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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.




Subluxation
  
These tips can help you steer clear of pain & keep you feeling your best.