Sugar ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ Honey, Honey

Well Halloween, the holiday of candy, has come and gone with a lot of candy being eaten. I did notice as I gave out candy to a smiling 4 year old dressed as a light up Princess and her side kick a shy Grim Reaper that the mini candy bars we were giving out have shrunken to the size of my thumbnail. When did that happen?

As I was snacking on a few tiny treats I thought it was a good time to discuss sugar and your HEALTH. The US population has an increasing issue with insulin resistance and diabetes.

Plain and simple, how sugar is processed in your body can create health complications.  When you have diabetes, your body has too much sugar/glucose in it. To use the sugar/glucose in your body your body needs insulin which is made in the pancreas. Some people have an issue with the pancreas not making enough insulin and then insulin must be given. With other individuals, there is enough insulin made, but the body does not respond to it correctly and you become insulin resistant and end up with Type 2 diabetes. This is more common among people who are sedentary. One place in your body where sugar is stored is in your muscles. When you move your muscles sugar/glucose is needed as fuel and insulin is used to help metabolize the sugar. This keeps your sugar/glucose level in your body balanced.

So, where to start with changing daily/weekly habits that can help with blood sugar?

For one thing, you must move your body more.  Regular Physical Activity can reduce the risk of insulin resistance. The process of exercising keeps the muscles pulling in the insulin to use up the excess glucose in the muscles on a regular basis. This helps to keep your sugar/glucose levels safe for your body. Daily or several times per week exercising can help prevent insulin resistance naturally. Exercising and reducing sugar in take are both important factors in reducing high glucose levels in individuals who suffer from diabetes.

Movement/Exercise is free and affects your body in such a profoundly positive way.

And yes, go ahead and eat that candy bar….. if it is the size of your thumb nail.