Blood sugar imbalance - how to test for it, the symptoms and how to approach it naturally..
If a child has high hair chromium levels, low serum chromium or a high or low mg/ca ratio - this is an indication that they need support balancing their blood glucose levels. They may also be very tired and emotional after school, or at 11 am, after the breakfast blood glucose levels have spiked and then dipped. Blood glucose dysregulation is one of the most common causes of negative behavior and mood disorders in children.
Signs of blood sugar imbalance:
Emotional overwhelm and meltdowns
Feeling better after eating
Feeling shaky before eating
Craving starchy carbs & sugar (pasta, pizza, bagels, sweets)
Disturbed sleep patterns
Fatigue at 11 am and 3 pm
Support the body through the following ways:
Increasing their chromium intake - chromium increases insulin sensitivity, thus reducing the amount of insulin circulating in the blood, and improving the glucagon/ insulin feedback system.
Cinnamon
Broccoli
Grass fed beef
Gluten free oats (soaked overnight for extra digestibility
Green beans
Grapes
Tomatoes
2. Eating little and often.
Less food intake in one serving will impact the blood sugar levels less dramatically.
Eat smaller portions, more frequently.
3. Eat more protein, fat and less refined carbohydrate.
Carbohydrates turn into sugars more quickly in the blood and so are better avoided if blood sugars are an issue. Breakfast cereals are especially notorious for creating havoc with a childs’ mood and energy levels. Much better to opt for a protein rich breakfast like eggs, fish, overnight oats with plenty of seeds and seed butter, hemp milk smoothie, almond flour pancakes etc.
4. Hydration: blood glucose balance requires an abundance of minerals. If the body is dehydrated, there will be a deficiency of minerals, and also minerals in the wrong place in the cell (Ca inside and Mg outside of the cell wall). Support blood glucose balance through gicing plenty of filtered water (I like Nikken filter because it mineralises as well as filters)
5. Avoid stress as far as possible: stress increases blood cortisol levels - which triggers a secretions of glucose into the bloodstream - this impacts mood, emotions and energy drastically.
6. Avoid refined sugar. Substitute for maple syrup, dates, apples and rapadura ( these do contain glucose, however they have a less dramatic impact on mood and energy levels, as they all contain minerals so as not to deplete the bodies' own stores.)
Dates are a rich source of essential minerals which play a key role in hydration.
Hemp seeds are a great source of minerals, fat and protein. Add them to salads, smoothies or soups! They are a great brain boosting food as they are rich in zinc and omega 3.