In our bodies blood sugar is energy. Energy to operate our brains, our muscles, and virtually every cell in our bodies. Sugar is not our only energy source, we also get energy from fats and oils. However, the energy we get from sugar molecules is released faster than the energy from fats and oils, and we rely on sugar derived energy when we need fast access to energy. Carbohydrates in grains and vegetables are made up of sugars.
To have a smooth release of energy when we need it in a hurry we need to have good blood sugar regulation. That starts with eating the right foods.
We naturally seek out salt, fats, and sugar. Fast foods have large amounts of all three food substances, but not the natural forms that we want. Our bodies want the 22 nutritional minerals in sea salt, and not the heat processed sodium chloride in commercial salt products. We also want good fats, such as olive oil and the omega three rich fats in grass fed beef. Not the factory farmed genetically modified oils. And, we want the natural sugars in seasonal fruit and vegetables, not the high fructose processed corn sugars that will congest our livers.
Blood sugar is regulated at several levels in our bodies. Optimal blood sugar regulation starts with a slower release of digested carbohydrates and sugars into our circulating blood. The “Glycemic Index” is a number assigned to each carbohydrate and sugar that represents how fast each food type will enter the blood stream as a digested sugar. A glycemic index of 1.0 is the speed with which plain white granulated sugar will enter your blood stream after it is swallowed.
Note that the glycemic index of white potatoes is 0.8, or 80% as fast as white granulated sugar.
Digestion of our food starts in the mouth. The digestive enzyme Ptylin is in you saliva. It starts the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. By slowing the action of Ptylin you will slow the release of sugars from the carbohydrates you eat. Ptylin is blocked by vinegar. By eating pickles, which stimulate protein digestion in the stomach, will block Ptylin and reduce the glycemic index of the carbohydrate foods you eat.
Digested carbohydrates as sugar in the blood are then moved into cells for use as sources of energy. This is modulated by the hormone Insulin, which is secreted by the Pancreas.
Type One diabetes is an auto immune condition where the pancreatic cells that make insulin are attacked by a person’s own immune system. This is often a reaction initiated by a person being exposed to the albumin in cow’s milk.
Type Two diabetes is a condition where a person has become resistant to their own insulin. Insulin resistance was thought to be caused by a diet high in processed sugars. The high sugars then led to high insulin production, with cells adapting and making fewer insulin receptors. Then, to get the energy and sugar needed to function people needed to eat more and more sugar to get the energy they needed. New concepts of Type Two diabetes are now being discussed.
It is known that insulin is a stress hormone. Under usual circumstances insulin is released when digested sugars increase in the blood. When eating sugars. Under stress, in anticipation of needing the fast release of energy from sugars, insulin is released.
The traditional concept of type 2 diabetes was:
High sugar diet –> high insulin –> insulin resistance –> higher sugar diet.
The modern concept of type 2 diabetes is:
High stress –> high insulin –> insulin resistance –> higher sugar diet.
Without controlling your emotional and physical stressors, and your release of insulin, you will not be able to control your sugar cravings.
Another point of discussion is sugar storage in your liver. Sugars, as glycogen are stored in your liver. Your liver has about two days worth of stored sugar. If your liver is congested from living in a toxic world, eating high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats, and consuming recreational substances such as alcohol, it will not release the stored sugar energy smoothly.
An example of the liver not controlling blood sugar well is a blood test showing a high fasting blood sugar. A fasting blood sugar means that a person has a blood test, usually in the morning, with their last meal being at least 10 hours before the test. After the patients meal the night before the test their blood sugar would of course rise. Then over night before their morning blood test their body uses the blood sugar and the level in the blood drops. If the liver fails to release the stored blood sugar as needed around 4 to 5 am, it will compensate by releasing too much blood sugar closer to 7 am. This over compensation will show up as a high fasting blood sugar. Liver congestion affects blood sugar regulation.
Reactive hypoglycemia. Since insulin is a stress hormone it may be released when a person eats a food that they are sensitive to and stressed by. It may be a healthy food, but if you are sensitive to it you may have a blood sugar reaction.
Blood sugar regulation is important for good health. Knowing which foods are right for you and how to control your stressors may be a challenge. Testing your blood sugar in real time is an important health option. I have patients who have had great success using the Dexcom blood sugar monitoring system. It has allowed them to identify their food, physical, and emotional stressors. I recommend this system to people wanting to know how to manage their blood sugar.
