Does your sweet tooth get the best of you during an afternoon slump? With both Halloween and Sweetest Day right around the corner there is sure to be no shortage of sweets lying around, tempting tired employees trying to make it through the day. Many people choose snacks loaded with carbohydrates such as chips or cookies, sending blood sugar soaring forcing the body to work overtime producing insulin to bring it back down.
Chicagohealers.com Practitioner Dr. Kristina Sargent calls this the “vicious cookie cycle,” which many people fall victim to at the end of the day between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dr. Sargent offers a few easy tips on ways to maintain blood sugar throughout the day:
- Eat frequently – do not go longer than 4 hours without eating
- Eat smaller amounts – no more that 300 to 400 calories per meal/snack
- Add protein and fiber to your snacks – lean meats, almonds, walnuts or any nut butter. These foods will slow the release of sugar into the blood
- Exercise 30 minutes 5 days per week – muscle mass plays a direct role in blood sugar maintenance
- Stay away from the “white foods” – sugar, flour – even whole wheat, potatoes, and rice. Good substitutes are agave nectar, high-fiber breads (less than 5 grams per slice), sweet potatoes and unprocessed brown rice