5 Steps To Balancing Blood Sugar

By Allie Mitchell, Certified Health Coach

I’ve discovered when my blood sugar is balanced, my days are going to be brighter and my moods are going to be happier! Keeping our blood sugar balanced every day means being aware of what we’re eating and how much sugar and carbohydrates we’re consuming. It also means managing our stress and moving our bodies daily.

Let’s start by considering these 5 tips…

I’m surprised by how much added sugar is hidden in our foods. Companies will hide it in our breads, salad dressings, soups, sauces, nut butters, and even crackers and chips. When at the store or at home, look out for added sugars in food labels or opt for a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit (without erythritol).

1. Checking the food labels at the store for sugars. Others names for sugar on the back of labels could be cane sugar, coconut sugar, cane juice, agave, beet sugar, brown sugar, fructose, honey, and maple syrup. (Careful with artificial sweeteners also like aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, cyclamate, that can wreak havoc throughout the body including the cardiovascular system, hormones, and nervous system thereby effecting mood and overall wellness).
2. When eating fruit, pair it with a source of healthy fat. I love apples, but I always make sure to pair it with some almonds or peanut butter to help flatten the blood sugar curve. With higher carbohydrate content vegetables like sweet potatoes, spread some grass-fed butter or avocado on it.
3. Focusing on whole foods and prioritizing protein! If it grew from the ground, flew from the sky, or swam in the sea, it has a good chance of being good for you! Focus on eating the rainbow of produce at the store. I like eating big salad bowls with lots of greens, chicken, and avocado.
4. Going on a 5-10 minute walk post meals. Moving our bodies is great to get the blood flowing after we eat. It will help push those carbohydrate sugars into the cells which will naturally bring down your blood sugar.
5. Getting 8 hours of sleep each night! Our bodies do a lot for us when we’re sleeping. It’s its time to repair itself. Give your body the rest it needs and you will dramatically improve the chances of it doing what it was created to do the next day: thrive!