10 Easy Ways To Have Healthy Blood Sugar
2024 – As some people know, higher blood sugar levels, leading to higher insulin levels, can lead to many health problems.
Unfortunately, this situation seems to be getting worse each year…
And as of 2024, it’s estimated that over 60% of all US adults have diabetes (15%-18%) or prediabetes (43-45%) –1
However, what’s even worse is that high blood sugar can also cause and exacerbate additional health problems such as:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Poor blood flow
- Weight gain
- Inflammation & joint pain
- Poor cognition & memory problems
- Hair loss & wrinkles
- And more…
Basically, high blood sugar accelerates the aging process.
So with that said, I’m going to quickly discuss 10 easy ways that can help to have healthy blood sugar levels quickly, easily, and naturally, and reduce future health problems.
Also at the end of this article, I’ll give you my personal favorite “formula” for supporting healthy blood sugar… something my family and I have been using for over a decade.
1. Exercise Daily
Regular, daily exercise can help you lose unwanted fat. But more importantly, helps improve “insulin sensitivity”.
Healthy, normal insulin sensitivity means your cells are better able to use the available sugar in your bloodstream, and thus, less insulin is needed.
Hence, the foods you eat get used more for energy and muscle growth, rather than fat storage.
Any form of exercise is excellent. Daily is ideal.
You only need 20-30 minutes.
Fast walking is fantastic. I also suggest anything that helps you build more muscle — such as lifting weights with cables, machines, dumbells, etc.
2. Eat The Correct Carbohydrates
When you eat carbs, your body converts them into sugar (mostly glucose). As your blood sugar goes up, your body secretes insulin to help lower it back down to a normal, healthy range.
Now, carbs are not evil. However, the wrong carbs, especially in high amounts ARE bad for your health.
So your goal is to eliminate or minimize man-made carbs such as bread, pasta, snacks, sugars, drinks, etc. These have a high “glycemic index/load”, which shoots up your blood sugar.
Focus more on vegetables, some yams, a little bit of rice, legumes, quinoa, and whole grains. Get rid of the bad carbs and eat less total carbs.(2,3,4,5)
3. Eat More Fiber
Fiber has so many benefits and sadly, most people are barely getting any. You should be eating at least 25 grams or more. While most Americans are barely getting around 5-10.
The cool part is that fiber slows carb digestion and sugar absorption, leading to a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, without the high spikes.
It’s best to get both soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet because both help improve your blood sugar levels. (6,7,8)
Foods high in fiber are also the ones I recommend for your ideal source of carbs: vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
If you can’t get enough fiber from your foods, then make sure you add some fiber supplements to your diet. They really do help.
4. Eat Smaller Meals, More Often
I’m sure you’ve heard about this when it comes to weight loss. However, one of the reasons for the weight loss is the lower blood sugar levels from eating smaller meals. (9,10,11)
Most people eat like 2 meals a day and these are high-calorie meals, which spike up your blood sugar.
Just have 5-6 small meals or snacks throughout the day. You’ll have better blood sugar, more energy, and feel fuller.
5. Watch What You Drink
You should never drink your calories — any sodas, juices, alcohol, “shakes” or anything similar. They all digest quickly and spike up your blood sugar.
The best drink is water, or maybe even green tea. First, most people are dehydrated, so they have to drink more water.
Water also flushes your kidneys, cleanses your liver and thus, eliminates excess blood sugar through urine… all of this helps reduce diabetes.(12,13,14)
6. Manage Your Stress Levels
You can’t have good health without also discussing stress management.
What’s interesting is that stress increases blood sugar levels AND decreases insulin sensitivity. (15,16)
This is because of a change in hormones such as glucagon, cortisol, testosterone, adrenal hormones, and so forth. (17,18)
Now, we can’t eliminate stress, but you can MANAGE it by not overreacting to negative situations.
Knowing that “this too shall pass” and spending a little time every day to “relax” — such as exercise, meditation, taking a walk, reading a book, taking a nap, and so forth.
Even 15 minutes makes a big improvement. (19)
7. Better Quality Sleep
You can’t manage your stress if you don’t get enough, quality sleep.
Again, this has to do with negative changes in your hormones when you don’t sleep well. (20,21)
I’ve never been a good sleeper, so here are some simple tips:
-
- Go to bed around 9-10 pm, for sure before midnight.
- An hour before bed, start to relax — turn off electronics, dim the lights, read a book, journal, etc.
- Make sure your room is pitch dark.
- Go to sleep focusing on positive thoughts, rather than negative ones.
8. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, like exercise, helps lower blood sugar levels AND improve insulin sensitivity. (22,23,24)
And you don’t need much. Just mix 1 teaspoon into a glass of water, 3x daily.
9. Lose Fat
Losing unwanted fat and decreasing your belly fat has numerous health benefits.
This is even more true with blood sugar levels because the lower your body fat, the higher your insulin sensitivity.
What’s interesting is that you can actually eat MORE carbs, as you decrease your body fat. (25)
The good news is that all of the solutions I’ve mentioned today, help in having healthy blood sugar AND reducing body fat levels.
10. Take Natural Supplements
So far, everything I’ve mentioned today is very important but does require time and effort. Exercising, eating the right foods at the right times in the right amounts, and stress management don’t happen overnight.
It’s small changes, creating daily habits that will allow you to reach your goals.
Unfortunately, most people just give up after a week or two since they aren’t getting results fast enough, especially for the amount of time and effort.
This is why I always suggest people take natural supplements. It helps speed up your results, it’s easy and convenient.
Minerals such as Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, and Chromium are very important and most people are deficient in them.
Also, scientifically shown ingredients and herbs such as Cinnamon extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Bitter Melon extract, Fenugreek seed, and Vanadyl Sulfate will help support healthy blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.
Remember, improving blood sugar helps you avoid diabetes, and most health ailments AND reduces the aging process.
It’s definitely one of the most important things you should focus on for health, fitness, and longevity.