Blood Sugar Balancing
Keeping an eye on how food affects your blood sugar is not just for diabetics. In fact, it is one of the most effective tools you can implement to overcome chronic stress and allow your adrenal glands to recover. Signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is one of the most common signs of adrenal fatigue.
The little adrenal glands are small but mighty, as they are responsible for many important functions in the body. Not only do they produce sex hormones (like estrogen during menopause), regulate your metabolism, immunity, salt balance in the blood and stress response (cortisol levels), but they also play a role in blood sugar levels.
Yes, the pancreas is in charge of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by releasing insulin. But the adrenal glands play a vital role in the delicate dance of blood sugar regulation. When we eat too much sugar, or food that dissolves into small glucose molecules at a fast rate (think refined white bread), the pancreas reacts by releasing insulin. But it often overcompensates, creating the feeling of an energy crash not too long after. This leads to hypoglycaemia. When the nervous system senses stress, in this case low blood sugar, it sends a signal to the adrenals to prepare for fight or flight. Exasperating the stress response.
Additionally, it has been shown that those under chronic stress are more likely to experience symptoms of low blood sugar even though their blood work comes out normal. This is because those in advanced stages of adrenal dysfunction exhibit symptoms of low blood sugar more rapidly. This is clinicaly evident. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia are triggered such as irritability, fatigue and brain fog.
Furthermore, symptoms of anxiety can result from low blood sugar. The rollercoaster blood sugar diet can be a main contributor to anxiety.
This is why it’s so imperative to eat foods that have a slow release of sugar into the blood, and to eat frequent meals (every 2-3 hours in advanced adrenal fatigue).
By including foods that are high in fat, fibre and protein, we can be sure to keep blood sugar balanced and to maintain a healthy nervous system, reducing the daily cortisol release and allowing the nervous system to recover.
Protein, Fat and Fibre
PFF are your BBF!
Keep your blood sugar levels in check by eating 3 balanced meals per day, along with 2-3 balanced snacks. Each meal and snack should consist of whole foods that contain Protein, Fat, Fibre. These foods provide complex, slow burning fuel that takes longer to break down, keeping you feeling full for longer, preventing cravings and most importantly, your blood sugar balanced. Eating this way will help your blood sugar levels remain stable. By eliminating frequent blood sugar fluctuations, your adrenals won't be instructed to activate your fight and flight response as frequently. You'll start to feel better and have less feelings of panic and anxiety. Your adrenals will begin to heal, and you may even notice your waist size starting to shrink.
