Beating diabetes: How fiber can help regulate blood sugar
No one starts out looking for an unhealthy relationship. As many of us know all too well, they just sort of… happen.
But ending one means identifying it in the first place – like the unhealthy relationship between our American diet and sugar – one that’s leading to more and more Americans developing type 2 diabetes every day.
The good news is, whether your goal is diabetes management or diabetes prevention, a fiber-rich diet is a great place to start. A high-fiber diet – one that includes 25 to 38 grams of fiber daily – can help regulate your body’s responses and help you feel fuller for longer (and less prone to cravings), according to the National Institute of Nutrition. That’s because dietary fiber slows the rate at which energy and nutrients from food are absorbed – which helps you feel more satiated, and allows for the gradual release of glucose, which corresponds to a lower insulin response. |
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What is insulin response – and why is it so important?
Insulin response refers to the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The higher your sensitivity, the more effectively your body can process blood glucose – reducing blood sugar.
Typically, the sugar spikes in our blood are managed by insulin – but too much refined foods or foods high in carbohydrates and calories can increase insulin secretion. These excess calories are also stored as triglycerides that can, over time, increase body fat – which can lead to insulin resistance, the primary cause of diabetes.
What are triglycerides?Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. The calories you consume that your body doesn’t immediately need are converted into triglycerides, which are stored in your fat cells.
Fortunately, myfy fiber supplement is clinically proven to reduce triglyceride levels. When myfy enters your body and mixes with digestive juices, its soluble fiber acts like a sponge, slowing the rate at which your stomach empties.
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But fiber’s benefits don’t stop there! Since people with diabetes are also at a greater risk of cardiovascular complications, fiber – whether it’s in lentils, beans and avocados or a supplement like myfy – is doubly valuable as it helps lower blood pressure levels and improves overall heart health. Shifting a high-calorie, low-fiber diet to one higher in fiber can be challenging – and it won’t happen overnight. But by avoiding processed and refined foods, reading food labels and slowly increasing your fiber intake over time, you can help manage your diabetes – or perhaps even prevent it altogether. |