Avoid Blood Sugar Crashes

Have you had those moments where you waited too long to eat, and then struggled through a blood sugar crash where that hangry mood takes over. You felt lightheaded, shaky, and generally unwell. Not only will keeping your blood sugar stabilized throughout the day avoid this rough situation, it is a great way to have sustained energy, feel vibrant, and keep your body functioning optimally.

Balancing your blood sugar is essential — the longer you let your blood sugar run wild, the more your chances for developing a long-term problem can increase. How do you keep your blood sugar stabilized throughout the day? Follow these tips for blood sugar bliss.

1. Eat foods that release energy slowly
Your regime should consist of foods that are low on the glycemic index. These foods release energy into your bloodstream slowly for more sustainable energy. Foods like vegetables, legumes, berries, nuts, and seeds are all excellent choices for meals and for snacks.

2. Snack healthfully between meals
If you find yourself grouchy between breakfast and lunch, it’s time to either explore different choices for breakfast or start packing yourself a healthy snack that will keep you feeling balanced and satisfied until your lunch break. A protein-rich serving of almonds is an excellent choice, and easy to carry along with you. Choose wisely – focusing on protein and good fat – and you’ll find yourself adequately fueled for your day.

3. Add protein to each meal
When you eat protein, it helps signal to your brain that you’re full, making it one of the most important foods to eat. Protein can be found in many different foods eggs, almonds, broccoli, tuna, and lentils, to name a few. Making sure each meal has protein will help you stay satisfied longer without those hunger pangs setting in too quickly.

4. Don’t skip breakfast
Your body needs a good start each morning. Fuel it up right by eating a healthy breakfast that includes a healthy fat and a protein. A good example is a hardboiled egg and some avocado. This combination keeps your blood sugar levels stabilized and starts your day off right.

5. Stay away from sugar and refined carbs
Anything with sugar and refined carbs is best avoided. Processed foods are promoted everywhere, and fill the majority of our grocery store aisles. It can be challenging to ditch these entirely, so take it one step at a time. Swap one packaged snack item with apiece of fruit or some veggies. You’ll notice a huge difference once you fully get processed foods out of your kitchen, and foods will taste ten times better, too!

6. Say “no” to soda
Diet or regular, sodas are filled with sugar, preservatives and artificial sweeteners. These chemical-laden beverages are horrible for your health and will cause spikes in your blood sugar. Though artificial sweeteners don’t contain glucose, they have damaging effects on your blood sugar, brain cells and microbiome. Instead of soda, make your own fruit-infused water to curb sweet cravings without harming your body, or pop open an occasional LaCroix.

Choosing your foods with blood sugar levels in mind will help you keep your body functioning optimally and feeling fantastic. It’s never too late to make changes – your body will respond! If you already have a diabetes diagnosis, it’s not the end of the world. Reach out to me for the added support of a health coach as you make changes and restore insulin sensitivity to your cells.