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This article first appeared in our Earth Day issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 22 April 2024. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
The age of wellbeing is upon us, inspiring deeper conversations about the importance of stable blood sugar levels.
Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating can be brought on by excessive fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
This can, over time, lead to more serious health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
A well-balanced diet with a variety of proteins, fibres, carbohydrates and healthy fats is essential for maintaining normal levels of sugar in the blood.
At the same time we should avoid processed foods that contain a lot of sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Through an increase in insulin sensitivity, consistent exercise can also assist in the regulation of blood sugar levels.
Research suggests that consuming apple cider vinegar (ACV) before food can help to regulate blood sugar levels.
During digestion, glucose is released from carbohydrates and absorbed into the bloodstream to be used as energy.
The pancreatic hormone insulin is secreted to help control blood sugar levels and deliver glucose to cells for use as fuel.
ACV has been linked to better glucose regulation due to its potential to boost insulin sensitivity and decrease glucose production in the liver.
Acetic acid, which is found in ACV, is thought to slow the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for breaking carbohydrates down into glucose.
This, in turn, lessens the requirement for insulin to control glucose levels, and may forestall post-meal spikes in blood sugar.
While ACV may help with glucose control, it shouldn’t be used in place of conventional medicine to treat diabetes or any other chronic condition.
If you have a medical condition, talking to your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes is absolutely essential.
After years of taking ACV as part of her pursuit of a healthy routine, Apeal World founder Salka Backman and her partner were inspired to create a great-tasting way to get a daily dose of ACV on the go.
Their goal was to simplify the lengthy preparation process of ACV drinks, using key organic spices to cut through the taste of vinegar and adding sparkling water to dilute the acid and make the drink refreshing.
Salka was determined to find a taste that was sophisticated but didn’t rely on counteracting fruit sugars or complicated flavours, keeping the price down in a bid to make organic affordable.
‘We developed a product that maintains its health benefits, keeping it simple and delicious’, she says.
The rest was history; the kitchenette was transformed into a lab for the months it took to cold press and extract the right balance of flavours for Defence (organic ACV with ginger), Metabolism (organic ACV with vanilla, cloves and cinnamon) and Activate (organic ACV with lemon and mint).
GLUCOSE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
In addition to its role as an energy source, glucose is essential for our red blood cells. Lacking a nucleus and mitochondria, red blood cells can only use glucose for fuel.
- Stress can affect blood glucose levels. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline – released in response to stress – have been linked to increased blood sugar levels.
- Too much glucose can negatively affect health. High blood sugar levels can be caused by eating too many carbohydrates or sugar, which can eventually lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.
- In the event of a glucose deficit, our bodies have a back-up system in place. Gluconeogenesis is a process by which the liver generates glucose from non-carbohydrate sources like amino acids and fatty acids when blood glucose levels are low.
- Our blood contains a variety of sugars, not just glucose. Small amounts of fructose and galactose are also present; the liver metabolises them into glucose to fuel cells.
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