Do you tend to reach for sweets when you're stressed? It's easy to do when you're seeking a bit of relief or comfort. For many it's a non-issue but if you're trying to manage your blood sugar, it can sometimes be challenging.
While diet is certainly important, researchers now understand that stress can also have a powerful effect on glucose levels. Even if you eat healthy, exercise regularly and take supplements, if you often feel stressed, you may still struggle with energy crashes, cravings, or unstable blood sugar.
If you tend to overthink things or feel overwhelmed, even these simple patterns can trigger a stress response within the nervous system. Interestingly, some studies have shown that simply anticipating a stressful event may temporarily raise blood sugar levels before anything has actually happened.
Today, it's become too common to push through and ignore the body's signals while juggling busy schedules, endless responsibilities, and daily demands. This way of life can cause you to feel stressed and continually running on empty. This is often when the body starts searching for the quickest way to feel better and turns to sugar as it can provide a burst of energy and also activate the brain's reward system.
Unfortunately, the effects of sugar are often followed by another crash, another craving, and another search for something that will help you get through the rest of the day. That's why so many people find themselves caught in a cycle of reaching for sweets, coffee, or snacks, even when they know those choices don't leave them feeling their best.
Perhaps you've learned some tips to help minimize glucose spikes even if you do have a sweet tooth. For example, research shows that taking a 15 minute walk after a meal helps to naturally lower your blood sugar. Eating vegetables or protein before consuming carbs or sweets can help slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream. Avoiding snacks, sugary drinks and late night eating are all good strategies.
However, even the simplest strategies and changes can be difficult to implement if the desire to eat something sugary, is often really a craving to feel energized again. Fortunately, we can help ease these deeper triggers such as high stress and low energy.
At Sunkyeong Toronto, we offer services to help you recharge your internal battery so you feel more empowered instead of drained and depleted. We also help to calm your nervous system which can thereby counteract many other potential symptoms that may be caused by stress. If you're looking to experience a positive transformation in any aspect of your life, we invite you to book a Qi Energy Session and learn more about how we enhance your wellbeing overall.
