Lower your blood sugar...

Fact is, due to years of consuming a diet full of processed carbs and sugars, most people have grown quite insensitive to one of the most important hormones in our body—a hormone that can either be a huge asset to your body transformation goals, or a total fat-loss and health-derailing nightmare. 

The name of this hormone is insulin. 

And insulin's function is to help your body keep blood sugar at bay, clear it quickly from your bloodstream after a carbohydrate meal, and (hopefully) shuttle that blood sugar to muscle tissue for energy instead of into fat cells (driving up your weight). 

I say "hopefully" because that's actually the exact opposite of what occurs when most people eat carbs. Going back to insulin sensitivity and carbohydrate tolerance, due to a diet full of processed, insulin- and blood-sugar-spiking carbohydrates, most folks are suffering from some level of insulin resistance, a condition in which insulin is no longer able to efficiently remove blood sugar from the blood stream. 

The result? Dramatically reduced fat burning, increased blood sugar levels and increased fat storage. 

Even worse, insulin resistance can and often does lead to type II diabetes and an array of other health problems over time, such as an increased risk for Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders, premature aging, heart disease, and even stroke…and it all leads back to insulin sensitivity. 

Ideally, when you consume carbohydrates, here is what you want to happen: 

1. Minimum insulin release. This occurs when your body is highly sensitive to insulin. When it is, only a small amount of insulin is necessary to effectively and efficiently clear glucose from your blood to its storage sites. This is great news because your body has an incrediblydifficult time burning fat in the presence of insulin. The less insulin you have floating around, the better. 

2. Quick and efficient blood sugar clearance. Again, this will occur when your body is highly sensitive to insulin. 

3. Maximum glycogen uptake. Glycogen is the term used for stored carbohydrate in muscle tissue and the liver. When these tissues are highly sensitive to insulin, the vast majority of blood glucose will be stored within them as an energy reserve, instead of being converted to fat. 

4. Minimum fat storage.When you increase insulin sensitivity, your body will choose to store your carbohydrate intake as energy, again in lean muscle tissue and the liver, instead of body fat. 

Simply put, your body's ability to process the carbohydrates you eat all comes down to your insulin sensitivity and your body's ability to quickly and efficiently clear sugar from your blood. 

Knowing that, and also knowing that you yourself are very likely suffering from too much blood sugar and some degree of insulin resistance due to the previously mentioned dietary and lifestyle factors, you’re probably wondering what you can do to improve your insulin sensitivity and make your body responsive once again to this critically important hormone. 

What about carbs?? Whats Good??

 I had carbs for dinner last night, too.  I even had a late night snack (that had some carbs) and I'm planning on eating some more carbs in just a little bit :).  Fact is, while there are plenty of BAD carbs out there, you don't have to completely eliminate carbs from your diet in order to burn fat fast, especially when you choose the RIGHT sources.

Having said that, below are my top 4 choices for belly-blasting carbs that'll leave you full and satisfied, while helping you toward your fat loss goals to boot!

#4 - Berries & Cherries

Berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and cherries (although not technically a berry) are some of the BEST carbs you can eat. They are high in fiber, packed with antioxidants, and score extremely low on the glycemic index, especially cherries which come with a GI of just 22.

I enjoy fresh berries for dessert several times a week and it's an awesome, nutritious way to finish off any meal. Great as a snack, too! Try them on top of Greek yogurt... Mmm :)

#3 - Sprouted Grain Bread

Sprouted grain breads, like Ezekiel 4:9 bread (one of the most popular brands of sprouted grain bread) is a great way to include bread in your diet on occassion without all the issues associated with white breads and even 100% whole wheat breads.

Instead, Ezekiel bread is organic, sprouted, 100% whole grain flour less bread. A 2-slice serving even contains 8 grams of complete protein and 6 grams of fiber, so don't give up the bread, just choose the right kind!

#2 - Quinoa

While brown rice is thought to be the healthy grain, there’s one even better, and that’s quinoa.

Quinoa is a gluten free grain that contains double the protein of brown rice along with greater fiber content and a lower glycemic load.

Not only that, but quinoa is the ONLY grain to contain complete protein and the full spectrum of amino acids. It comes in several varieties, including “oatmeal-like” flakes and it’s wholegrain rice-like form.

Enjoy it as an oatmeal substitute for breakfast, in salads or casseroles, or as a wholesome whole-grain, high protein side item to any lunch or dinner meal.

#1 - Beans, Lentils, and other Legumes

Beans and Lentils, part of the "legume" family, just may be my #1 choice for a healthy carb. Packed with loads of fiber and protein, these guys come in so many different varieties that you'll never get bored: lentils, chickpeas, black eyed peas, black beans, red beans, kidney beans, navy beans, butter beans, lima beans, pinto beans...and the list goes on.

Because of their fiber & protein content, along with their versatility, I eat something from the legume family in at least one of my meals daily. I'd highly recommend you'd do the same!

Gluten-Free Nutrition Filled Muffins

1 c. applesauce
½ c. grated zucchini and carrots
½ c. maple syrup or raw agave
1 c. gluten free flour
½ c. of NSP Love and Peas Protein
1 ½ t. baking powder
2 T. ground flax seed
¾ t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
¼ t. nutmeg and ginger
½ t. real sea salt
2 T. Bee Pollen
½ c. raisins and
½ c. chopped nuts

If you would like to receive a monthly email that contains additional recipes and our most popular blog articles, please submit your email address in the Stay Informed! section.

Mix applesauce, zucchini, carrots and sweetener into a bowl.  Mix dry ingredients into another bowl.  Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.  Stir in raisins and nuts.  Fill oiled or lined muffin tins 2/3 full and bake at 375 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Cherries!! Controlling cravings

You've probably heard the tip that if you're interested in losing weight, it's a good idea to eat slowly and chew your food at least 15-20 times before swallowing.  Doing so allows your brain and body to actually sense that it's full, instead of cramming a bunch of food down your throat only to find out 30 mins later that you're WAY stuffed.

And for that reason (and a few others), I'm picking cherries as my #1 fruit for weight loss.

With cherries, you can't just pop 30 in your mouth in two mins like you could, and probably often do, with grapes or blueberries.  Instead, the pits force you to eat them slowly, allowing your satiation sensors to chime in a prevent you from over-indulging.

So that's reason #1 – built in portion control.

Reason #2, and it's a BIG one, is that cherries have the LOWEST glycemic index of all fruits, and one of the lowest glycemic indexes of any carbohydrate source—period.

Scoring at a ridiculously low 22, you can even snack on cherries in the evening without much detriment as their effect on insulin is minimal at best.  Again, it's not late-night eating that's the problem, it's eating the wrong foods (those that cause a substantial rise in fat-loss halting insulin) in evening hours that is.

So next time you're in the mood for a sweet, satiating snack, reach for a small bowl of cherries and enjoy the goodness.  My new favorite variety is Rainier cherries….Mmm mmm good :)

FOLLOW ME!

“11 Reasons Why Dehydration is Making You Fat and Sick.”

To get more information on balancing the body, visit http://tracy.mynsp.com 

Fatigue

Water is the most vital sources of energy in the body. dehydration causes the enzymatic activity in the body to slow down, resulting in tiredness and fatigue.

Asthma and Allergies

When dehydrated, your body will restrict airways as a means to conserve water. In fact, the rate of histamine produced by the body increases exponentially as the body loses more water.

High Blood Pressure

The blood is normally about 92% water when the body is fully hydrated. When dehydrated, the blood becomes thicker causing resistance to blood flow, which results in elevated blood pressure.

High Cholesterol

When the body is dehydrated, it will produce more cholesterol to prevent water loss from the cells.

Skin disorders

Dehydration impairs the elimination of toxins through the skin and makes it more vulnerable to all types of skin disorders, including dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as premature wrinkling and discoloration.

Digestive Disorders

A shortage of water and alkaline minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, can lead to a number of digestive disorders, including ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux

Bladder or Kidney Problems

With a dehydrated body, the accumulation of toxins and acid waste creates an environment where bacteria thrive, resulting in the bladder and kidney to be more prone to infection, inflammation and pain.

Constipation

When short of water, the colon is one of the primary regions the body draws water from in order to provide fluids for other critical body functions. Without adequate water, wastes move through the large intestines much more slowly or sometimes not at all, resulting in constipation.

Joint Pain or Stiffness

All joints have cartilage padding which is composed mainly of water. When the body is dehydrated, cartilage is weakened and joint repair is slow resulting in pain and discomfort.

Weight Gain

When dehydrated, cells are depleted of energy. As a result people tend to eat more when, in reality, the body is thirsty.

Premature Aging

When chronically dehydrated, the body’s organs, including its largest organ, the skin, begins to wrinkle and wither prematurely.