Hypoglycemia
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Hypoglycemia - hy-po-gly-ce-mi-a (n.)
An abnormally low level of sugar in the blood.
What does this mean?
In simple layman's language, hypoglycemia is the body's inability to properly handle the large amounts of sugar that is consumed. It's an overload of sugar, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and stress.
In medical terms, hypoglycemia is defined in relation to its cause. Functional hypoglycemia, the kind we are addressing here, is the oversecretion of insulin by the pancreas in response to a rapid rise in blood sugar or "glucose".
All carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits and grains, as well as simple table sugar), are broken down into simple sugars by the process of digestion. This sugar enters the blood stream as glucose and our level of blood sugar rises. The pancreas then secretes a hormone known as insulin into the blood in order to bring the glucose down to normal levels.
In hypoglycemia, the pancreas sends out too much insulin and the blood sugar plummets below the level necessary to maintain well-being.
Since all the cells of the body, especially the brain cells, use glucose for fuel, a blood glucose level that is too low starves the cells of needed fuel, causing both physical and emotional symptoms. -
Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are:
> fatigue
> insomnia
> mental confusion
> nervousness
> mood swings
> faintness
> headaches
> depression
> phobias
> heart palpitations
> a craving for sweets
> cold hands and feet
> forgetfulness
> dizziness
> blurred vision
> inner trembling
> outbursts of temper
> sudden hunger
> allergies
> crying spells -
DO -- Keep a daily account of everything you eat for one week to ten days.
DO -- Start eliminating the "biggies" -- those foods, drinks and chemicals that cause the most problems: sugar, white flour, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.
DO -- Be extremely careful when and how you eliminate the offending substances. If you drink ten cups of coffee a day, gradually reduce consumption over a period of days or weeks.
DO -- Replace offending foods immediately with good, wholesome, nutritious food and snacks as close to their natural state as possible. Lean meats, poultry (without the skin), whole grains, vegetables and allowable fruits are recommended. We want to prevent deprivation from setting in, especially the "poor me, I have nothing to eat" attitude. There is plenty to eat.
DO -- Eat six small meals a day or three meals with snack in between. Remember not to over eat.
DO -- Be prepared to keep your blood sugar stabilized at all times, whether at home, office, school or traveling. At home, you should always have allowable foods ready in the refrigerator or cupboards. Always keep snacks in your car or where you work.
DO -- Watch your fruit consumption.
DO -- Be careful of the amount of "natural" foods or drinks you consume. Even though juices are natural, they contain high amounts of sugar. Whether or not the sugar you consume is "natural", your body doesn't know the difference. Sugar is sugar is sugar...and your body will react to an excess of it. -
DON'T -- Panic when you first hear about all the foods that you must eliminate from your diet. Keep repeating all the foods that you CAN eat -- there are plenty.
DON'T -- Forget that being PREPARED with meals and snacks is the key to a successful hypoglycemia diet and a healthier you.
DON'T -- Skip breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day for a hypoglycemic.
DON'T -- Compare your results or progress with anyone else's. Each body's metabolism is different.
DON'T -- Be obsessive about your diet. The CONSTANT focus on what you can and cannot eat will only instill more fear, stress and frustration. -
Can explain further on this?Originally posted by InnoHippo:DO -- Watch your fruit consumption.
does it mean we should eat more/less fruit?
or should we refrain from eating not-so-good fruits such as watermelon/durian and increasing consumption of "better fruit"? -
it hard to explain.
to what I know you can only reduce it, may be you can try ginberry tea. -
OMGWTFOriginally posted by InnoHippo:Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are:
> fatigue
> insomnia
> mental confusion
> nervousness
> mood swings
> faintness
> headaches
> depression
> phobias
> heart palpitations
> a craving for sweets
> cold hands and feet
> forgetfulness
> dizziness
> blurred vision
> inner trembling
> outbursts of temper
> sudden hunger
> allergies
> crying spells
oh wait...I dont have forgetfulness, blurred vision, outburst of temper, allergies, and crying spells, ok. -
u dont need to have all the symptoms u knowOriginally posted by the.raven:OMGWTF
oh wait...I dont have forgetfulness, blurred vision, outburst of temper, allergies, and crying spells, ok.
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hippo a nutritionist??
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nope ....Originally posted by poon cho tang:hippo a nutritionist??
and hippo loves to eat unhealthy food