Your blood sugar level, you've probably heard of it. But why is blood sugar stability so important for the brain? And what are the disadvantages if it isn't? What causes fluctuations in your blood sugar levels? You can read all about it in this article!
Why is blood sugar stability so important for our brain?
When we eat, the body converts carbohydrates into glucose. Your body needs glucose to generate energy to walk, dance, think, and much more.
Glucose causes blood sugar levels to rise. The hormone insulin ensures that glucose is absorbed and signals the brain that our blood sugar levels can slowly decrease again. This is a normal process. But when we eat too much sugar or experience too much/prolonged stress, this system works differently...
As common as sugar is now, it was once rare. In prehistoric times, sugars were a real luxury for the body and brain; they were scarce. Nowadays, however, we have an abundance of sugar and consume it daily. We find sugars not only in cookies, candy, cake, and other sweets, but also in other processed foods such as bread, canned soup, instant noodles, and that delicious egg salad for your sandwich. And before you know it, you're eating more sugar than is good for you.
Did you know that an average Dutch person eats 57 grams of added sugar per day? That's 14 sugar cubes a day, 99 sugar cubes a week, and 20 kilos of sugar a year!
What happens when you eat sugar?
When you consume even a small amount of sugar, it means more energy for the body and brain. In addition, when you eat sugar, the reward hormone dopamine is produced, which creates a euphoric feeling. This hormone is responsible for the fact that with the first bite of sugar, you already crave more, as it provides a pleasant feeling. However, this feeling is short-lived... the result? Your brain wants to experience this euphoric feeling again and asks for more and more sugars, which can eventually even lead to a sugar addiction!
But that's not all. Sugar also causes a huge and rapid spike in your blood sugar levels. This signals the brain that there is energy. But this feeling is also short-lived and will be followed by a dip in energy levels – blood sugar levels drop again. You may recognize it: right after eating a sugary meal or snack, you feel like taking a nap. You're experiencing the so-called 'after-dinner dip'.
And what do you do next to get out of this energy dip? You reach for the next sugary snack, feel energetic again for a short period, then tired again, and before you know it, you're in a vicious cycle. Kicking sugar can therefore be quite challenging, but it is truly possible!
Overcoming a sugar addiction
How do you get rid of your sugar addiction? Society does everything to maintain it, and in supermarkets, gas stations, and even hospitals, we are constantly confronted with sugary foods.
Furthermore, your brain loves comfort, and when you want to change, your brain can make it quite difficult for you. Creating a new habit – a daily life without much sugar – is the solution. But this requires attention, patience, and discipline. You can reprogram your brain, say goodbye to old habits, and be open to new ones!
But how do I start creating such a habit?
- Ensure 3 wholesome meals a day to keep your blood sugar stable. These meals consist of: slow carbohydrates (lots of fruits and vegetables), healthy fats (avocado, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds), and sufficient protein. Also, choose unprocessed products, preferably organic and as fresh as possible.
- Intermittent fasting: this involves eating only a few hours a day, for example, between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. This means you don't eat for 18 hours, giving your body a rest. Many people love sweet breakfasts, from toast with sprinkles to quark with granola and oatmeal with fruit. The advantage of intermittent fasting is that your blood sugar doesn't immediately spike when you eat breakfast. Intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone, and if you want to start, we always advise doing it under supervision. We are happy to help with this!
- Exercising on an empty stomach: this teaches the body to burn fat more effectively and not just burn sugars from food.
- Vary your diet: our brain is very happy with variety, which keeps our brains alert and ensures we get enough nutrients throughout the day.
- Support the body daily with sufficient nutrients and supplement where necessary: it is important to get enough nutrients daily so that all internal processes can be performed well. The supplement 'Blood Sugar Support' is specially formulated with chromium, which helps maintain normal/natural blood sugar levels, and vitamin B1 (thiamine), which contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
- Eliminate all added sugars.
