Keto Means
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

What is the number one snack to lower blood sugar?

nuts But there is one food that stands alone as the best snack for lower blood sugar: nuts. Nuts are delicious, nutritious and incredibly versatile as far as snack foods go. Plus, they can be stored at room temperature (or in the freezer for longer periods of time) and are great for grab-and-go snacks.

Is it OK to have cheat days on keto?
Is it OK to have cheat days on keto?

You should avoid cheat meals and days on the keto diet. Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes several days to 1...

Read More »
Can I lose 2lbs a week with keto?
Can I lose 2lbs a week with keto?

You can test your body's level of ketones to determine whether or not you're in ketosis. During this fat-burning stage, you can expect to lose a...

Read More »

Though you might have heard the phrase before, you might not be as familiar with the basics of how blood sugar works. After you eat or drink anything that contains calories, your body breaks down the food into simple glucose molecules. This is the form of energy that all of the cells in your body can use, and the hormone insulin acts like a key to allow glucose to get into our cells. To get the energy to your cells, glucose must travel through your blood, hence the term "blood glucose" (often referred to as blood sugar since glucose is a simple sugar molecule). Therefore, after you eat, your blood sugar will go up. And if your body runs out of glucose from that meal, your blood sugar will fall. This is natural and happens in all of our bodies. Certain foods can affect our blood sugar levels more than others. For example, foods high in simple or added sugars like soda, candy and highly processed foods can lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar that quickly burns up and falls just as rapidly. Consistent steep spikes and falls of blood glucose can make it harder and harder for the body to produce insulin. Without enough insulin, our blood glucose can be dangerously high which can damage cells. This is what can lead to type 2 diabetes over time.

Rosemary-Garlic Pecans Credit: Jennifer Causey

Luckily for all of us, there are several foods that can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. But there is one food that stands alone as the best snack for lower blood sugar: nuts. Nuts are delicious, nutritious and incredibly versatile as far as snack foods go. Plus, they can be stored at room temperature (or in the freezer for longer periods of time) and are great for grab-and-go snacks. Different types of nuts have slightly different nutrition profiles, but there are some health benefits that they all share. Nuts are great sources of plant-based protein and are high in healthy fats and fiber, making them super filling. Research has found that the combination of healthy fat, protein and fiber in nuts slows down their digestion and stabilizes blood sugar response as a result. They are also good sources of vitamins and nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, zinc, folate, vitamin B6 and more. Other studies have found that, even for people who have diabetes, snacking on about two ounces of nuts daily can improve blood sugar control and lower chronic disease risk.

What carbs Should I eliminate to lose weight?
What carbs Should I eliminate to lose weight?

Here are 14 foods to limit or avoid on a low carb diet. Bread and grains. Bread is a staple food in many cultures. ... Some fruit. Eating lots of...

Read More »
Why can't diabetics take metformin?
Why can't diabetics take metformin?

The medication can cause more serious side effects, though these are rare. The most serious of these is lactic acidosis, a condition caused by...

Read More »

What is a good A1C for a woman?

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.

What has your blood sugar been up to lately? Get an A1C test to find out your average levels—important to know if you’re at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, or if you’re managing diabetes. The A1C test—also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test—is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. It’s one of the commonly used tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, and is also the main test to help you and your health care team manage your diabetes. Higher A1C levels are linked to diabetes complications, so reaching and maintaining your individual A1C goal is really important if you have diabetes.

Why am I out of ketosis every morning?
Why am I out of ketosis every morning?

Typically, this happens when you eat carbs late in the day and then go to sleep. As your body's metabolism slows down while sleeping, the carbs are...

Read More »
How many bananas a day?
How many bananas a day?

One to two bananas per day is considered a moderate intake for most healthy people. Be sure to eat this fruit as part of a balanced diet that...

Read More »
Which fasting loses the most weight?
Which fasting loses the most weight?

Alternate-Day Fasting Alternate-Day Fasting This is a popular approach for weight loss. In fact, research found that, in overweight adults,...

Read More »
What can I put on tuna instead of mayo?
What can I put on tuna instead of mayo?

Greek yogurt works as a mayo substitute for tuna, chicken, egg, pasta, or potato salad too. You can swap out all the mayo if you're ready for a big...

Read More »