BALANCED DIET

Our bodies consume blood sugar as fuel for energy, but store excess fuel as body fat due to that remarkable storage hormone produced by the pancreas known as insulin. How much simple sugar (white sugar, for instance), then, should our diet contain to deliver that correct level of blood sugar? The answer is: none at all.

At a stable blood sugar level our bloodstream contains about two teaspoons of glucose. Since all carbohydrates -- including such unlikely candidates as lemons and spinach -- once digested, are absorbed into our bloodstream as glucose, our bodies’ sugar requirements are easily met. And, unfortunately, easily exceeded.

Our bodies do not need any pure sugar at all, nor do they need processed carbohydrates like white rice, white-flour pasta, bagels, breads and cereals, which raise blood sugar levels more than sugar itself. The digestion of slow-acting or low-glycemic complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats provides an adequate supply of blood sugar. In fact, the right amounts of protein and dietary fat are crucial because they slow down the entry of carbohydrates into the system and allow for extended hunger satisfaction. Dietary fat is actually the best blood sugar stabilizer, while protein is considered neutral in this respect.

The longings for particular foods that we so often feel when following some new diet or nutritional recommendations are indicative that what we are eating is unbalanced in some way. A balanced diet should not leave us with cravings  for some food type not included. The optimal diet is one in which you do not have to use will power to succeed because balancing the body’s chemistry is the key. The bottom line is that too much or too little of the wrong kinds of carbohydrates, proteins, or fats can cause health problems. The following is a simple overview of our bodies’ nutritional requirements.

Carbohydrates. We need complex carbohydrates from starches, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fruits to provide fuel in the form of blood sugar for energy-burning brain and muscle activity.

Fats. We need fats in the form of oils, nuts and seeds to help balance the blood sugar level, provide the raw materials for hormones, assist in long-term energy, and strengthen cell walls and mucous membranes.

Protein from both lean animal and vegetable sources like white meat poultry, fish, lean meat, low-fat cottage cheese, tofu and whey helps to stabilize blood sugar, promotes cell growth and repair, assists in hormone production, cell metabolism, bodily fluid balance, maintenance of the immune system and functioning of digestive enzymes.

Meals need to consist of a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A stable blood sugar level is one of the rewards of a balanced diet. With stable blood sugar, you have fewer health risks, extended energy, balanced moods, and greater mental focus and attention.

You May Also Like:  NUTRITION AND NUTRIENTS