STRESS, BLOOD SUGAR AND DIABETES

As we go through life, at times, it seems that the outside world is going mad, and is asking more and more from us. We have all kinds of problems that need to be solved on a daily basis.

If our immune systems are strong and our energy is balanced, we deal and remain calm while solving these problems.  However, when we are not balanced and when our health are not optimal, we get overwhelmed easily and this response makes our bodies more depleted of energy. It is very stressful to live in today’s world, but it is how we adapt that makes a difference.

Energy is all we have to work with, and this energy in that moment, could be expanding or contracting. But, it is when these two forces are equally balanced within us that we are centered and at peace.

Stress means PRESSURE (contraction) but, often, it is not as much the event that is stressful as it is our perception of how we see the event affecting our lives.

When we think negatively about other people and situations, we waste vital energy and lose physical and mental strength. If we respond to a situation with the emotion of anger, we use the energy stored in the liver and gallbladder.

If, instead, we engage the emotion of fear, we use the energy of the kidneys and bladder and these organs get depleted.  While being always engaged in a state of emotional worry will draw the strength of our lungs and large intestines.

I didn’t invent this. This information has been documented in the healing archives of Oriental medicine for thousands of years.

Over the years of my studies, I have learned that there are few things that we can do to manage stress:

We need to identify the cause of stress and minimize it if possible.

Introduce a diet of whole grains, beans, and vegetables; because it calms the body and the mind.

Start a routine of Hatha Yoga (also called The Yoga of Health) three times per week because it also calms the nervous system.

Start deep, abdominal breathing exercises; 20 minutes per day.

IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF STRESS IT IS:

There is good stress and bad stress.

The good stress motivates us and improves our lives. In fact, new scientific neurology studies have proven that a small amount of stress is needed in order to have optimal health and keep our minds going happily excited.

Bad stress paralyzes us, and keeps us from functioning well.  The muscles tense up, breathing becomes shallow, the eyes narrow, the jaw gets tight and tense, and the stomach gets into a knot.

With bad stress we get tired and rigid, and our nervous systems cannot take any type of change. In turn, this will produce some kind of adverse reaction to the original event. As the interior organs get more depleted of energy, we become more rigid and our immune system is affected.

Without the ability to adapt and, with little vitality, our bodies will have unpleasant reactions.  There is a part of the brain called the amygdala where fear thoughts are generated. As fear takes us over, we become more acid and that makes us very tight inside.

When the stress level rises, our internal organs become more tight and stagnated. It is this rigidity that will prevent us from adapting.

The skin becomes clogged so that it is impossible to release pressure through the pores.  Pressure builds inside our bodies, our adaptability is impaired, we produce more heat, and negative thoughts and reactions are accelerated.

At this point, OTHER ORGANS AND SYSTEMS BECOME INVOLVED:

° Pituitary Gland

° Heart – beats faster.

° Circulatory System – blood circulates faster.

° Spleen – gets depleted because is overworking cleaning the body from impurities.

° The ability to neutralize acidity is blocked.

° Pancreas – releases more insulin.

° Digestive System – constricts, which begins a reaction. Our blood sugars drop, and this affects our appetites.

WE CRAVE SWEETS – Eating many sweets, especially those made from refined sugars and flour products. IN THE LONG RUN, this will make us more acidic and will change our perceptions of life. We get into mood swings and panic attacks, because the body, in order to balance itself, tries to find equilibrium by getting to the opposite of the scale. So,  we crave eating salty foods and snacks and too many baked flour foods. This condition prevents us from sleeping at night so, we pacify our selves with late night eating (pretzels, potato chips etc.) This is also related to life’s frustrations, what some people call “the rat race”. (Then, we swing back the other direction to the sweets again.)

THE MORE SWEETS AND REFINED FLOUR PRODUCTS WE EAT, THE MORE OUR BLOOD BECOMES ACIDIC. THE MORE STRESS WE PERCEIVE, THE MORE ACIDITY BUILDS UP INSIDE. THE SWEET ADDITION PERPETUATES.

After eating sweets and refined flour, the blood sugar level spikes and dopamine is released into the brain. Massive insulin is being secreted in order to drop the blood sugar level. The blood sugar drops very rapidly and the high insulin levels in the blood cause immediate storage of fat so that the hunger and craving come back.

Acid blood needs more minerals because the heart has to work more to do its work. There is an increase of urination and more vitamins and minerals leave the body.

More nutrition is needed, so more sweets are craved. Through the urine and perspiration there are more minerals and more water soluble vitamins being lost. The blood and the lymph qualities become weaker.

To stop this perpetual cycle, we need to identify the cause of stress and introduce a diet of WHOLE grains, beans and vegetables. By eating whole grains (not flour products), the sugar gets slowly released into the blood stream. There are plenty of minerals in the bran and in the vegetables to be able to aid in the digestion of the sugar so that this doesn’t cause the high insulin need.

Low blood sugar (called HYPOGLYCEMIA) is basically where our blood is depleted of sugar; this is caused by the pancreas producing too much insulin.   The pancreas is involved in this illness, because it is the organ that controls blood sugar.

MEMORY SUFFERS

Eating too many dairy foods and sweets will destroy our memories.  Lack of concentration is related to blood sugar levels. Eating “bad” food, refined flour products, using too many medications, too much oil and butter in our cooking, and eating dairy products, will affect our memories.

Imagine spilling syrup on your keyboard and you have a sticky idea of what happens inside the cell. When we consume simple carbohydrates such as sugar, blood sugar rises rapidly. In response,our pancreas secretes insulin whose primary purpose is to drive sugar into each cell where it is stored for energy Because that is for our body like gasoline is for a car. If the cell is full and does not need glucose, it is rejected to avoid extra sugar gumming up the works.

When your cells reject the extra glucose, blood sugar rises producing more insulin and the excess glucose then gets converted to stored fat.
 

WAYS TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR

Blood sugar also relates to season, time of day, and altitude.

2 am — blood sugar rises, 2 pm — blood sugar drops.

Blood sugar is higher in the summer and lower in the winter.

Good quality yin foods like sweet vegetables are the best.

Grains to use:

For low blood sugar use barley to raise it.

For high blood sugar use millets to lower it.

Eat at regular times.

Slow down, you are rushing too much.

Deep breathing exercises are best, 20 minutes per day.

Use good quality food:

Creamy, sweet yin grains.

Sweet vegetables.

Fresh foods.

Oagis (made from pounded sweet rice).

Sweet vegetables tea.

Warm carrot juice.

Hot apple juice, in moderation.

Mild sweets (relieve stress) like sweet vegetables.

Put a hot towel on the abdomen.

Other activities that help with this condition are:

Walking around where there are trees.

Walk barefoot on the grass.

Posture—stretch the spine, mild exercise, Yoga.

Breathing exercises.

Light exercise in company of others:

Walking, Bathing, Shiatsu, Sex, Sauna.

Wear loose cotton clothing.

Use green plants around the house.

Talking with someone to see possibilities for the future.

Listen to music—repetitive beat.

Have and enjoy hobbies.

As we get accustomed to using and eating different foods and make changes in lifestyle, slowly we see a difference in our moods and energy levels.  The problem is, if we don’t change, life gets progressively worse and our reactions become more explosive and angry.

After the emotional explosion of anger and fear, our energy resources collapse. We become completely depleted to the point that we are depressed. This can go on for a period of time that we are practically vegetating, we don’t engage in anything because we don’t have any energy. Then, as we regain some strength, the entire process starts all over again.

Hypoglycemia is an illness that goes on for years until one day the pancreas  gives up. This organ has been overworking for years, has given all that had to give, and stops working. This condition is called Diabetes and a person needs insulin to control the blood sugar. The good news is that with a balanced Macrobiotic diet, design for this condition, it is possible to reverse it. With a good amount of discipline and healthy fresh food made into satisfying meals, the pancreas can regain strength.

I am a certified consultant and can give advice, lessons, and a curriculum on how to heal from these debilitating illnesses.