If you’ve ever had that light-headed euphoric feeling after eating certain foods, followed by a crash that left you lethargic and unfocused, then you know what it feels like to have your blood sugar take a roller coaster ride that is anything but fun. Not only is this bad for you mentally as it causes mood shifts and an inability to concentrate, but it isn’t good for your body physically either.
When your blood sugar isn’t controlled, you risk becoming diabetic which can bring about a whole host of problems. You can develop issues with your vision and hearing, skin problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease and more, making keeping your blood sugar stable important to your overall health.
Ideally, you want to avoid eating foods that raise your blood sugar levels too quickly, causing you more disadvantages than benefits. What foods should you either limit or eliminate?
There are several, but some of the top ones include:
- Sweet desserts (cakes, cookies, donuts and other pastries)
- Chocolate and other candies
- Certain fruits, such as bananas and grapes, which are extremely high in natural sugars
- Fruit juice
- Pasta (made with white flour)
- Pizza crust (especially thick crust or deep dish)
- Pancakes and syrup
- White bread
- Pretzels
Basically, you want to watch your consumption of white flour and white sugar as both will have a major impact on your blood sugar levels. This applies to “diet” or “low-fat” foods too, so don’t be fooled into thinking that something is good for you simply because it contains fewer calories.
If you do eat something that is higher in sugar (whether natural or manmade), be sure to pair it with a protein source to lessen the effect. The more stable you can keep your blood, the better you’ll feel – both inside and out.
