Low Carb

Although there is no known cure for diabetes, there are a host of ways that you can manage your diagnosis. By eating a well-balanced diet, low in carbs, you can effectively keep your blood glucose levels near the optimal range. The key is finding foods that fit your palate that are not over processed or high in sugar or fat.

The unavoidable truth is most things we eat have some amount of carbs in it. So, completely eliminating carbs from your diet will be impossible. It isn’t carbohydrates that are “bad” for you per se, it is the amount that we consume on a daily basis and from the processed foods that can take a toll on your health – and your waistline.

When you eat more sugar than what you consume, your body stores it in the liver. And, as your sugar reserves continue to grow (without being burned off), that stored sugar eventually becomes deep, visceral fat. This is the kind of fat that is both hard to lose and can be harmful to your health. Reducing your carbohydrate intake is one way you can avoid fat from being produced. But, also getting in a regular dose of exercise or living an active lifestyle can ensure that you’re constantly burning through your carbs each day.

To learn more about the benefits of a low-carb diet, click here.

Diabetes

Although there is no known cure for diabetes, there are a host of ways that you can manage your diagnosis. By eating a well-balanced diet, low in carbs, you can effectively keep your blood glucose levels near the optimal range. The key is finding foods that fit your palate that are not over processed or high in sugar or fat.

Maintaining a healthy diet, despite having diabetes, can best be done by planning out your meals, in advance. This is especially true for you to avoid, reduce, or completely eliminate certain high sugar foods from your diet. Limiting high carb foods such as breads and pastas are also important in keeping your blood sugar levels in check. Using healthy pasta alternatives such as LIVIVA’s Organic Bean and Shirataki pastas are great additions to your diet to get the same delicious pasta taste you’ve come to love – without the surge in sugar.

Sleep

Sleep is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as it helps to regulate your metabolism, your mood, even how quickly your body is able to heal or recover after exercise. More specifically, as you fall asleep every night, your body begins to:

• Heal and repair damaged cells
• Boost your immune system by producing new cells
• Recharge your body’s cardiovascular system for the next day’s activities

Despite knowing the value of sleep, we all struggle with getting enough. It is recommended that adults should get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, preferably during the same hours. For example, if your bedtime continues changing, it makes it hard for your body to regulate many nighttime processes. Aim to get in bed at the same time, especially during the work week.

Exercise

Staying active can be challenging when you factor in all of the other things that may be vying for your time. However, physical activity or exercise can be the best way to improve your health and help to reduce your risk of developing several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, even cancer. Being physically active, at least for 30 minutes, every day can improve your quality of life by helping you produce a host of “feel good” brain chemicals as well as allowing you to maintain a healthy weight and strengthen your muscles.

Here are other known benefits of regular exercise:

• Lower your blood cholesterol and blood pressure level
• Increases the health and strength of your bones and joints
• Lower your risk of developing osteoporosis
• Decrease your recovery time from injury or hospitalization
• Increase your overall energy level and boosts your mood

Protein

Protein is what helps us recover from exercise, by reducing muscle loss and helping us repair and rebuild muscles. The higher your protein intake (assuming a low-fat consumption), the more lean muscle you can build and the easier it will be to maintain a healthy body weight. Not to mention, high protein foods can also keep your hunger pangs down and may eliminate some of those sugar cravings you have in between meals. This is because proteins are slowly broken down, so they enable you to maintain your blood sugar levels, keeping you fuller longer.

What are good sources of protein?

The great news is, protein can come from a wide variety of sources. So, getting enough protein should never be a problem. However, the challenge becomes, getting the right amount of protein, without also getting excess fat or carbohydrates. Here are a few sources of protein:

• Meat (Poultry, Beef, Pork, etc)
• Fish
• Soy
• Eggs
• Beans & Bean pastas
• Legumes
• Nuts

To learn more about the importance of protein in maintaining a healthy diet, click here