Sugar is more addictive to the brain than cocaine! Maybe that’s how we’re eating 150 pounds of it a year – but it’s destroying our system by making it insulin resistant. What’s the best diet for diabetics who are struggling to lose weight?
The Cause of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Insulin is the body’s response to sugar in the blood and helps process it so the body can use it. Your body becomes resistant to insulin when there’s too much sugar in the blood and the cells cannot absorb and use that sugar for energy. Think of it as an annoying delivery man (insulin) that keeps showing up the more sugar you keep eating. Pretty soon the cells are going to say “go away” and become resistant to that insulin. That means – blood sugar goes up and that creates all sorts of damage.
Here’s how you can start addressing insulin resistance.
The Best Diet for Diabetics and Healing Insulin Resistance
Here are the most powerful tools you can use to decrease sugar levels, insulin AND weight!
1. Detox From Sugar
Well, duh – right? You have to give your body a break from sugar. You’re probably an addict, so you need to go a period of time (not forever!) with absolutely NO sugar. The only way to overcome addiction is to quit cold turkey and remove it from your system. Kick sugar cravings and allow your body to heal itself.
It will be hard, but your taste buds will start to change, you’ll curb the cravings and you’ll give your system a break so it can start healing.
No fruits except for berries, grapefruit, and granny smith apples. No honey, oatmeal, bread, grains …etc.
2. Intermittent Fasting
Most of us are simply eating too much, whether it’s too often or too much per meal. Let’s stop talking about what to eat for a moment, and discuss when to eat.
Step 1 – Stop Snacking
Restrict yourself to eating 3 meals a day – NO snacks! Constant snacking is spiking insulin levels and the sugar is backing up in the system creating insulin resistance.
Step 2 – Intermittent Fast
Slide breakfast-time to noon or later and allow your body those extra hours in fat-burning mode. Intermittent fasting means only eating during a 6-hour window.
Fasting allows you to support your insulin levels and optimize your body’s ability to deal with sugar & lose weight.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been shown to reduce your sugar levels & reduce your insulin levels better than Metformin (a diabetes drug!). How to take it: 2 tablespoons in the morning, and 2 tablespoons at night.
These 3 tools will get you well on your way to reversing diabetes, get you in fat-burning mode (instead of sugar burning-mode), and control insulin so your body can heal and ultimately lose excess weight.
3. Eat Healthy Fat
Those damaged cells need to be healed and you do that but cutting sugar, and getting good, healthy fats in. Go for things like nuts, seeds, good oil and butter, coconut milk, avocados …etc.
4. Clean Up Toxins
Toxins are also damaging the insulin receptors in the cells. Toxins can mean environmental as well as food. Clean up the meats and dairy by paying attention to the sources – grass-fed, wild-caught, free-range, and organic.
