I used to get hangry all the time – I even thought it was kind of funny, “Don’t stand between me and the pantry!” Haha – right? WRONG! ‘Hangry’ is no joke. Basically what’s happening is that your blood sugar is dropping so quickly that your brain perceives this as a threatening situation. Not cool! A blood sugar crash can lead to feelings of anxiety and/or depression, send your hormones out of whack not to mention the CRAVINGS!

Glucose (sugar) is the main source of fuel for our brains. The human brain is made up of only 2% of our body weight, yet it consumes 20% of the glucose derived energy. It’s really important to try and provide a steady stream of this fuel throughout the day, so as not to create the ‘peaks and valleys’ that can cause imbalances in the body.

Imbalanced blood sugar can also be a precursor to other serious diseases like Type II Diabetes, heart disease and even some forms of cancer.

5 Steps to Stop the Hangries:

Breakfast: Eat good fats and protein for breakfast. This is a great way to make sure you start your day on the right foot. Breakfast ideas: eggs, smoothies (see recipe below), nut butter or click here for my Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe.

Don’t Skip Meals: Eating 3 times a day should be plenty, but don’t skip meals if you think you may have imbalanced blood sugar. As far as snacking goes, it is better to avoid it, if you can. If you must snack, have something that won’t spike your blood sugar, like nuts and seeds or a low-glycemic fruit with nut butter. Click here for more information: How Hormones Affect Weight Loss

Antagonists: Not only sugar spikes blood sugar. Alcohol, aspartame, coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and modern carbohydrates like overly processed bagels, muffins and pasta all send your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride (up and down). Read more about the impact sugar can have on brain function by clicking HERE

Blood Sugar Balancing Foods: It has been indicated that certain foods can help to balance blood sugar: cinnamon, blueberries, grapes, apples and chia – enjoy them every day!

Calm: And finally STRESS! A regular meditation practice or deep breathing exercise can help with the hangries by calming the body and the mind.

Do you have symptoms related to blood sugar balance? If the answer is yes, then you have nothing to lose by incorporating the above mentioned strategies. Assess your symptoms after 3 – 4 weeks – you may be pleasantly surprised.

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Here is an easy way to start the day – blend it up, pour into a mason jar and bring it with you on your way to the office or school…

BLOOD SUGAR BALANCING SMOOTHIE

Ingredients: