Balancing blood sugar levels
An estimated 30% of people have a blood sugar imbalance – highs and lows in blood glucose causing a wide range of symptoms including low energy levels and weight gain. Blood sugar imbalance affects a staggering 80% of people who are overweight (the other 20% simply eat too much!!).
Not all carbohydrates are equal.
When we eat any type of carbohydrate, the body digests it into smaller units eventually breaking it down into glucose (energy). Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and therefore release their energy slowly – conversely simple carbohydrates release energy quickly. A sudden surge of glucose following an intake of sugary food causes a hormone called insulin to be released, taking energy to the rest of body. However, insulin can overcompensate as it scrambles to rebalance high blood sugar, which explains why we get a slump after eating high sugar foods.
Continual peaks and troughs in energy means a rollercoaster effect can develop, causing low energy, constant hunger and many other symptoms. Although many people may only experience mild symptoms, if allowed to develop to an advanced stage, insulin finally gives up causing Type II Diabetes which brings with it further complications and a risk of heart disease. Despite popular fad diets and marketing, the body actually needs carbohydrates – all the major health and nutrition organizations still recommend 50-60% of the diet comes from complex carbohydrates. It’s the simple carbohydrates that cause weight gain, blood sugar problems and ill health.
Weight Problems
Quite simply, unused blood glucose is stored for later as body fat and a rush of sugar is far less likely to be burned than a slow release one. It becomes obvious why the number of people overweight who have a blood sugar imbalance is so high and still rising. In addition, the level of blood glucose determines our hunger levels or appetite. In fact many of the symptoms associated with fluctuating blood sugar are likely to cause us to eat more, particularly low energy and fatigue.