Foods that Stabilize Blood Sugar

I was reading up this weekend about how to stabilize blood sugar levels because I feel that this has been a problem of mine in the past. I’m sure everyone is familiar with a sugar crash that happens after you eat something sweet. You feel full of energy at first, but then about an hour afterward you are dragging your feet and need a nap. Unfortunately, a nap is rarely an option for most of us and the only other way to fight the feelings of a sugar crash is to eat more sugar. So starts the blood sugar roller coaster ride that has contributed to many of the pounds of body fat that I now seek to rid myself of.

Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in carbohydrates, which makes them an excellent food for stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Eating foods that help stabilize blood sugar levels can be an excellent way to curb hunger and stabilize your moods. Few people appreciate the need to balance blood sugar levels in their bodies in order to live healthy and lose weight. Research has shown that chronically high levels of sugar in the blood can inflict damage to the body since excess sugar combines with collagen, proteins and enzymes thus causing a reaction with cellular DNA. When left unchecked, chronic high blood sugar levels can also result in insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Given the dangers of high blood sugar levels, what foods can help stabilize blood sugar?

Most dietitians recommend the use of the artificial sweeteners saccharin and Splenda for balancing blood sugar levels. Both saccharin and Splenda, which is made of sucralose, pass through the digestive system without being digested, and therefore do not contribute to an increase in blood sugar levels. These sweeteners are particularly good choices for diabetics who need to balance their insulin and blood sugar levels, but still want to sweeten their foods and beverages. The negative aspect of using saccharin as a sweetener is that it may have carcinogenic properties.

Related to sweeteners is honey that also helps balance blood sugar levels. Honey is generally a good sugar substitute that has a different taste from other sweeteners. It is recommended as a food to stabilize blood sugar levels in the body and it is suitable for preparing sugar free desserts and sweetening beverages. Honey is not only a food that helps to balance blood sugar levels, but it contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals that are essential for increasing metabolism.

There are many foods other than sweeteners that help to stabilize blood sugar and many of them have two things in common: they are high in protein and high in fiber. Some of the best recommendations for foods that help to stabilize blood sugar are the following: quinoa, avocados, hummus, millet and lentils.

Some nuts are also extremely effective at balancing blood sugar levels while helping to satiate hunger. One of these foods is almonds. A study that was published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people whose diet was rich in almonds were more successful at weight loss compared to those who were on a high carbohydrate diet that contained the same calorie content. Almonds, which are high in fiber and healthy fats, help to satiate hunger without causing a dramatic increase in blood sugar levels. Walnuts are also a great source of food for anyone wishing to balance blood sugar levels. Walnuts are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids that naturally curb hunger, while being a food that is low in carbohydrates. Eating peanuts is also helpful for these reasons (see the post “Weight Loss for Peanuts?“)