the advice of your health practitioner.

Last Updated on February 27, 2022 by Joe Garma