Did you know that blood sugar imbalances can affect your mood? Riding steep rises and falls of your blood sugar can lead to mood swings, fatigue, and even anxiety and depression. Hop off the blood sugar roller coaster with these 3 tips to balance your blood sugar and support your mental health. #1 Eat Balanced Meals & SnacksAim to include a mix of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein in each meal and snack. This combination of nutrients helps slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes. In my nutrition practice, I have found that my clients have had the hardest time integrating enough protein. Make sure you find protein sources that you enjoy and feel easy to integrate, whether it is animal or plant based. #2 Move Your Booty!Regular exercise can help balance blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity. Insulin is the hormone that helps transport glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. By increasing insulin sensitivity, exercise can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve overall mental health. Another blood sugar & movement tip: go for a brief walk (15 min) after a carbohydrate heavy meal. This is a great way for your muscles to use excess glucose and inhibit a steep glucose spike. #3 Find Ways to DestressMany people are surprised to learn that blood sugar spikes can be caused by factors other than food. Stress can cause blood sugar levels to rise by increasing the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Find stress management practices that work for you, such as gardening, making art, or yoga. Doing something that gets you into a meditative state doesn’t necessarily have to be sit down meditation! Mental Health Awareness Month is around the corner. Check out my featured mental health workshops designed to help your corporate team connect and improve their mental health all while enjoying tasty treats.
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*Holistic Immune Boosting Tips for the Coronavirus
What to Eat:
What to Do:
Irrigate your nose. "While we do not know if nasal irrigation makes a difference for prevention of COVID-19, I believe that one of the MOST preventive things you can do for any viral respiratory illness is to irrigate your, and your children’s, nasal passages with Xlear nasal spray at the end of every day and after any potential exposure (work, school, playgroups, plane travel, etc.). This is a saline nasal spray with xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, both of which have antimicrobial properties. You cannot overdo it, and will not get “addicted” to it. Other options for nasal irrigation are a regular saline spray, Neti pot, and other sinus rinses like Neilmed. **Apart from regular hand washing, I believe that daily and frequent nasal irrigation is one of the MOST important things that we can do to prevent influenza and other viral respiratory infections from taking hold.** This is because after exposure to a virus, the influenza virus tries to invade and multiply in your nasal passages for at least 1-2 days before you develop any symptoms. Nasal irrigation can wash away viral particles before they have the opportunity to take hold, and thereby prevent many infections from happening in the first place!" (quote from this source) Prepare:
SupplementsRecommendations from Jessica Flannigan, Clinical Nutritionist -Ester or Liposomal Vitamin C (500mg up to 5 times per day) (immune supportive) -Cat’s Claw Nano by Quicksilver 350-450 mg per day (antiviral) -Resveratrol 250mg twice per day (immune supportive) note that resveratrol downregulated NF-kb which is implicated in lung inflammation. Recommendations from Healthy Kids: Happy Kids: Fish oil – Omega-3 essential fatty acids have a host of immune benefits too long to list! Probiotics – One study showed a dramatic reduction in fever and upper respiratory symptoms in children who took a probiotic with a specific combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium daily throughout the cold and flu season. Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which assists our ability to ward off and deal with infection. Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D3 increases our body’s production of cathelicidin, an antimicrobial compound, to help fight viral and bacterial infections. Make sure your Dnsupplement also includes K2 for absorbability. Zinc – Zinc is required for the normal functioning of white blood cells. Supplementing with just 15mg of zinc per day in adults has been found to improve our immune cells’ ability to ward off infection. Resources:Video: how coronavirus works * Note: this is not meant as medical advice or an alternative to treatment by a doctor or going to the hospital. If you show early signs of illness, like a fever or a dry cough, contact your primary care physician.
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