Targeted Nutrients (Blood Sugar Edition)

Nutrients to Support Blood Sugar ⬇️⬇️

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is one of the best ways to optimize your hormones, brain health, energy levels, and overall well-being.

While blood sugar responds to the macronutrients (fats, proteins, carbs) in your diet, it also depends on 💥micronutrients💥 for regulation.

Such as (in no specific order)...

✅ B Vitamins

✅ Magnesium

✅ Chromium

✅ Zinc

✅ Omega-3’s

✅ Vitamin E

✅ Vitamin D

Each of these nutrients carry out specific functions related to blood sugar, but many support the action of insulin or the enzymes needed for energy metabolism.

So what?

So this means that eating nutrient-dense foods is just as important as balancing out carbs with protein, fat, and fiber.

If you are looking for targeted support for your blood sugar, metabolism, or energy, we can help.

🥾 Take the first step through the link in our bio.

#nutritionformetabolism #nutrientsupport #nutrientdensity #nutritionalsupport #elementsnatmed

Reference

Basiri R, Seidu B, Cheskin LJ. Key Nutrients for Optimal Blood Glucose Control and Mental Health in Individuals with Diabetes: A Review of the Evidence. Nutrients. 2023;15(18):3929. [link]

Surprising Cause of Accelerated Aging

Sugar is making you age faster 💥

Not to be dramatic, but the truth is that sugar spikes cause a biochemical process called glycation…and the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Turns out that AGEs play a big role in skin aging.

They accumulate in the skin, compromise collagen, and contribute to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin 😩

Sure, glycation is a natural process that increases with age anyway, but diets that are high in sugar or refined carbs without a balance of healthy fats, fiber, and protein accelerate the process.

Is slowing down the aging process a motivating factor for you?

🌱 Get started at our practice through the link in our bio!

Reference

Gkogkolou P, Böhm M. Advanced glycation end products: Key players in skin aging?. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):259-270. [link]

Stress & Sugar: Which Comes First?

Which comes first?

When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol and adrenaline. These increase glucose in the blood as a source of energy for your cells to respond to the perceived threat (fight or flight!) 😱

BUT…when you aren’t actually running from a saber-toothed tiger, that spike in blood sugar is kinda…EXTRA.

✖️ That’s how stress can be a driving force behind insulin resistance and blood sugar problems over time.

Now let’s look at the other way around 🔁

When you eat an excess of sugar or refined carbs, you get a sugar spike followed by a crash—which your body perceives as a stress and releases cortisol and adrenaline.

✖️ That’s how sugar causes stress.

So, which do you think comes first for you?

Is it the sugar or the stress?

Blood Sugar Problems in the Family? Open Up.

Factors that influence blood sugar balance 👇

But first, if blood sugar problems run in your family, that does not mean you are destined for them too.

Genetics and age are admittedly 2 factors you cannot control.

But there are many other factors that also influence your risk for insulin resistance and blood sugar problems.

Factors you CAN control include:

✅ Diet

✅ Exercise

✅ Stress

✅ Hormones

✅ Sleep

When you tip the scales in your favor by optimizing these factors you can control…

…you set yourself up for a lifetime of health 🙌

📲Tag a friend in the comments who might find this helpful!

Sugar Crash—Explained 😮

👀 Pause the scroll and spend a minute with me…

Ready for a crash course in exactly what happens at the cellular level when you eat too much sugar at once?

(let’s say—a big gulp slushie 🥤)

When the sugar hits your digestive tract, it’s absorbed into your bloodstream as glucose (aka blood sugar)...

…which signals beta cells in your pancreas to release insulin (a hormone) into the blood as well.

⚠️ Remember this: because we’re dealing with a slushie here, a large spike in blood sugar triggers a large spike in insulin.

Insulin facilitates the movement of glucose into cells so it can be used as energy 👏👏

Sounds great EXCEPT…

Because of the sudden nature and magnitude of the sugar spike and insulin spike, glucose is quickly moved into cells and blood sugar drops dramatically (the CRASH 🫨)

Cue hunger, cravings, shakiness, brain fog, anxiety, you-name-it.

👉 The point is that our bodies were not made to deal with excessive sugar intake.

If repeated day in and day out, eating high amounts of sugar or refined carbs without healthy fats, fiber, and protein…

…is the main cause of insulin resistance.

If you’re still with me, like ❤️this post and follow 🚶‍♀️for my upcoming posts on how to keep a healthy blood sugar balance.