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Ask the Naturopath
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The battle of blood sugar and insulin resistance |
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Why is this being raised yet again? Because more than 60% of Canadians have insulin resistance, a root cause of obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help blood sugar enter cells, where it’s used for energy. With insulin resistance, the body fails to recognize the insulin produced, causing sugar to accumulate in the blood instead of being absorbed into other cells. Blood sugar levels remain high and the pancreas produces more insulin, causing high insulin levels which predispose to diabetes.
Fibre helps
Getting lots of fibre can help fight heart disease, diabetes, weight-gain, and promotes good bowel health. Most dietary fibre comes from fruits and vegetables, grains and beans. The known health benefits of fibre has lead Health Canada to suggest consuming 30 grams a day.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find high fibre content in a lot of foods. Use a fibre supplement that increases the volume and mixes with food to become gel-like so food doesn't digest as quickly and blood sugar doesn't surge after meals. A fibre that absorbs hundreds of times its weight in water such as polyglycoplex, works best, blood sugar rises slowly, and not as high to maintain healthy levels. Be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid constipation. Most Canadians require additional fibre whether from fruit or a fibre supplement. Fibre is a key to good health. H&L
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photography: Ivan josifovich / shutterstock 2009
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