5 Blood-Sugar Secrets to Boost Energy and Beat Brain Fog
Feeling draggy? Humidity puts a strain on the body that can impact blood-sugar control, say Stanford University researchers. And since the brain is the body’s largest “consumer” of sugar for energy, this can lead to slow thinking and poor remembering. Luckily, experts say steadying blood sugar and restoring mental energy is easy.
Spice up with ginger.
Adding 1 tsp. of fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp. of the ground spice to your daily diet could make your blood-sugar control, brain function, and stamina soar by 33 percent in one week, suggests Australian research in the journal Planta Medica. Study co-author Colin Duke, PhD explains that ginger’s active ingredients, gingerols, boost insulin sensitivity inside muscle and brain cells, helping them quickly soak up and burn blood sugar for fuel.
Toss veggies in a vinaigrette.
Vinegar’s plant acids slow the breakdown and absorption of starches, say Swedish researchers. Adding 1 Tbs. to carb-rich meals cuts the risk of blood-sugar surges by 60 percent!
Try magnesium.
Taking 400 mg. to 500 mg. of magnesium daily can cut your risk of brain fog and tiredness in half, say Italian researchers. This mineral prods your pancreas to release insulin and helps your cells use this sugar-controlling hormone. Try the Life Extension Magnesium Caps ($9, LifeExtension), but check with your doctor before supplementing.
Move your arms.
British researchers say doing five minutes of arm exercises every half hour will cut your post-meal blood-sugar surges — and crashes — by as much as 57 percent. Turns out, moving arm and shoulder muscles switches on enzymes that help cells quickly burn excess glucose for fuel.
Watch the sunset.
End each day with 30 minutes of “me time,” and your risk of blood-sugar troubles, draggy moods, and tiredness could plunge by 45 percent. Explains study co-author Yan He, PhD, daily stress breaks reduce your production of cortisol, a stress hormone that hinders your body’s ability to use sugar-controlling insulin.
This post originally appeared in our sister print magazine, Woman’s World.
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