An Important Blood Marker For Your Metabolic Health

An Important Blood Marker For Your Metabolic Health

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If you see your doctor for annual physicals, you likely have lab tests done as well. I’m wondering how often your doctor looks at your lab report and says, “you’re fine.”

But there may be some things that your doctor isn’t seeing. There’s an important blood marker that is often overlooked.

According to experts, over 93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy and at risk for chronic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease as they age. The typical labs done with a physical are Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, and Lipid Panel, but an important one is missing. Fasting Insulin is a marker that can be beneficial for your preventative care.

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Not A Scary Situation, Or Is It?

Not A Scary Situation, Or Is It?

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 Here in the US, we may have an assortment of witches, ghosts, and princesses showing up at our doors this evening. Many of them will have cute kids’ faces beaming over the neckline of their costumes, though some may be hidden behind masks. It’s not a scary situation, or is it?

You know what’s really scary in this situation played out in neighborhoods or businesses? The amount of sugar that accumulates in the bags of the trick-or-treaters.

It can seem innocuous. Lots of little candies – suckers, fun-sized packs, or candy bars. All small portions, right?

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Do you find yourself drawn to sweets? It is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing these strategies and you'll have better energy.

Tame Your Sweet Tooth For Consistent Energy

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Do you find yourself drawn to sweets when you see them? If you have a sweet tooth, you know how difficult it is to resist. Sugar is a very addictive substance, and eliminating it is not easy. Yet I’m happy to say that it is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing some strategies.

Remove the Temptation

Stop buying those sweet treats to stock your pantry – or your desk. If it’s not easily accessible, you are less likely to eat it.  Discover nature’s natural sweets with fruit that provide nutrients along with the sweet taste – eat the fruit rather than drinking juice to reduce the effect of sugar on your body. Berries are low in sugar and are full of beneficial antioxidants. Cinnamon is a fantastic spice that makes your food taste sweeter without added sugar. It even helps regulate blood sugar levels. Read more

Is Fruit Juice Really Healthy

Is Fruit Juice Healthy or a Problem?

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Did you grow up drinking a glass of juice with your breakfast? Perhaps you still drink it, along with your coffee. After all, a glass of OJ means a boost of Vitamin C, right? But is fruit juice really healthy?

I once thought – as you may have – that juice was a healthier choice over sodas and processed sugary drinks. In truth, juice purchased from the store, is quite close to a drink made of liquid sugar. Read more

Avoid Blood Sugar Crashes

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Have you had those moments where you waited too long to eat, and then struggled through a blood sugar crash where that hangry mood takes over. You felt lightheaded, shaky, and generally unwell. Not only will keeping your blood sugar stabilized throughout the day avoid this rough situation, it is a great way to have sustained energy, feel vibrant, and keep your body functioning optimally. Read more

Do you find yourself drawn to sweets? It is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing these strategies and you'll have better energy.

When Temptations Pop Up

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I’m certainly no stranger to the occasional urge to rip open a chocolate bar, go through the drive-thru window, or dive into a bag of my favorite chips — and I’ll bet you aren’t. The occasional indulgence isn’t anything to be alarmed about, but if you find yourself licking the evidence off your fingers on a regular basis, you need to add some tools to help you. Read more

How to Answer Carb Cravings

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Even when you begin changing your eating habits for the better by incorporating cleaner foods and better practices, you can still fall victim to occasional carb cravings. Sometimes, we attribute these to a rough day at work or a stressful week of deadlines, but carb cravings can also come from physiological imbalances.

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Why Ditch Your Sugar Habit?

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Do you have a firm grasp on the amount of sugar you consume? Most people do not. It’s been said that the average person consumes more than 40 pounds of sugar in a calendar year, but I found more updated information indicating that the average amount is actually closer to 150 pounds — quite alarming, don’t you think?

When we think of sugar, sweet desserts such as cakes, donuts, candy, and cookies come to mind immediately. But there are tremendous amounts of sugar hiding in everyday things we consume, and when we consume them regularly, they add up fast. Read more

Another Holiday Sugar High?

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halloween-candyWhat scares you most about Halloween – images of scary costumes and horror movies, or the effect that the sugar overload will have on the children you know?

When I was a child decades ago, candy was a part of birthday parties and holidays scattered throughout the year, but it wasn’t a daily source of calories as it is for children today. Few children come home from school each day without having eaten some sort of chocolate, lollipop, or sugary substance. It may even have come to them as part of their school lunch in the form of fruit juice or chicken nuggets with ketchup, to name a few options. Read more

Edit Your Sweetness

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Sweet TreatsHave you ever been put on a bland diet for medical reasons? Perhaps you had surgery or your digestive system needed a break, I have no doubt that you found the foods you were allowed to eat to be less than exciting.

Let’s face it. We like favor. Food manufacturers focus on that fact, often using it against us by creating foods with chemical additives that are designed to make us want to eat more than normal. This would include products with slogans such as “nobody can eat just one.”

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