Low Blood Sugar: A Common Cause of Hormone Imbalance

Causes of Low Blood Sugar

So what causes the blood sugar level to be low? Interestingly, this can happen when you eat either too much or too little.

Eating Too Little

Our body converts the foods we eat into glucose for energy.

If you’re not eating enough due to dieting or other reasons, you’ll not have sufficient blood sugar to sustain your body.

Since up to 50% of women are dieting at any given time, low blood sugar is much more common than many people think.

Side Note: World Health Organization (WHO) establishes that starvation begins under 2,100 calories a day, and USDA standards indicate 2,500 calories as the daily minimum that an adolescent or adult woman needs to get the minimum amount of life-sustaining nutrients.

Eating Too Much

You can also get low blood sugar when you eat too much.

This often happens when you eat foods with a high glycemic index that are turned into sugar quickly, such as soda, candies, pastries, white breads, etc.

When there’s a lot of sugar in the blood stream, insulin works extra hard to pump it from the blood into the cells, and stores it as fat.

If you regularly overeat, your insulin will get exhausted and become less effective, leading to either high or low sugar levels in the blood stream.

How to Balance Blood Sugar

If I could sum up my learning on life, health and happiness in one word, it would be “balance.”

And balancing blood sugar is one of the most fundamental aspects because it sets us up biochemically to balance the rest of our lives.

So to harmonize our menstrual cycles and to ensure our physical as well as mental and emotional well-being, it’s extremely important that we keep our blood sugar stable on a daily basis.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Have a Protein-rich Breakfast

Eat a substantial (at least 25% of the day’s food intake), protein-rich breakfast within 90 minutes of waking.

2. Eat 3 Meals a Day

Eat at least 3 solid meals a day.

3. Eat Every 4 Hours

Don’t skip a meal and don’t let more than 4 hours go by without food.

4. Choose Low Glycemic

Eat more nutrient-dense foods with a lower glycemic index.

Avoid or minimize the intake of junk foods that give you empty calories without adequate nutrients.

5. Balance

Balance carbs with healthy fats, protein and fiber (veggies). They will make you feel full and satisfied, reducing the chances of overeating.

6. Take Supplements

The B vitamins, vitamin C, and the mineral chromium are crucial for keeping blood sugar level stable and preventing carbohydrate cravings.

Take a wholesome multi-vitamin supplement and 200mg of Chromium 3 times a day to replenish these vital nutrients in your body.

7. Take Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids can help raise your metabolism, promote fat-burning, and support your insulin function to keep your blood sugar stable.

Include omega-3 rich foods such as fish, eggs, nuts and seeds in your diet, or take a fish oil or flaxseed oil supplement.

8. Add L-glutamin

L-glutamin is an amino acid that’s proven effective in stopping cravings for sweets, starches and alcohol almost instantly.

It helps balance the brain chemistry (and hence reduces your need to depend on your limited willpower).

Consider taking 1 capsule of L-glutamin supplement 1 to 3 times a day, preferably between meals.

9. Support the Adrenals

Support your adrenal function to restore your overall hormone balance.

Get adequate rest, keep your stress level manageable, and build up your adrenal reserve with natural remedies.

These tips are simple enough to implement. The key is to make them part of your daily routine – something you do day in and day out without having to think about it.

Remember, when you take care of your blood sugar, it’ll take care of you!

I hope you find this article helpful. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences and feedback!

Note: If you have any underlying health condition, please check with your doctor before taking any dietary or herbal supplements as they may interfere with your medication.

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