Why Blood Sugar Drops? |
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Insulin, a hormone released by a specialized part of the pancreas, allows each of our thirteen trillion living cells to use glucose. It is as if each of these cells has a door that lets glucose in, and insulin is nature’s key that unlocks that door. Lots of insulin causes all doors to open and even stay open, and when they do, blood sugar drops rapidly because insulin enters so many cells.
When you eat foods with lots of sugar and little or no fiber, the sugar is released very quickly after it leaves the stomach for the small intestine and gets absorbed into the blood while it's still in the top-most part of the intestine. For example, a soft drink has about 2 tablespoons of sugar and no fiber, so the sugar is rapidly absorbed as soon as it leaves the stomach. This rapid movement of sugar into the blood is a signal that lots of sugar is on its way, and much insulin is released so the expected sugar load can be metabolized.
Seldom is the exact amount of insulin produced to meet the need. More often than not, excess insulin is produced. If other natural foods are being eaten at the same time. a serious blood sugar drop is not experienced because fiber slows carbohydrate release, and the insulin is used more effectively However, many people produce excess insulin whenever the sugar load exceeds their threshold, and hypoglycemia results.
When blood sugar drops, the panic and anxiety produced is actually a primitive signal telling the person to eat, or take stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, or cigarettes. People with low blood sugar often behave strangely or unpleasantly until they take in something that relieves the problem.
The smart person simply follows a diet that will keep her blood sugar within the normal range. This eliminates one stress source, and even better, it helps prevent overreaction to the stress that always follows anxiety. Stable blood sugar similarly allows a person to cope calmly with stress.
Eating to maintain normal blood sugar is simple: follow a diet high in complex carbohydrates with the correct amount of protein and not too much fat. Sound difficult? It isn't if you simply eat for bulk, avoid sugar, seek out high-fiber foods, and use fiber supplements sensibly.
Compare an apple to a piece of chocolate. Both deliver about 150 calories. You can swallow the chocolate without even chewing, but no one can swallow an apple whole. That’s what bulk means. Select vegetable foods and fruits that are fresh and require chewing. Learn to make them your snacks.
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