Food as Medicine: How Eating Organic Foods, Supplements, and Probiotics Can Help Reduce Blood Sugar and Control Type 2 Diabetes
At Good Harvest Market, we believe that food is one of the most powerful forms of medicine available to us. This is especially true when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes, a condition that affects millions of Americans and is often linked to poor dietary choices.
Research has shown that making certain dietary changes, incorporating certain supplements, and adding probiotics to your diet can potentially help you reduce your reliance on costly medications and monitoring devices, and better manage your diabetes symptoms. Here's what you need to know.
Are you at risk for Diabetes?
Did you know that more than 88 million Americans have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes? Pre-diabetes is a serious condition that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including making certain dietary changes and incorporating supplements and probiotics into your diet. In this blog, we'll explore how eating certain organic foods, supplements, and probiotics can help reduce blood sugar levels, control type 2 diabetes symptoms, and potentially reduce your reliance on costly medications and monitoring devices.
But first, let's take a look at some signs of pre-diabetes:
- Increased Thirst and Urination: If you're finding that you're thirstier than usual and need to urinate more frequently, it could be a sign of pre-diabetes.
- Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual, even after getting adequate rest, can be a sign of pre-diabetes.
- Blurred Vision: High blood sugar levels can affect the lenses in your eyes, leading to blurred vision.
- Slow Healing: If cuts and bruises are taking longer than usual to heal, it could be a sign of pre-diabetes.
- Tingling or Numbness: High blood sugar levels can damage nerves in the body, leading to tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you have pre-diabetes or other underlying health conditions.
In the next sections of this blog, we'll explore how incorporating certain organic foods, supplements, and probiotics into your diet can help reduce blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and potentially reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The Link Between Diet, Supplements, Probiotics, and Blood Sugar Our bodies are incredibly complex, and the foods we eat can have a major impact on our health. In fact, certain organic foods, supplements, and probiotics can help stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity, all of which are key to managing type 2 diabetes.
Top Organic Foods to Help Manage Blood Sugar
- Leafy Greens: Organic leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are packed with fiber and antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.
- Whole Grains: Organic whole grains like quinoa, barley, and brown rice are rich in fiber, which can slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream and help regulate blood sugar levels.
- Lean Proteins: Organic lean proteins like chicken, fish, and tofu are low in saturated fats and can help regulate blood sugar levels.
- Nuts and Seeds: Organic nuts and seeds like almonds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are high in fiber, healthy fats, and protein, which can help stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Berries: Organic berries like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are low in sugar and high in antioxidants, making them a great snack for people with diabetes.
Top Supplements to Help Manage Blood Sugar
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid: This supplement has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive system.
- Magnesium: This mineral is important for insulin secretion and can help improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Chromium: This mineral plays a key role in insulin metabolism and can help improve insulin sensitivity.
- Gymnema Sylvestre: This herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Probiotics for Improved Blood Sugar Control In addition to incorporating organic foods and supplements into your diet, adding probiotics can also help improve blood sugar control. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in your gut and can help improve digestion and boost your immune system. Research has shown that adding probiotics to your diet can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
At Good Harvest Market, we offer a wide variety of probiotic-rich foods, including fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, and a large selection of kombucha, including on tap at our Hop Harvest & Vine location. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is rich in probiotics and can be a tasty and refreshing way to get your daily dose of beneficial bacteria.
We Are Here To Help
At Good Harvest Market, we believe in the power of food as medicine. Our Wellness department offers a wide variety of supplements and vitamins to help support a healthy blood sugar level, as well as a range of organic foods and probiotic-rich foods to help you manage your diabetes symptoms. We also offer knowledgeable staff who are available to help you find the best products for your needs, answer any questions you may have, and offer guidance and support on your health journey.
In addition to incorporating organic foods, supplements, and probiotics into your diet, it's important to make lifestyle changes that can also help improve blood sugar control. Regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, and getting adequate sleep are all important factors that can help you manage your type 2 diabetes.
By taking a holistic approach to managing your diabetes, you can potentially reduce your reliance on costly medications and monitoring devices and improve your overall health and wellbeing. Good Harvest Market is here to help you on your journey to good health, with a wide variety of products and resources to support you every step of the way.
Remember, food is medicine, and by incorporating the right organic foods, supplements, and probiotics into your diet, you can reduce your risk and/or take control of your type 2 diabetes and improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Shop healthy, shop local, shop Good Harvest Market.