Sugar
Handling
The
over consumption of refined sugars and processed carbohydrates leads to
a variety of problems in the body's ability to metabolize glucose efficiently
into energy. Foods that fall into this category include white bread and
any product made with "enriched" flours, for example, cookies, crackers,
chips, muffins, bagels, soda, fruit juices, fruit flavored drinks, alcohol,
etc.. Because the standard diet for most people living in developed countries
like our own contains so much processed food, hypoglycemia (low bloodsugar)
and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) are rampant. Although your genes
do play a significant role in determining metabolism, etc., dietary intake
is also very influential in your body chemistry. Americans consume an
average of over 120 pounds of sugar per year (and quite a few non-sugar
sweeteners). When you consider that primitive man consumed less then one
pound of natural sugar a year, it is apparent why sugar handling problems
are so common. High processed carbohydrate intake is the most common way
to develop most health problems, whether it be with sugar handling, hormone
imbalances, heartdisease, etc.. In hypoglycemia, excessive insulin or
an inability to convert liver glycogen into glucose drives the blood glucose
down and signals the adrenals to secrete epinephrine and glucocorticoids.
Consequently, the features of sympathetic hyperactivity, such as poor
digestion, feeling keyed up, rapid heart rate, etc., can occur. Over time,
the adrenals fatigue, causing exhaustion and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency(exhaustion,
slow to start in the morning, stiffness, easy perspiration, and even hot
flashes). In hyperglycemia, there is insufficient insulin produced by
the pancreas, or a resistance by the tissue to insulin. Without insulin
(either in quantity or response), blood glucose levels rise. This can
lead to frequent urination, thirst, and unusual hunger. If severe, fatigue
and impaired resistance to infections occurs. Dietary change is mandatory.
Limiting simple and processed carbohydrates such as those listed above
is always required for blood sugar imbalances. Nutritional therapy only
helps support and regulate the body's blood sugar mechanisms.
Nutritional
Comments
The
sugar-handling patient often has psychological and energy complaints,
often presenting what seems to be psychological or hormonal problems (ie.,
sleeplessness, mood swings, depression, etc.). The mechanism for sugar
handling/physiology usually indicates that the pancreas, liver and adrenals
are not working well together. As a result, sugar handling problems progress
to liver biliary difficulties and adrenal difficulties. The progression
is achieved primarily from the use/abuse of simple or processed carbohydrates.
Because of our excessive consumption of carbohydrates, you will most likely
see sugar handling problems along with Sympathetic nervous system dominance,
Biliary/Liver, Endocrine, Digestive and Cardiovascular symptoms, because
sugar handling is often the origin. Much of the misery that patients report,
which may seem far removed from sugar handling difficulties, actually
have their origins in sugar handling issues. The patient might present
cardiovascular or hormonal problems, arthritis, or immune problems, and
yet the road to this pathology was his/her overindulgence of refined carbohydrates
and/or a high carbohydrate diet. It is amazing how many people start the
day with cereal or a bagel, have a starchy lunch, candy, and coffee in
the afternoon, and pasta for dinner followed by a big bowl of ice cream
every right The body can withstand this kind of repeated carbohydrate
overload/assault only so long. This is, in part, because refined carbohydrates
draw on the body's supply of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, coenzymes,
etc.) in order to be metabolized. The more refined the carbohydrate, the
more supporting nutrients are consumed. The result is that although
carbohydrates provide increased energy, they deplete the body's nutrient
stores.As mentioned above, the three primary organs involved in
blood sugar regulation are the pancreas, liver and adrenals. The pancreas
assists in regulating blood sugar levels by supplying insulin, keeping
the blood sugar from rising too high or too fast, and to a lesser extent,
supplying
glucagon,
which keeps the blood sugar from becoming too low. As the pancreas gets
stressed, it repeatedly drives the blood sugar too low (pancreas overresponse
leads to reactive hypoglycemia). In susceptible individuals, large amounts
of refined carbohydrates consumed repeatedly eventually exhaust the pancreas.
If continued long enough in susceptible individuals, adult-onset diabetes
results. The liver takes stored glycogen and releases it as glucose to
keep the blood sugar levels from dropping too low. In response, the liver's
glycogen reserves can be exhausted as it is constantly called on to raise
the blood sugar. One of the primary roles of the adrenals is to stimulate
the liver to release glucose; thus, the adrenals, under constant demand,
become exhausted. Pro longed impairment of sugar handling can thus become
manifest with exhausted adrenals, an overworked liver, and an overactive
or exhausted pancreas. Sometimes this situation is not clearly evident
because the patient has gone on to add other problems/symptoms to the
clinical picture. A history of carbohydrate indiscretion, however, almost
guarantees this ricochet romance being a part of your patient's symptomatology.
General Support can be offered to the patient of sugar-handling problems.We
at Natural
Health
Chiropractic carry a full line of Standard Process?products such as:
A-F
Betafood, Drenamin, Cataplex B, Diaplex, Protefood, Pancreatrophin PMG,
Cataplex GTF.
Notes on General Support
For
patients with hypoglycemia, support of the pancreas, the liver, and adrenals
may be required. A-F Betafood, Drenamin, Cataplex B between meals, Diaplex,
Pancreatrophin PMG,
Cataplex
GTF and Protefood with meals should be considered. For patients who are
hyperglycemic,
use Diaplex and Cataplex GTF with meals, and Multizyme before meals. Watch
for essential fatty acid deficiency since insulin prevents the release
of stored essential fats from adipose cells, thereby creating an artificial
deficiency elsewhere.
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