Blood Sugar and Insulin;
Why You Should Care and What You Can Do
By Mark J Kaylor
Diabetes is one of the most undiagnosed diseases today. Metabolic syndrome is also one of the most frequently overlooked conditions today. It has been estimated that up to 50% of people experiencing cardiovascular disease have this syndrome as its root cause. In addition, elevated insulin and blood sugar levels are associated with numerous leading health issues that we suffer from today, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic systemic inflammation.
“The Big Three”
We’re going to focus here on the big three; the most likely to generate the quickest positive impact on establishing healthy insulin and blood sugar levels. The first ally is exercise. Regular activity stimulates the body’s utilization of sugar as fuel while it improves our cells’ sensitivity to insulin, this can result in lower levels of serum insulin. Resistance training can be so effective that muscles well-trained in this type of exercise may not even require insulin in order to utilize sugar as fuel. Exercise will also build cardiovascular health and strength, thereby combating the negative side effects that come with insulin and sugar issues.
High-fiber is the second blood sugar and insulin balancing ally. A high-fiber diet results in a much lower insulin response to our food and reduces blood sugar and insulin increases and spikes. Consuming more fiber can help lower triglyceride levels, a good predictor of cardiovascular disease. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who ate twice the recommended daily allowance of fiber were better able to control blood sugar levels.
Next up is a specific extract derived from the Maitake mushroom, called SX-Fraction. This constituent from the mushroom has been studied in several clinical trials and demonstrated the dual ability to lower both blood sugar and serum insulin levels effectively and quickly. Work by Dr. Preuss, from Georgetown University, found that a single dose decreased blood sugar levels for up to 16 hours. When given twice a day for seven days there was a glucose drop of ~30%, while serum insulin levels dropped by ~60%. A clinical trial at New York medical College with type II diabetics saw blood sugar drops from 30% to 63% in only four weeks. The primary mechanism for SX-Fraction’s benefits appears to be its ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Evidence of this is seen in significant improvement in several cardiovascular markers; including blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Treatable and Preventable
While high levels of insulin and sugar bring with them a devastating array of health consequences, the good news is that there is so much we can do to prevent and reverse it. Simply increasing your physical activity, eating a high fiber diet, and taking the appropriate supplements, including SX-Fraction, can have profound and quick effects on helping our body to establish a healthy balance for our blood sugar and insulin levels. This is but one more excellent example of why we need to approach our health and healing from a holistic manner that includes all aspects of our lifestyle.
Mark J. Kaylor has been exploring holistic health and healing for close to four decades. He is the founder and director of the not-for-profit Radiant Health Project. Mark welcomes you comments and questions and can be contacted at his website: www.RadiantHealthProject.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/RadiantHealthProject
Disclaimer: All information and results stated here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information mentioned here is not specific medical advice for any individual and is not intended to be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. This content should not substitute medical advice from a health professional. Always consult your health practitioner regarding any health or medical conditions.