NEURO-NUTRITION: Discover How to Keep Your Mind & Body Sharp & Nimble

[continued from the Last Post.]

SUGAR SEESAW!

Delicious and delectable, destructive and deadly. Sugar.

Problems with low energy levels are often caused by an imbalance of blood sugar.

This difficulty almost always starts in infancy. Sugar in the form of glucose is our principal source of fuel. It is the end product of all our carbohydrate consumption.

Adults have about two teaspoons of glucose in their blood; children have a pro rata amount, depending upon their size. Imagine this amount compared to the eight teaspoons in a candy bar!

Problems erupt when we get too quick a ‘hit’ of blood sugar (when it rises too rapidly).

This comes from refined carbohydrates, especially refined sugar, such as in the candy bar. High blood sugar, if maintained, could lead to a diabetic coma. On red alert, the body pours insulin into the system in a frantic effort to lower the blood sugar.

Insulin lowers blood sugar levels by storing glucose in cells. If the insulin becomes too reactive, it brings the blood sugar down too low, too often. The sugar high-high is followed by a sugar crash; this pattern, if it persists, becomes a roller-coaster ~ from craving to crash to craving, and so on.

The immune system is weakened, as the ability to resist and to fight infection is greatly reduced. The insulin in the bloodstream is churned up, the pancreas goes wild, and a sugar rush occurs.

The havoc created attacks your concentration, memory, and powers of reasoning.

Blood sugar levels must be controlled by ingesting the proper nutrients. One of these is chromium, a core molecule for glucose tolerance factor (GTF), produced by the liver, as well as magnesium, and vitamin B3. To combat blood sugar imbalance:

* Cut down on convenience foods and fizzy drinks; they usually contain refined carbohydrates;

* Eat a healthy breakfast, daily. Meals and snacks should consist of a good balance of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats;

* Avoid excessive use of fruit juices, or if you do have them, make sure that they are very diluted. Freshly squeezed fruit juices should be drunk straight away. Fresh fruit (washed)is highly recommended;

* Avoid, or limit, refined sugar, honey, and sugary foods like cordials, cakes, and biscuits;

NOTE:

Sugar in its natural form is either labelled ‘molasses’ or ‘muscovado’, and these contain all the naturally-occurring nutrients; it is also found naturally in fruits.

COFFEE & TEA:

With both these drinks, if several cups a day are drunk, there is a diuretic effect where essential minerals like potassium, magnesium,and calcium are flushed out of one’s system.

However, for medicinal purposes, certain herbal teas are recommended. Caffeine is known to raise blood pressure if several cups a day are drunk; this may be due to the diuretic effect.

Many people just accept raised blood pressure levels because they feel fine but this is foolish. It is always possible to feel well, up until the moment of a heart attack or stroke.

Consistently high blood pressure is of considerable concern because of the insiduous damage it does to the brain,heart and kidneys.

[To be continued in the Next Post. Excerpted from 'Unleashing Genius with the World's Most Powerful Learning Systems', by Dilip Mukerjea.]