Sugar, it’s an energy-rich food that’s relatively easy to obtain from the natural environment. It burns fast and hot in the body producing an energy kick which we pay for with a crash later on. As a species, we’ve developed a pretty unhealthy relationship with sugar. As a hot burning cellular fuel, it wreaks havoc with the health of tissues and cells. Sugars form a barrier around mitochondria and make healthy energy production impossible until it is cleared away.
Worse still, are the simplified sugars that come with candies, treats, and processed foods. At least fruits have complex sugars that don’t do quite so much damage. Of course, the addictive and destructive nature of sugar means that it can have dire consequences- namely diabetes.
Here are ten potent supplements that can help to ward off the damage sugar can do, and help reduce the symptoms of hyper and hypoglycemia.
Chromium
Necessary for proper metabolization, chromium is a trace mineral which supports optimal blood sugar levels- but only when it is taken on a regular basis.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
This water-soluble fat tackles the free radicals that sugars unleash into our bodies. This protects our tissues from the destructive effects of glucose as well as working as an aid in the conversion of sugar into energy. After just four weeks of use, it can also help us to maintain good insulin sensitivity.
Banaba Extract
No, not banana, banaba. It is a leafy plant that comes from the tropics of south-east Asia. This leaf contains corosolic acid which acts as a support for the transport of glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it can be used as energy. One study showed that those who took banaba leaf regularly were able to maintain healthy blood/sugar levels in just two weeks.
Cinnamon
A well-known antioxidant, cinnamon is as delicious as it is healthy. But recent studies show that it also contains trace minerals that help support healthy blood sugar levels.
Ginseng
Well known for its brain and memory boosting powers, ginseng can also help control blood sugar. It has been shown to be especially effective in regulating blood sugar when taken right after meals.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds support healthy blood sugar levels, keeping them within the normal range. It does this by supporting digestive function, enabling the digestive system to process sugar fully and completely- nullifying its toxicity. What’s more, fenugreek may also help to keep insulin levels normal with its high concentrations of amino acids. One study suggests that after three years of regular fenugreek consumption, blood sugar levels can be restored to normal even after being dangerously out of control.
Gymnema Sylvestre
This exotic plant is native to the forests of India. Its leaves maintain healthy blood sugar levels for those already within the healthy range. As such, it is a preventative supplement recommended for those at risk for high or low blood sugar. It does this by regulating insulin, sugar uptake, and glucose absorption.
Probiotics
By now we are all familiar with the many positive effects of probiotics. These helpful microbes are so essential to our health across our lifespans that is cannot be denied that we are in fact symbiotic creatures. These beneficial bacteria help us to digest our food, destroy dangerous toxins in the digestive tract, and prevent them from escaping into our bloodstream where they can do enormous harm. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that probiotics also play an important role in the processing and regulation of glucose.
Magnesium
This mineral is as essential to our health as it is common. Magnesium is responsible for more than 300 vital chemical processes in the body. This includes, of course, the regulation of sugars. Taking magnesium regularly can increase insulin sensitivity and help to keep glucose levels in a healthy range.
Vitamin D
You simply cannot look into the subject of good nutrition without hearing about the many crucial benefits of vitamin D. Vitamin D has a direct effect on the ability of the body to process glucose, and those with blood sugar problems tend to also have a deficiency of this vital nutrient. Vitamin D is one of the biggest promoters of insulin sensitivity. That means, when you have the right amount of vitamin D in your system, you need less insulin to process glucose.
