BLOOD SUGAR RHYTHM (how diet impacts insulin & cortisol)

BLOOD SUGAR RHYTHM  (how diet impacts insulin & cortisol)

BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS


HIGH

= emergency

  • release of insulin (fat storage hormone)

  • weight gain

  • inflammation

  • damages arteries

  • leads to metabolic disease (obesity, diabetes, liver issues)

NORMAL RANGE

= stable mood, cognition, and energy

LOW

= emergency

  • release of cortisol (stress hormone)

  • brain fog

  • hungry & crabby

  • low energy & fatigue

  • cravings (especially sugar & caffeine)

  • stresses adrenals


  1. Eat high-carb meal without protein, fat, or fiber

  2. Temporary high energy

  3. Insulin tells your cells to take in energy, dropping blood sugar

  4. Now all the energy is stored, leaving you tired and hungry

  5. Eat sugar for a "pick me up"

  6. Blood sugar spikes (and crashes) again

  7. More cravings and brain fog

  8. Insulin spikes promote imbalance & inflammation


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References

Gaby, A. R. (2017). Nutritional Medicine (2nd ed.). Fritz Perlberg Publishing.

Jones, D. S., Bland, J. S., & Quinn, S. (2010). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine.

NTA Student Guide. (2019). Nutritional Therapy Association.

Carbohydrates. (2019). The Nutrition Source. Havard School of Public Health. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/.

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