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The level of sugar in your blood is critical to how you feel. People who have low blood sugar tend to suffer from fluctuating energy, as their blood sugar level varies during the day.
Another common symptom is to feel very tired on waking, despite getting a decent amount of sleep.
Low blood sugar doesn't just affect physical energy, it can sap your mental energy too. The brain uses a lot of the body's sugar supply, and even relatively minor drops in blood sugar can lead to loss of memory and poor concentration.
Low blood sugar is also linked with mood disturbances such and anxiety, irritability and depression, and in severe cases can cause regular blackouts. It is also associated with cravings for sweet and sometimes starchy foods.
Obviously, if your blood sugar level is low, it is natural for your body to ask you to eat the foods it knows will replenish sugar most quickly into the blood stream such as sweets and chocolates. In the long term however, the over consumption of these foods actually makes this problem much worse.
Occasionally, the symptoms of low blood sugar may actually be a sign of diabetes (high blood sugar). Therefore, it is important to see your GP if you suffer from these symptoms. However, a single blood test is unlikely to show up a problem with low blood sugar, because unless you are actually suffering a dip in blood sugar at the time of the test, the result will be normal.
Sufferers could also considering carrying a few packs of dextrose tablets, in case you suddenly lose energy and coordination!
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| Diet |
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The way to treat low blood sugar is to ensure that you maintain a stable level of sugar in the blood throughout the day. It is important to eat regular meals, including breakfast. Eat a banana immediately upon waking and try a sugar-free muesli for breakfast, or porridge with a raw apple chopped into it as a natural sweetener, with organic rice milk to balance blood sugar for the morning.
Many people who suffer from this condition find that it is much more beneficial to eat five or six small meals during the day rather than having just two or three main meals.
Another way to do this is to eat fruit or snacks such as low sugar (and fat) biscuits or a low-salt Ryvita in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. It is also essential to cut down on foods which release sugar quickly into the blood such as refined sugar, white bread, white rice, white pasta, shop bought cakes and pastries.
Base your diet on foods which release sugar relatively slowly into the blood stream such as brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, wholemeal bread, fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. Coffee, tea and other stimulants should be avoided, as these tend to cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate. Herb and fruit teas and coffee substitutes available in good health food stores are much healthier.
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| Supplements Wich May Help |
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Take a multivitamin/mineral tablet, plus a B Complex tablet, and two grams of vitamin C in an ascorbate form.
The mineral chromium, in which many people are deficient, is vital for balancing blood sugar and reducing sugar cravings. Try SucroGuard, especially formulated with chromium and other nutrients to help balance blood sugar and to help reduce cravings. One daily, in between meals. Available from BioCare, on 0121-433 3727.
The amino acid glutamine helps reduces cravings because it supplies fuel to the brain. Calcium and magnesium also help to reduce cravings. For details, call 0207 436 5122.
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| Reading |
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Low Blood Sugar by Martin L Budd, £7.99, Thorsons.
Recipes For Health: Low Blood Sugar by Maggie Budd-Martin, £6.99, Thorsons.
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| Hints |
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If you have acute symptoms such as fainting fits, blackouts, extreme weakness and trembling it is important to restore blood sugar levels as quickly as possible.
Although I don't recommend that anyone should take too much refined sugar normally in their diet, this is one situation where something sugary such as a sweet biscuit or soft drink is warranted.
If you have such symptoms, see a nutritionist who can help you to re-balance your diet. Don't just rely on refined sugar - as in the long run it will make the situation worse.
Hazel Courteney is one of Britain's foremost experts in alternative health care - check out his columns in www.Channelhealth.tv for more information.
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