Easter special - How to retrieve your blood sugars

It's Easter and the chocolate is flowing like wine from Italian fountains....so you have some, coz the reality is that good quality chocolate tastes awesome. Trouble is that these days even the quality stuff contains way too much refined sugar, which will spike your blood sugars and cause them to crash shortly afterwards. Then you feel you need more sugar and before you can say "but I only wanted one!" you're on the rollercoaster.

If you weren't aware of how important balanced blood sugars are to your health, this may be a normal day for you. If you feel that you wake feeling 'low' or tired, your energy fluctuates all day and you need regular sugar fixes, then your sugars are out of control. Chronically low blood sugars are usually accompanied by headaches, poor concentration, weight gain, fatigue and mood swings. Balanced blood sugar is one of the cornerstones of good health. When you're balanced you'll actually crave healthy food; when you're unbalanced you'll only want refined carbs. So here are the tools you'll need to restore your health.

It's really important to give yourself the best possible chance at rebalancing, which means aiming to head off the next sugar craving that would have come knocking. This is much easier than attempting use willpower while your body screams for sugar.
The first important rule on rebalance day is water. If you're well hydrated you're much less likely to crave sugar. Have two or three big glasses of plain water first thing in the morning and 2 litres more through the day.

It's so crucial that your breakfast is high protein. Your first meal sets up the blood sugar pattern for the day, and you should think of it as filling your fuel tank. Here are some ideas:

Oatmeal - ideal as it will actively help to balance sugars with its combo of protein and (very) complex carbs

Home made baked beans - also provides protein and complex carbs

Pot-set natural yoghurt with fruit and nuts

Eggs - either soft boiled or poached

Tinned tuna - if you're really in a rush


Now that you've had a really filling breakfast and you're feeling virtuous again, pack lots of healthy snacks for work or school such as whole fruit, veggie sticks, hommus, tinned tuna and nuts. Avoid the sugary nut bars, they'll only trip you up again. Don't hesitate to use the snacks, even if you feel you already need a top up on the way to work. On rebalance day never let a craving take over. Nip it in the bud with something healthy. In a day or two your appetite will normalise.


Besides sugar there are other things that will hinder blood sugar balancing. Coffee is a bad idea at the best of times, as it destabalises blood sugar, dehydrates, drains nutrients and prevents deep sleep. So it stands to reason that today it would be an even bigger mistake. Another one to avoid is flour, which will also spike your blood sugars, so avoid any breads or pastas too. Also watch out for commercial fruit juices, these are a hidden sugar trap.

Foods that will help you rebalance are fresh veggies either in salad form, stir fry, veggie sticks or fresh veggie juice, whole fruits, brown rice, oatmeal/porrige, fish, chicken, lentils, nuts and seeds. Tuck into these liberally!

If you do use these guidelines you should feel fantastic in 2-5 days. If however, it's taking longer you may have a deeper issue. This is something you should take to your naturopath, who can use specific nutrient supplements or herbs to speed the process.