Natural Tips for Lowering Blood Sugar

by Aviva Natural Health Solutions July 20, 2007

Stacey Day

It doesn't matter if you're suffering from diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia, all of these conditions cause the blood sugar to become elevated at times. Elevated blood glucose levels are dangerous and can cause a host of complications, no matter how slight an elevation is present. Obesity, heart disease, kidney damage and eye problems are just a few of the complications that can arise from having blood glucose levels that are constantly raised.

So whether your diet could use some tweaking or you are simply trying to control your blood sugar and need a little assistance, there are several natural remedies that have been proven to effectively and quickly lower the blood glucose to safer levels. These natural methods of blood sugar control are simple to incorporate into your life as well as extremely economical.

Exercise

You probably know that exercise provides numerous health benefits, including weight loss, increased energy, improved circulation and a great deal more. Fortunately, exercise is also a great thing for those with blood sugar problems, as it enables the insulin to become more reactive, thus lowering blood sugar. You don't have to exercise like an athlete in order to get results, either. Merely 1/2 hour of cardio and strength training daily is sufficient enough to produce immediate and lasting results.

Vinegar

Vinegar has been known to work nearly as effectively as the prescription medication metformin in lowering blood glucose levels. Simply consuming 2-3 tablespoons a day can drastically reduce your blood sugar. Some people opt for simply consuming the vinegar directly from the spoon, but vinegar is a pretty potent product. There's no reason why you have to drink it straight in order to achieve the same benefits. It's still just as effective poured over food or mixed with oil and seasonings to create a delicious salad dressing.

Lemon Juice

Similar to vinegar, lemon juice works immediately to lower blood glucose levels because of its acidity. Lemon juice can be squeezed on food, mixed with other ingredients to form a healthy alternative to salad dressing, or even made into lemonade, using agave nectar or some other form of sugar alternative to sweeten it. This is an easy and yummy way to keep blood sugar in check and give yourself a treat simultaneously.

Cinnamon

A popular ingredient in numerous natural anti-diabetic supplements, cinnamon, lowers blood sugar levels by naturally increasing the body's ability to metabolize sugar. Cinnamon can be incorporated into the diet in numerous ways, because not many people dislike cinnamon. It's so delicious and spicy that it can be added to teas, cereals, desserts, healthy homemade muffins, drinks, snacks, and many other foods. For those who don't like the taste of cinnamon, health food stores around the country carry numerous brands of encapsulated cinnamon which serves the same purpose.

Chromium

Many people with diabetes are deficient in the important mineral, chromium. Deficiencies in this mineral can cause cravings for sugary foods as well as increase the blood glucose levels. This is why supplementation is essential for those with problems controlling their blood sugar. Foods that contain chromium are meats, breads, vegetables, fish and cereal. Sometimes individuals are unable to eat enough of these foods to make a difference in the amount of chromium absorbed by the body, so supplementing with up to 800 mg of chromium a day is a good idea.

Most people with mild diabetes are able to keep their blood sugar under control with diet and exercise alone, and don't have to use the potentially dangerous prescription drugs to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Those who require medication either need to change their diets and food portions, or their diabetes may be more severe than they originally thought. Either way, these natural remedies mentioned above can give your pancreas the boost that it needs to produce insulin that will properly lower you blood sugar levels and lessen your chances of suffering from diabetes-related complications.