The amount of energy we have available to get us through the day relies a lot on our blood sugar levels.
Having stable blood glucose levels means you should be able to sustain a steady mood, stable energy and a steady focus throughout the day.
The problem starts when a person’s blood sugar levels dip really low making them feel sluggish, irritable and sometimes even forgetful.
In order to make sure that this doesn’t happen, it is important to only eat a healthy diet, which provides the body with fiber, protein, healthy fats and most of all, slow burning complex carbohydrates instead of those rubbish simple carbs.
With these proper varieties of foods supplying fuel to the body, a person can expect a stable and normal rate of digestion as well as a steady supply of nutrients into the bloodstream for sustained energy for at least the following 2 to 3 hours.
So What is a Sugar Crash?
It’s easy to see why people can assume that eating sugary foods will stop a sugar crash, but they are in actual fact the type of foods that set up the cycle which will end up causing a “sugar crash”, not long after the initial surge known as the “sugar rush”.
A stable regular supply of energy can’t be attained if a person is in the habit of eating quick burning carbohydrates.
High GI fast carbohydrates can be found in foods such as cakes, candies, soft drinks, muffins, pancakes, bagels, crackers and cookies.
These foods are referred to as fast carbs because they are lacking in fiber, protein or healthy fats that can help slow down the digestion process.
Once consumed, these foods are quickly transformed into sugar which can result in a spike in blood sugar levels.
These sharp increases in blood sugar levels are perceived by the body’s autonomous systems to be a sort of metabolic emergency.
The hormone Insulin is then released into the body to reduce the excess amount of sugar in the bloodstream as quickly as possible.
This immediate reaction then causes blood sugar to drop to very low levels.
And this drop in blood sugar levels is what is referred to as the “sugar crash”.
This is where the cycle I mentioned earlier continues, because the sugar crash then leads to more cravings for simple carbs and other sweet and sugary foods.
If a person keeps on giving in to their sugar cravings this constant vicious cycle of the sugar rush syndrome followed by the sugar crash, gets to continue over and over again.
They then begin to suffer from a roller coaster ride of high energy and then nothing.
This nonstop up and down routine of blood sugar levels can also cause fatigue, weight gain and mood swings.
Long-term, it is also a precursor for prediabetes, and ultimately leading to type 2 diabetes.
How to Stop Blood Sugar Spikes and Crashes
To begin with, the first step is to start eliminating the major cause of these issues, and that is to start cutting out fast carbohydrates.
The following step would to be ensuring that you switch to eating the right foods at the right time.
Your body needs a sound supply of proper nutrients for a continuous production of energy.
Having healthier meals throughout the day that take longer to digest, instead of sugar snacking on empty calories, is a change you should really want to make to your current diet.
So by eating foods which are high in protein, healthy fats, fiber and complex carbohydrates, you will provide your body with the proper flow of energy it requires.
If you find that you still have the need to snack, try eating five smaller meals a day, rather than the regular suggested three.
Because you are eliminating the fast carbs and other sugary foods from your diet, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your energy supply.
By changing your diet and eating healthy, you will actually have more energy than you did before.
It will not only be your energy which gets better, your moods and overall health and wellbeing will improve as well.
