A Natural Approach to Optimal Blood Sugar Levels

by Henri Roca, MD, Clinical Functional Medicine Specialist

Part of an integrative approach to wellness is checking for nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to, or even cause, imbalances in blood sugar (glucose).

Increased consumption of simple carbohydrates in your diet can increase blood insulin levels, which, in turn, can deplete a number of essential nutrients. These may include calcium, chromium,  magnesium, zinc, vanadium, vitamin E, vitamin C, the entire B complex of vitamins as well as essential fatty acids and more. Designs for Health makes an outstanding multivitamin called Metabolic Synergy that is formulated to address many of these depletions.

After correcting any deficiencies, if your blood sugar remains out of balance, you might consider herbal supplements to improve insulin sensitivity. Gymnema Sylvestre, an Ayurvedic herbal product used for 2000 years, is known as “the destroyer of sugar”. 

Insinase (Metagenics), derived from hops, improves a cell’s insulin resistance so that glucose can more readily enter cells. Glucorest (Metagenics), an extract from fermented black soybeans called touchi, “blunts” the glycemic response to sugar by inhibiting an enzyme called a-glucosidase, which breaks sugar down.

In either case, the critical foundation that maintains healthy blood sugar levels is a strong exercise regimen and a low carbohydrate/no sweets diet. All vitamin, mineral, supplement, botanical, or medication choices build upon our exercise and nutrition practices.

Taking a nutritional approach and using nontoxic vitamin, mineral and herbal products makes sense in many cases. You do not need to choose between the conventional medicine approach and the functional medicine approach. Like everything else in life, it’s all about balance.

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