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What are blood sugar levels & why are they important?

What are blood sugar levels & why are they important?

Glucose is our body’s preferred source of energy. In fact, (almost) every cell in our bodies uses glucose to perform its function. The main way we provide our bodies with glucose is by eating it. Glucose is found mostly in carbohydrate rich foods including; starchy foods (grains, bread, pasta, rice, potato), and sugary foods (fruit, sweets, desserts).

Eating too much glucose, too quickly or without fat, fibre or protein can lead to glucose peaks and troughs we call glucose spikes. Glucose spikes are a relatively universal experience and can harm our health when they occur too frequently.

Glucose spikes and drops can leave us tired, ravenous for more sugar, feeling low and unmotivated, hormonally out-of-whack, mentally fogged and challenged by frequent illness. Balanced blood sugars are a fundamental of health, and the good news is - there are many things we can do to keep our blood sugars rolling smoothly.

Conditions impacted by blood sugars (not an exhaustive list!)

PCOS - In most cases, PCOS is caused by too many blood sugar spikes. Being on a blood sugar rollercoaster can drive our ovaries to put a halt on ovulation and consequently produce more testosterone. This hormonal shift can lead to excess pubic hair growth, irregular periods, jawline/facial acne and weight gain. When we stabilise our blood sugars we optimise our ovaries ability to ovulate and produce a balance of oestrogen and progesterone. 

Gestational diabetes - Blood sugar regulation naturally changes with pregnancy to encourage healthy growth of the baby and the placenta that nourishes their little body. Eating in a way that promotes blood sugar spikes and troughs during pregnancy can contribute to the development of gestational diabetes - by balancing blood sugar spikes & troughs, mothers can improve their health during pregnancy and the health of their baby.

Acne - Many skin issues (including acne, eczema, psoriasis) are heavily impacted by glucose spikes. Steadying our glucose curves can help to ease the inflammation associated with these conditions and ease the emotional impact skin conditions can have on an individual's self esteem.

Weight & cravings - Balancing our glucose curves (avoiding spikes and drops) can help to reduce cravings & increase satiety. Having less sugar floating around your bloodstream, means your body has less to store as fat - our “just in case source of fuel”.

Menopause - Hot flashes and night sweats are more likely in those with high glucose levels and low stress resilience. Why? As our sex hormones dissipate during the menopause transition, we have a greater propensity to lose muscle, consequently losing the metabolically active tissue that helps to burn and store glucose as glycogen. When we eat in a way that balances our blood sugar levels we can help to mitigate menopausal night sweats, hot flushes, weight gain and mood changes.

Introducing Blood Sugar Babe: the queen of weight management, hormones & skin support.

Disclaimer

This blog post is for educational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat or cure. We are all unique. For your individual health concerns, it is important to discuss these with a relevant health professional.

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