Imagine you are driving your car down the NJ Turnpike. The road is wide open, the lanes are clear. You have the cruise control set for 65 mph (as any law abiding citizen would). The radio is playing your favorite tune. You are cruising down the highway, with very little effort. You are not wearing your brakes at all; your gas mileage is at an optimum.
Now imagine that you have one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake. Every few seconds you accelerate, every few seconds you decelerate. How does this affect your car? Well, your gas mileage will suffer; you will wear down your brakes. You are certainly wearing the engine, the spark plugs and the entire vehicle. Plus the ride isn’t nearly as smooth as it was in the previous scenario.
You would never drive your car like that. It would be a ridiculous waste. Well, how about your metabolism? Do you put it in “cruise control” or are you driving it inefficiently?
When you eat meals that are overly filled with starches, sugars and other carbohydrates, your blood sugar will become elevated. Then your body (specifically your hormones like insulin and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) will respond by furiously attempting to lower the blood sugar levels.
However, instead of lowering the blood sugar to normal, you will most likely “overshoot your target” and end up with a low blood sugar. Then your body (this time with hormones like adrenalin and glucagon and your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) will furiously attempt to raise the blood sugar. However, instead of raising the blood sugar to normal, you will most likely “overshoot your target” and end up with a high blood sugar.
The cycle of fluctuating high and low sugars will continue until eventually these fluctuations start to diminish and eventually the blood sugar stabilizes again. One excessively sugar laden or carbohydrate-laden meal can cause blood sugar problems for up to three days.
The time and effort that your body spends trying to rebalance your blood sugar can cause a bunch of different symptoms.
For example, high sugars, which stimulate the PNS, can contribute to low blood pressure, fatigue, depression, diarrhea, ulcers, anxiety, allergic reactions, asthma, sinus problems and watery eyes and nose.
Low blood sugars, which stimulate the SNS, can contribute to high blood pressure, palpitations, anxiety, constipation, ulcers, insomnia, dry mouth, immune system problems and erectile dysfunction.
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Long-term damage caused by poor blood sugar control can be even more devastating. Cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, depression, anxiety, premature aging, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obesity can all result from excessive blood sugar fluctuations.
To maintain good blood sugar control, eat a good “fuel mixture” at every meal. You can do this by combining the proper ratios of protein/carbohydrates/fats.
AVOID EATING MEALS THAT ARE OVERLY FILLED WITH STARCHES, SUGARS AND OTHER CARBOHYDRATES!!!!!
Put your metabolism on cruise control.