Smash Blood Sugar Spikes with Apple Cider Vinegar

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., and with the latest reports showing the number of Americans estimated to be diagnosed with prediabetes at an astounding 86 million, and a further 29.1 million diagnosed with diabetes, it’s no surprise that there are millions of people who are searching for ways to avoid blood sugar spikes.

If you’re one of those people, you’re probably aware of both the short- and long-term effects of a post-meal blood sugar spike. Some of the more immediate effects can include severe fatigue and tiredness, so much so you that you could find yourself plopping down into a chair and quickly falling asleep. Your vision might blur, and you probably won’t feel very well overall either.

Over the long-term, if those blood sugar spikes continue, your HbA1c level will rise, which has been scientifically shown to increase the risk of some serious complications like heart disease, kidney disease and retinopathy, which can even result in the loss of vision.

One of the most common approaches to lowering blood sugar spikes after a meal is to take more insulin – but unless your blood sugar levels remain high for three to six hours after eating, that’s not going to help, and it will likely result in low blood sugar levels before you get to your next meal.

What you eat is a very important part of controlling blood sugar – in fact, some experts, like Mark Hyman, MD, author of The Blood Sugar Solution, believe that eating the right foods not only help one to manage blood sugar levels, but they may even be able to help reverse diabetes

This is where apple cider vinegar comes into play for smashing those blood sugar spikes.

Documented benefits of apple cider vinegar

The benefits of apple cider vinegar have been well-documented. It has no adverse side effects, and it costs considerably less than most conventional treatments. Vinegars of all types have long been popular for use as a weight loss aid, as they help make you feel fuller. One study found that participants who ate a slice of bread along with apple cider vinegar felt fuller than those who ate bread alone.

A study conducted out of the University of Arizona discovered that drinking apple cider vinegar before a meal can help reduce the release of sugar into the blood and improve insulin sensitivity.  This is similar to how some diabetes medications are designed. Certain medications block the digestion of starches and sugars. By doing so, they are able to prevent blood sugar spikes, helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Carol Johnston, Professor and Associate Director of the Nutrition Program of Arizona State University, who has been studying the effects of vinegar on blood glucose for more than a decade, says that apple cider vinegar can act like some diabetes medications, helping to block the body’s ability to digest sugar and starch. Her theory, according to an article by NYMag, is that “acetic acid blocks an enzyme that digests starches, thereby preventing some carbs from being absorbed.” 

Blood sugar response involving apple cider vinegar and healthy individuals

Consuming apple cider vinegar has been found to be effective not just in those who’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, but healthy individuals as well. According to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers studied the effects vinegar’s acetic acid on blood glucose response after healthy people ate a meal. They then discovered that the acetic acid had a potent effect on glycemic response, leading the experts to conclude that vinegar can help regulate blood sugar levels whether one is healthy pre-diabetic, or has been diagnosed with diabetes. 

Apple cider vinegar at bedtime

While much of the research on apple cider vinegar has been focused on drinking it before a meal, one study found that taking it just before bedtime was able to help moderate blood sugar upon waking. The study involved 11 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who weren’t taking insulin, but were taking oral anti-diabetic medication. They were given either an ounce of cheese and water, or an ounce of cheese and two tablespoons of vinegar at bedtime each night for two days. Another trial was conducted several days later, in which the two groups were reversed. 

The experts found that those who ingested vinegar and cheese saw a drop in fasting blood glucose levels by 4 percent, compared to 2 percent who received cheese and water. But when the researchers examined the data closer, they discovered that those with the highest fasting glucose levels experienced a more significant difference, with blood glucose levels dropping by 6 percent.

Taking apple cider vinegar to smash your blood sugar spikes

If you’d like to try it, keep in mind that the results can vary from one individual to the next – most studies concerning apple cider vinegar have found that one to two tablespoons are sufficient to receive the benefits.

You may want to experiment by trying both, meaning sipping it just before a meal as well as before bed.

Be sure to use organic, raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar like Bragg’s or Spectrum Naturals. Add a tablespoon to warm, but not too hot, water. If you don’t like the taste, you can add a dash of cinnamon or a teaspoon of raw, organic honey (don’t overdo it, because honey is mostly sugar). If you’re one of the few people that really enjoy the taste of vinegar – don’t be tempted to drink it undiluted as it can cause burns to the sensitive tissues of the throat and mouth.

-Be Well

Do This When You Can’t Stop Thinking About Food

When you first fall in love, there is often no longer any space in your brain for anything but thoughts of that person. It is like an override switch is triggered and there is only room for one perpetual thought. Although this may seem like a good thing, the reality is, thinking about any one thing all the time can become frustrating, distracting and even compromise your health and wellbeing.

Take food for example: If you were to keep track, how many hours a day do you spend thinking about food? Either what you are going to eat, what you have eaten, what you would like to eat or any other related thought to food? Do you think about food when you are hungry and also when you are not hungry? Is the only time that you don’t think about food when you are asleep?

If you answered yes to any of the above, it could be a sign that you are preoccupied with food. Sure, you may not think that you are preoccupied because you can still (sort of) engage in life’s daily tasks, even seem involved in activities. However, if there is a constant hum in your head or a constant return to thoughts of food, it may be time to address the issue.

Perhaps you are struggling with a health issue such as obesity or diabetes. Unfortunately, being preoccupied with food can be a terrible thing. As our thoughts often drive our actions, the constant energy being used to conjure up mental images of food can interfere with your healthy life pursuit.

Dangers of constant thoughts of food

It has been said that our thoughts often drive our actions. If you have a tendency always to think about food, you may also have a tendency to act on that thought whether it is rational to do so or not. For instance, you may have just finished lunch an hour ago, but you are not thinking about food again. This thought may cause you to overeat at a time when your body doesn’t really need food for fuel.

So, what are you to do if the majority of your thoughts center around food?  It is not so simple as telling yourself to turn it off. Don’t feel guilty if you have tried to override your compulsive thoughts but not been successful, you are not alone.  The good news is that there are some positive steps you can take to banish your constant thoughts about food. Keep in mind that managing your thoughts is just like managing other things in your life, it takes time and effort and most of all, consistency.

Thinking about foodHere are some things that you can try:

Mental distractions: There is nothing like a good ol’ distraction to re-channel your thoughts. Being busy and being distracted means that your thought energy will have to fight for space. Although being distracted is not a longterm solution, it will help to diminish your controlling thoughts. Try things like playing solitaire, scrabble, word puzzles, etc… Anything that will pull valuable cognitive resources is a good choice.

Share your thoughts with a loved one or friend: Sometimes something so simple as sharing your thoughts with others can help release the burden that you have. Often, others can provide insight and support that will allow you to break free from your constant battle with food thoughts.

Keep food out of sight: Often the visual stimulus of looking at food is enough to trigger controlling thoughts about food. Keep your counters clear of food and your cupboards and fridge full of nourishing options such as fruits and veggies. If you share your space with someone who eats less than healthy, ask them to keep the food out of sight as well.

Use your hands: Just as mental distractions can help chase away your focus on food so can being busy with your hands. Take up a hobby such as crochet, knitting, painting or even playing a musical instrument. Again, the idea here is that your neurons can only handle so much, and if you channel the energy in another direction there won’t be much left for thoughts about food.

Ask yourself if you are famished or just bored? Sometimes you may think about food when we are hungry, but other times you may think about food because you are bored. Take a few minutes to connect with yourself when thoughts of munching on your favorite snack enter your head. If you conclude that you are not hungry, just bored – find something purposeful to do. If you are truly hungry – have a healthy snack like some veggies and hummus.

Breathe deeply: Often just taking the time to center yourself and focus on your breathing can chase repetitive thoughts away.  Take a deep breath in through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth. Do this four or five times to switch your focus from food to breathing. Your body will feel revived and energized after this exercise.

Don’t use food as a reward:  To help shift your focus away from food be sure not to reward yourself with food. For instance, if you feel that you deserve a “treat” for some reason or another make it a habit to choose something other than food such as a pedicure or a new pair of shoes.

Help someone: If you really want to shift the focus away from yourself, go out and help someone. Being engaged with people who are in need will rearrange your thoughts so that they are in line with what others need not with what you think that you need.

Listen to calming music: Many times you may feel like the racing thought of food will never cease. Chase your thoughts away by listening to soft instrumental music. After a few songs you may find that the music has gently pushed your disturbing thoughts aside.

Talk to yourself: One of the best and most effective ways to banish unwanted thoughts is to face yourself in the mirror and have a little talk. Remind yourself that you are more than your thoughts and that your thoughts will not control you. Be grateful always and remind yourself that you will not think of food. Repeat this as many times as it takes to get the idea of food out of your head.

Healthy thinking is a habit

Contrary to what you might have heard, it takes about 66 days for something to become a habit. Don’t give up on yourself too soon, but rather remind yourself that you can stop the thoughts. Keep defeatist thoughts away and remain confident that you can win the battle over your preoccupation with food. Don’t worry about how long it may take but instead, put your energy into making it happen no matter how long it does take!

-Be Well

 

6 Great Reasons to Work Your Muscles

Be honest, did you ever stand in front of a mirror when you were younger and flex your muscles? Remember turning from side to side, leg poised, admiring your well-toned body for hours? Oops, perhaps you still do that today, and that’s ok. However, by now you probably know that muscles are for more than flexing.

The human body employs between 640 and 850 muscles. Some of these muscles are voluntary while others are operating without you even knowing. The heart is a cardiac muscle and an involuntary muscle. It just keeps beating without us having to initiate or oversee anything. Voluntary muscles are known as skeletal muscles because they attach to your bones and work in partnership with your bones to allow you to walk run, push things, pull things, bend over, etc.

All muscles, whether involuntary or voluntary are essential for human health. While being healthy will have an impact on your involuntary muscles, more effort is required to keep skeletal muscles at the top of their game.

Here is why you should work your skeletal muscles

If you think that just doing daily living things like brushing your hair or taking out the trash will keep your muscles in check, think again. It is necessary, especially if you are over 40 to focus some attention on your skeletal muscles. Here are just a few reasons why:

Stronger muscles help make daily activities easier: Muscles are important not just for athletics but for everyday living. Without muscles, simple tasks like pushing a lawnmower or vacuuming the floor would be tough.

Skeletal muscles help improve posture:  If you can hold good posture, you will find that you have a reduction in back problems and things like chronic pain ease up. Now sit up straight!

Leaner muscles accelerate calorie burn: If you really want to burn calories and drop pounds, train your muscles more. A high energy twenty-minute workout with weights will burn more calories than an easy fifty-minute walk in the park. These calories are burned during the training session and also during the post-workout period. For every pound of muscle you put on your body burns 50 more calories each day.

The more muscles you develop, the stronger you will be: Who doesn’t want to be stronger? There is an obvious connection between well worked and toned muscles and strength. Contrary to what Popeye taught us, you need more than a can of spinach to be strong.

Skeletal muscles help keep you upright and balanced

When your muscles are healthy, you can move more freely. Strong muscles also keep your joints in good shape. Healthy muscles are what also keep you from falling each time you stumble.

Muscles help optimize insulin

skeletal muscle strengtheningGood news for anyone who is pre-diabetic ( metabolic syndrome) or diabetic, working your muscles can help you better use insulin and absorb glucose.(2) Resistance training combined with aerobic activity is the best combination for optimizing insulin.

How do muscles become strong?

In the case of muscle building and toning, an injury must occur before good things can happen. That injury involves muscle fibers that break down when we work them in resistance training exercises. Oh, so that you know, mowing the lawn or vacuuming don’t count as muscle building exercises unless your mower and vacuum are super hard to push. When muscle fibers become irritated, the body goes to work to patch up the problem that results in more muscle tissue. It is a pretty amazing process.

Don’t forget a healthy diet

In addition to physical exercise, you need a good wholesome diet to fuel your muscle building. Many people make the mistake of not eating enough or often enough, and they find they lack the energy necessary to be physical. Consuming a snack before you exercise and after will help fuel your workout and recover afterward.  These Savory Breakfast Muffins make the perfect anytime pre-workout snack when paired with a serving of your favorite protein such as eggs or lean chicken. After your workout, refuel with plenty of water and a baked sweet potato with real butter or some guacamole spread on a whole wheat or gluten-free pita.

Won’t I get huge bully muscles if I work them?

Many people, perhaps even you, might shy away from muscle building exercises for fear of ending up looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although some might be happy with the look, others are probably thinking, what does he need all that muscle for? The good news is that to fine tune your muscles to look like any bodybuilder takes more than just a few visits a week to your local gym. Chances are, you are not likely to waddle your way out of the gym after a few months of weight training with muscles on muscles. What will happen, however, is that your skeletal muscles will get a great workout and this, in turn, kickstarts your metabolism and impacts overall health and wellness in a large way.

How big do my skeletal muscles have to be?

If you have ever been to a gym, you have probably seen guys and gals that have really large, well-toned muscles. These are people that have trained for hours upon hours, months upon months and years upon years,  to achieve the look of a very muscular body. Don’t fret, it is not necessary and sometimes not even healthy to push the body so far. In reality, the size of the muscle is not the all in all – what is important, however, is that you consistently you train your muscles to increase your muscle mass and reduce excess fat. The saying that we all know, “use it or lose it,” applies perfectly in the case of muscles. Atrophy sets in when we don’t give our muscles a job to do.

How to do just enough, but not too much

It doesn’t have to be a huge or complicated job either, just a consistent job. Over time, muscles respond and become toned and healthy. One of the best ways to achieve all of the benefits of well-toned muscles is not by going to the gym and using all the fancy equipment but rather using the best and most reliable piece of equipment you own, your body. That’s right, body weight exercises are highly effective at building a sleek and well-toned physique without the bulk. A simple workout such as this one, done only twice a week for 30 minutes each time is all it takes to keep your muscles alert and engaged.

Overkill not the answer

Now you know that being Arnold Schwarzenegger is not a must (unless. of course, you want to look like him) when it comes to benefiting your overall health and wellbeing. Just be consistent and dedicated to a body weight routine and you will see and feel a significant difference in no time at all.

 – Be Well


What if there was a way to reverse your Type 2 diabetes in as little as 45 days? What if that way was easy,,,, really easy? Click here how you can be diabetes free using this 100% scientifically-backed method!


 

17 Tips for Healthy Dining Out

You are excited, it has been far too long since you have enjoyed an evening out. The babysitter has arrived, you are already feeling the stress melting away as you put your cares from the past week to bed and head out on the town.

Everyone enjoys a night out from time to time. A great meal cooked by someone else, and better yet, cleaned up by someone else. There is just something special about being waited on from time to time.

However, far too often we let ourselves become preoccupied with thoughts of veering off our healthy diet or worry about not having the right foods to choose from. Good news, both pre-diabetics, and diabetics can enjoy a fabulous meal and all of the fun that comes along with a fun night out without any regret.

Here are some tips for healthy dining out that will keep you healthy without sabotaging your fun:

Eat as close to your usual time as possible: If you take medication or insulin to help control your diabetes, it is vital that you eat at a time very close to your usual time at home. In order to accomplish this, avoid dining in a location where you know there will be a long wait. Better yet, choose places that accept reservations. Always pack a “just in case” snack in your bag such as a piece of fruit. If you find that it is taking longer than expected to be served, eat your snack to tide you over.

Do your research: Before choosing a place to eat, drop by and take a peek at the menu. Many places also offer their menu online so that you can check meals before making a reservation. Be sure that the restaurant that you chose has meals that are on par with your diabetes meal plan.

Ask questions: Once you arrive at the restaurant, don’t be shy to ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel comfortable about what you will be eating. If something doesn’t seem just right, ask about substitutions. You will find that more often than not, restaurants are willing to make substitutions for health concerns.

Keep your sugar radar on: Although avoiding added sugar is more difficult when you are not preparing your own meals, it isn’t impossible. As you may know, sugar lurks in some very strange places such as sauces dips and dressings. The best bet is to ask for all sauces and dressings to be on the side. A safe bet for salad is always oil and vinegar. Of course, it is always wise to steer clear of beverages other than water. If you are looking for something a little more exciting, add lemon to some seltzer water or enjoy a cup of cold brewed herbal tea.

Be cognizant of carbs: Too many carbs at one time can spell disaster as they will send your blood sugar to the moon. Always choose low-carb foods such as whole grains and vegetables and if possible pass on the buns or anything overly  processed. Remember, the more fiber the better!Healthy dining out

Have a healthy fear of fried food: Just like processed food and high carb foods , fried foods are a danger to anyone, especially people who struggle with blood sugar issues. Don’t be afraid to ask to have a certain dish cooked in a way that does not defy your dietary rules. The best, of course, is steamed, broiled, baked and sauteed.

Skip the chips: Depending on where you go, you may have a basket of chips, bread or some other “free” appetizer on your table. If you can help it, it is best to avoid the temptation to fill up on these pre-dinner snacks.

Eat your food naked if possible: It is always best to undress your food so that you can enjoy its natural goodness without it being drenched in sauces, breading, marinades etc. To add flavor ask for extra spices or use healthy options like fresh salsa, lemons or limes.

Don’t go Texas style: Your mantra should never be “go big or go home.” This is a recipe for disaster. American portions, by in large, are really too big for anyone. We have become a supersize nation and it seems as though the majority of people have stretched to accommodate this. Compared to almost every other country, our portion sizes are huge, enough for two or even three persons. If you go out, ask to split a meal with a friend or take a box home.

More healthy tips for dining out 

  • Eat at restaurants that use local food.
  • Don’t skimp on your meal price – lower priced food may be more heavily processed.
  • Drink plenty of water before you go out to eat – you will generally eat less if you are well hydrated.
  • Avoid fast food at all costs.
  • Remember to enjoy your meal – eat slowly, never rush through your dinner. It takes about twenty minutes for your brain to register to your stomach that it is full.
  • Avoid foods with the following words in the name, creamy, fried, sauce, crispy or stuffed.
  • Don’t stress if you make a poor food choice by mistake.
  • Skip the dessert.

Start a dinner club

If you love to get together with friends for a night of fun and share a meal consider starting a dinner club. You can enjoy taking turns hosting dinner. If everyone in the club is aware of your dietary restrictions you will probably enjoy a healthier meal than you would if you dined out. Remember, are so many options for healthy and delicious main dishes and even sweet treats. Your friends will ask for seconds!

What’s for Dinner? Quick Chicken Cordon Bleu and  Old-Fashioned Fruit Crumble….yummy!

Most importantly

Most importantly don’t avoid going out and having a good time for fear of upsetting your diet plan. You may have to do a little upfront planning but don’t let that get in the way of you having an amazing night out on the town. Remember, no regrets.

-Be Well


What if there was a way to reverse your Type 2 diabetes in as little as 45 days? What if that way was easy,,,, really easy? Click here how you can be diabetes free using this 100% scientifically-backed method!