Employee Health Screening

Americans on average consume large amounts of sugar daily. This is a big problem in our society because increased sugar intake leads to numerous health problems. If you do not reduce the amount of sugar you consume, you may put yourself at risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity. Sugar can be consumed in moderation, but to live as healthy as possible it is recommended to stay away from sugar as much as you can. If you are interested in eliminating sugar from your diet, a great place to start is with sugar substitutes. Sugar substitutes are beneficial to your health because they allow you to avoid the added calories provided by sucrose, that is table sugar.

Reasons to Prevent Sugars

Heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are all serious problems that affect Americans daily, but child obesity is a new problem in America. This is a serious problem because it can lead to further health problem later in the child’s life. A study  performed by researchers at Columbia Univ. Mailman School of Public Health found that kids and teens consume sugar-sweetened beverages regularly and these drinks provide an extra 356 calories each day. The main cause of weight-gain is the added calories provided by sugar. Sugar is present in many foods and drinks that are consumed every day and most people eat more sugar than they realize. In order to help reduce the amount of sugar consumed daily; the following is a list of reasons for reducing sugar consumption a healthy alternative such as Splenda.

Research on Excessive Sugar Consumption

Research published in the United States has found that those who drink a cup of soda a day have an increased risk of gaining weight or developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume a cup per month. This study has also proven that type 2 diabetes and obesity are caused by sugar and high fructose corn syrup. This is the main reason one should consider a sugar substitute because more Americans are trying to live healthier lives by limiting sugars. It is also not necessary to sacrifice the flavor of your food and drinks. There are many types of sugar substitutes available on the market; you just need to find one that is best for you.

Sugar Free Alternatives to Sugar

Sugar-free foods might contain an ingredient called polyols. Polyols provide the quality of sugar based foods without the negative health risks. The main benefits of picking foods sweetened with polyols are that they taste like sugar, provide less calories, and the United States  Food and Drug Administration is allowing foods that use polyols to provide the claim “does not promote tooth decay.”

Splenda as a Sugar Alternative

Splenda, the artificial sweetener is a well-liked product that could benefit  one’s health significantly. Splenda contains zero calories and it’s beneficial to those who suffer from heath issues. One disease specifically that can be caused by sugar intake is diabetes. Diabetes is an disease that affects many Americans and those with the disease have to be extra careful not to consume too much sugar.

Diabetes is a disease where blood sugar levels become abnormally high. This results in those suffering from type 1 diabetes to inject insulin into their blood. Many who suffer from diabetes have switched to sugar substitutes because of the low carbohydrates and low amounts of calories present in these products. Artificial Sweeteners are also highly beneficial to diabetics because they offer the flavor of sugars without raising blood sugar levels.

Sugar Substitutes are Great for Cooking

When it comes to cooking and baking, sugar is an important ingredient. Because of the health risks associated with sugar, you may want to consider a sugar substitute such as Splenda. Splenda acts like a sugar and allows you to bake or cook your favorite meals without sacrificing the flavor provided by sucrose.

Many consume sugar daily and this provides added risks of serious health problems. Switching from sucrose to Splenda can change your life completely by lowering your chance of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. These problems come from the extra calories present in table sugar. Artificial sweeteners also help reduce one’s blood sugar by helping to control diabetes. There are many ways to avoid these health issues and the simplest is to avoid products with large amounts of sugar. There are numerous recipes available to help you begin the path to healthy no-sugar baking. You could also want to begin by considering the substitution of sugar with Splenda or other artificial sweeteners.

Next time you decide to eat a candy bar or drink a soft drink, remember the health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption or choose sugar alternatives as your sweetener. Although sugar in small amounts is not dreadful for your health, it is best to avoid it altogether.

Diabetes is now becoming increasingly widespread across both adults and children. A lot of this is down to obesity and the vast amounts of sugar and refined white flour that is in our diet these days, but how do we know if we have diabetes and what are the signs of diabetes we need to look out for?

Well first of all lets get an understanding of what diabetes is. The first thing we need to understand is that there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, and type 2 when the body’s cells don’t respond well to insulin. Both result in high blood sugar levels because the body is unable to process the available glucose. At one time type 1 was known as juvenile diabetes as it was mainly found in younger people, and type 2 was expected to be found in older people, but this is not necessarily the case now.

At present it’s not really known what causes type 1, but it occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing part of pancreas. With this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body?s immune system has attacked and destroyed them, this leads to this form of diabetes being controlled mainly by insulin injections.

Type 2, that is probably now the most common kind, is often caused by poor diet and obesity. Quite often you can control this type of diabetes with a combination of dietary treatment , tablets and injections and, frequently, insulin supplementation.

So now we know what the diabetes type are what are the signs of diabetes to look out for?

The signs can be very similar in both type 1 and 2 due to the drop in blood sugar levels. This could be down to a lack of insulin production, no production at all or simply, insulin resistance. The symptoms to watch out for are as follows

Extreme thirst

Frequent urination ? especially at night

Tiredness

Unexplained weight loss

Blurred vision

If you spot these symptoms happening to you consistently, then you have to see a doctor as soon as you can. Whilst diabetes is very treatable, it’s also very severe if left untreated and can lead to blindness, amputation, heart disease, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction and other problems.

One of the problems that women face is blood sugar. There are a number of factors that can cause high glucose levels. Pregnancy and menopause change estrogen levels which affect metabolism and how body processes fat. In turn, that affects glucose levels. Menstruation also affects blood sugar, at least indirectly. Everybody has heard about “those pesky hormones” and all about craving certain foods like salty items such as chips or everyone’s favorite treat, chocolate. With some dietary changes and a little help from supplements you can achieve a healthy balance in your glucose levels.

Tackling the Diet

Carbohydrates are important for your body, but eating too many of them in your diet can cause your blood sugar to have more drastic highs and lows. In addition, you’ll find that more fat gathers along your midriff and hips. By being selective in the types of carbs you ingest, you will still get what you need in your diet but without those blood sugar swings.

Just say no to processed foods. Basically white foods – anything with white flour and sugars – are converted more quickly to glucose in your body. This causes a spike in your glucose levels that lasts just a short time. Before you know it, your energy plummets and you feel lethargic because that “sugar rush” is gone. Then, for get that energy level back up, you eat more carbs and the cycle starts all over again.

By picking  carbohydrates that are found in whole grain foods, your body has to work harder to process them. What this means for you is that extreme high-low factor goes away and you are left with a more balanced blood sugar level and your energy level is more consistent. And because your body works harder to process these types of carbohydrates, you are expending calories, meaning less fat gets deposited in your mid-section.

Vitamins and Supplements

While taking care with your diet helps greatly, sometimes you just need an additional boost. This is where women supplements and vitamins for women come in. Business is booming with herbal supplements and special vitamin formulas. But which ones help with your blood sugar?

When your glucose levels fluctuate, it can be draining on your body and leave you feeling a bit sluggish. Taking supplements for women that contain chromium might give you a boost and alleviate some of that fatigue. If you have diabetes or might  be prone to developing it, ginseng can also be beneficial. It has been known to boost metabolism and help control blood sugar.

If you are looking for vitamins or supplements you have to be certain you only purchase high quality products. Be certain to always look for products from companies that only specialize in vitamins and supplements products for women. Among the companies that makes nutrients for women and specializes in supplements for women health is nutraOrigin.

There are a number of other women vitamins and supplements that could also be beneficial. However, make certain the check with your doctor to determine which ones may  be best for you. If you are taking other medications, certain vitamins or women supplements might counteract with them.

It all boils down to common sense. Do your research into the different vitamins and supplements. Make positive changes in your diet. Women are built differently than men. Therefore, you must be more diligent with your body and what goes into it for your health.

The glycemic index diet or G.I. diet is gaining a reputation as a healthy way to lose weight. Although more of a way of eating rather than a diet, more and more people following the G. I way achieve their weight loss goals. Many health experts agree that the Glycemic Index diet, if followed correctly, can be a great way to weight loss success, especially for those who struggle with conventional low calorie diets or dieters who have trouble controlling their appetite.

The G.I diet is similar to the low carb diet but it is not as strict and targets the types of carbs rather than the quantity of carbs for each meal. There is also a focus on the correct timing of the two basic types of meals – a carb or protein meal. The science behind the timing and types of meal makes G.I dieting a potent way to help lose fat stores, safely and relatively quickly.

The G.I diet is all about Insulin and controlling blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate our blood sugar; actually it lowers glucose levels by stimulating cells to absorb any excess sugar from the blood. The problem with Insulin is it also causes fat cells to take up excess fatty acids from the blood. Often we ingest a meal which includes both sugar and fats so if any meal includes foods which have a high Glycemic Index then the fat from that meal can be easily stored on the hips.

There is an established theory that if one can control insulin levels then one can control how much fat the body will store from each and EVERY meal. Fat can only be stored when Insulin is present, and Insulin is only released when blood sugar levels become elevated.

What raises blood sugar?

Carbohydrate in foods will raise blood sugar if it is absorbed too rapidly. The types of foods which cause rapid absorption of sugar are all those with a high G.I index rating.

The basics of the G.I index

The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate foods by assigning them a number ranging from 0 to 100. The number indicates the rate at which the food raises blood glucose levels during its absorption. The higher the value the quicker the sugar is absorbed.

A high Glycemic index food has a value of 70 and above. A G.I value of 56-69 is considered medium and any foods lower than 55 are considered a low Glycemic index food. Foods with a low G.I are best as they digest more naturally and help provide a steady supply of energy over the while several hours, it also makes us feel fuller for longer.

Is the G.I Diet simple?

The diet sounds simple because foods are generally chosen from the low G.I food list, but it gets complicated when you create a meal made up of many different food items, each with a unique G.I value. The idea is to make sure most items which make up every meal have a low Glycemic index, thus the overall G.I of the meal stays within the low to medium range.

Gaining complete nutrition

There are some foods which have a high G.I rating but are considered a healthy nutritious food. In these cases healthy high G.I foods can be combined with low G.I foods to maintain low-medium G.I value, plus help create a complete nutritional intake. an example is baked potato (high G.I) topped with baked beans (low G.I). There are also low G.I foods which should be limited. Fresh meat and poultry contains no sugar so the G.I. will be very low, however, they do contain lots of fat and protein so the energy content will be high. Don’t forget calories do still count!

One positive point about the G.I meal plan is it is possible for dieters to enjoy the odd “treat” item once or twice each week, maybe an occasional dessert after a light dinner. As long as these “bad” items are NOT eaten alone it shouldn’t ruin the diet plan.

Advantages of G.I. way of eating –

1. Enjoy tasty foods but limit storage of fat

2. Enjoy some favourite foods AND still lose fat

3. Increased energy level and wellbeing

4. Control of blood sugar

5. Less hunger feelings

6. Less craving for sugary foods

7. Less bloating feeling after meals

8. Ability to eat more food if desired

9. Less risk from diabetes and other diseases

10. No strict calorie reductions

Small-blood-vessel disease (microangiopathy) is responsible for many problems related to the kidneys (nephropathy), to the eyes (retinopathy), and to some degree to the muscle of the heart (cardiomyopathy). (While heart disease is associated mainly with macroangiopathy, some microangiopathy also occurs.)

Kideny Damage (Nephropathy) Nephropathy may be associated with infection of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. Infection of the urinary tract is common in people with diabetes because of sugar in the urine and/or because urine may be kept in the bladder as a result of neuropathy. If the infection starts in the bladder and either occurs again again or goes up the ureters to the kid, neys, damage to the kidneys may occur. Any damage to the kidneys will eventually result in decreased kidney function. Diabetic nephropathy (damage of the kidney) is often a result of blood, vessel damage, with scarring of the filtration system of the major part of the kidney. This may be caused by thickening (and thus weakening) of membranes in the blood, vessel walls as a result of elevated blood, blood sugar levels. Bleeding could occur, or protein could leak from these blood vessels.

Checking for protein in the urine helps in early detection of renal disease (note, however, that protein in the urine isn’t always due to kidney damage but can also be due to some other stressor, such as infection or intense exercise). Control of hypertension is extremely important, as is prompt treatment of any urinary tract infection.

Where kidney damage has occurred, renal dialysis (washing the blood out through the use of a machine) or, as a last resort, renal transplant now offers hope of improved quality and quantity of life. Improved tissue, matching techniques and new immunosuppression drugs (medicine to keep the recipient from rejecting the transplant) have resulted in more successful transplantation.

Diabetic nephropathy is detected by finding protein in the urine. If there is a small amount of protein (called microproteinuria), the condition can be reversed by careful control of blood sugar and blood pressure, especially with drugs called ACE inhibitors. But if there is a large amount of protein in the urine (called gross protein, uria), then it’s too late and the condition can only be slowed, not stopped, and kidney failure is inevitable. Therefore, be sure your doctor follows the ADA guidelines and measures microprotein or microalbumin at least once and preferably twice a year. It is a simple and inexpensive test and can save your kidneys and possibly your life.

Retinopathy may occur in various stages, the earliest of which are more reversible. Stage I involves the formation of a microaneurysm, which is the ballooning of a weak wall of a blood vessel. Microaneurysms may burst and hemorrhage. Exudates, or defined yellow spots, can sometimes be seen. While these were once thought to be fat or lipid deposits, they have actually been found to be scars from areas of bleeding in the retina. Stage II involves new vessel formation, hemorrhage, and scarring. Once this has occurred, it’s impossible to reverse the condition. However, stabilization is possible through laser treatment.

The lens of the eye may also have problems. In the presence of higher blood sugar levels, the lens can become more translucent than transparent, and osmotic changes (the pulling of fluid into the lens) can result in a cataract. This leads to blurring of vision. The cataract can be easily removed and a new lens transplanted.

If hemorrhage (bleeding) has occurred in the eye, the fluid in the eye may become cloudy. Removal and replacement of this fluid may restore clear vision and can also help to remove scarlike membranes that have formed on the retina.

If there is too much pull on the retina, as can occur because of multiple bleeding episodes and subsequent scarring, the retina may pull away from the back wall of the eye. Retinal detachment can be corrected.

Retinopathy need not inevitably cause blindness. When retinopathy is discovered early and treated vigorously, vision can be preserved; therefore, have a dilated eye exam at least once a year according to ADA guidelines.

Diabetes is a condition in which too much sugar is in the blood. This means that your blood sugar level is too high. But what happens when the blood sugar level drops too low? This is a condition known as hypoglycemia, and diabetics, who have blood sugar that is too high, are at risk for it.

In diabetics, the blood sugar level can drop too low as a result of having too much insulin. This usually happens to diabetics who are insulin dependent, but can also happen to those who are not insulin dependent.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness, confusion, extreme sleepiness, problems speaking, weakness, and feeling anxious. If hypoglycemia occurs while you are sleeping, you may experience nightmares, or wake up drenched in sweat. You may also feel tired upon waking, or wake feeling confused or irritated.

Again, note that hypoglycemia isn’t a side effect of diabetes. It’s a potential — but uncommon — side effect of the treatment of diabetes. Most instances of hypoglycemia can easily be combated by eating or drinking something that contains carbohydrates. However, if hypoglycemia isn’t addressed, it can lead to unconsciousness.

Although hypoglycemia is often caused by having too much insulin, there are other causes. If you do not eat enough or you skip meals, you may become hypoglycemic. If you increase your physical activities — above the norm — you may experience hypoglycemia. Another common cause is drinking too much alcohol.

To avoid hypoglycemia, be certain that you eat well-balanced meals, at appropriate times. Don’t skip meals. Also, be certain that you are monitoring your blood sugar, and if it is underneath the normal range, eat or drink something that has carbohydrates in it. If hypoglycemia occurs once in a while, it shouldn’t be a immense concern. You should, however, let your doctor know about it. If it is occurring often, your doctor will most likely want to change your medications, or see a log of what you are eating and drinking, what activities you are participating in, and the times of those events.

Type 1 and 2 diabetes is a major deal in the United States. Statistics show that more than 14.6 million people are diagnosed with diabetes each year. There are many ways to fight this disease, however, many people simply give up. Exercise has been proven to treat diabetes along with proper diet. Here are a few benefits of exercise for anybody living with diabetes.

1) Exercise increases insulin sensitivity.

The big problem for Type 2 diabetics is insulin insensitivity. By exercising you are able to improve how well your insulin works. This will ultimately help you to control your blood blood sugar levels.

Remember, there are 2 types of diabetes. Type I diabetes is when the pancreas makes too little or no insulin. A personal with diabetes type I’ll have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control their glucose levels. Type II diabetes is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels. It can also mean that the cells are not responding to the insulin. Whenever a cell does not respond to insulin, it’s commonly known as insulin resistance.

The risk factors for type II diabetes include a feeling of laziness, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Just by being lazy the person will have a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to type 2 diabetes. When a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they are told to exercise and diet in order to help with their insulin resistance.

A few things they should follow when dieting is to eat a low-fat diet and limit calories from saturated fats. The recommendations also include eating complete sources of protein, and limiting calories from protein. It is worth noting that protein plays an added role in a diabetic diet. Protein can actually gradually transform into glucose. Consuming appropriate amounts of protein can help a person who’s either type I or II diabetes to manage their glucose levels.

If dieting and exercise does not work, then medication will be prescribed by the doctor.

2) Exercising will improve your cholesterol levels.

Exercise helps by raising the good cholesterol and lowering the bad. This is good news for diabetics because they are always at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose much faster. This will in turn lower blood sugar dramatically. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will burn glucose.

3) Exercise will strengthen your heart..

Cardiovascular exercise is a major benefit to diabetics. With a stronger heart you will be able to exercise much harder. You will be able to go throughout your day and carry out tasks much easier. Many people do not exercise because they feel as though they do not have the energy. One key to remember is that exercise will give you energy.

4) Exercise can decrease blood pressure.

Many diabetics also have high blood pressure. Exercising can decrease your blood pressure when you are resting or exercising. Be sure to keep in mind that your heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout your entire body. This is also very important for reducing your chances of heart disease and stroke.

5) Exercise can improve your mood.

Diabetes can be a very stressful disease on whoever who lives with it. One thing excellent about exercising for whoever is that you feel really good about yourself. Exercise can even improve depression. Depression has been found to be a major cause of suicide. Yes, you have diabetes, but it does not mean you cannot lead a normal life.

You had another hard day at work. You are aroused about getting home. Now, you are home. There it is, your favorite chair. It looks so inviting, so comfortable. You have been best buddies for years. You sit down in your chair. Ah, it feels so good, so familiar. It is time to turn on the tube, watch your favorite sitcoms or catch up on the day’s current events. It is time to waste the night away, with a snack and a beverage, watching what you please.

Well, don’t get too comfortable! You may have diabetes or may be on your way to getting Type II diabetes. Your lack of exercise, puts on extra pounds, and does not do anything to help control your blood sugar. Be sure to get up and get moving. Be sure to get those lower limbs in motion. Not watching one of those TV shows, could be beneficial to your health.

You think, running, ” that should be the answer. ” For a small percentage, it may be the answer. You certainly, burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. Most of us are not prepared to run, initially. Running the first day is a bad idea. While you are running , you may not feel it. But, the next day, you will be sore and aching. You’ll not get the full benefit of your program. You might decide that running is too hard on you. You probably thought you were going to run farther and longer. This could discourage further exercise endeavors.

Begin smarter and slower. It will be good for you in a little time. Jogging, may be the answer for some. Sore knees, shinsplints, breathing difficulties are common when jogging. Also, if this is all new for you, don’t push yourself too hard. Too hard, could be discouraging for you. You want to be enthusiastic, not discouraged.

It’s a good idea to start with walking. Start walking. Start at an above average pace, just a little faster than your normal walking speed. Walk with a goal in mind. Choose a place you want to walk to, or a certain number of laps around the track. Choose the amount of time in which you want to finish. Be certain to keep note of these, you will refer to them as you progress to new goals. Again, start gradually. Don’t forget, when you walk to the spot you select to walk to, you are only one-half done. You still have to walk back.

As you progress, this should become a daily exercise. You should walk for one-half hour. You’ll increase the distance you walk. You’ll increase your walking speed. As you increase these, You’ll lose weight, burn fat, and get lower, steadier blood sugar levels. Increasingly, lower levels will be the normal for you. This is exciting. This will inspire you to do more.

Comfort is important in any kind of exercise. Wear shoes that are designed to take the impact of walking. There are many out there. Walking shoes, cross-training shoes, running shoes all work good. Loose, comfortable clothes, make the walks easier.

Wait to get in the evening chair, until after you walk. Make certain to get a program together for yourself.  This is important, for yourself. You do not want to compare your progress to others. Everyone is different. All have different tolerances and recovery speeds. None of us are the same. Go at your own pace. But consistently, increase the distance or speed at which you walk. As always, check your blood sugar levels. These will be beneficial, in seeing results, positive results. You’ll enjoy seeing changes when you look into the mirror, also.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is generally a genetic disease passed on through generations of a family. It can affect kids and adults alike, but most often begins in childhood and is carried through adulthood. The body produces only a small amount of insulin, if any at all. Consuming excessive amounts of sugar can worsen the natural disruption caused by this specific classification.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes often occurs because of a poor diet combined with lack of exercise. This classification most often occurs in adults over the age of 35, but the number of children getting this disease is rising because of poor food options and lack of exercise. A handful of people who contract type 2 diabetes are predisposed to it because of genetics.

Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women sometimes experience a brief interaction with diabetes during pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes. It happens in the second trimester and, in most cases, disappears after the baby is born. It is very important for a woman to keep in close contact with her obstetrician when this disease occurs. Gestational diabetes puts an expectant mother at higher risk for developing permanent type 2 diabetes. The risk for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies is higher, as well. The cause of gestational diabetes isn’t completely known, but there is a theory. Hormones from the placenta may be blocking the insulin that is being produced, causing the insulin not to be able to do its job properly.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of diabetes can be unnoticeable or mild in the early stages. Often, diabetes isn’t diagnosed until blood tests confirm the results. Symptoms of diabetes might include one or more of the following:

o  Frequent urination

o  Excessive thirst

o  Nausea

o  Blurred vision

o  Fatigue

o  Excessive weight loss, even if eating a normal amount of food

o  Tingling of the hands and/or feet

o  Ulcers (skin sores) that don’t heal

o  Acquiring frequent infections

When to Seek Specialist Help

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you ought to contact your physician as soon as possible. Even if you do not have diabetes, these can be symptomatic of other potential diseases. You should have blood tests performed on a regular basis if diabetes runs in your family. Sugar levels are something that doctors check on a each year basis, so getting a regular physical is something everybody should do.

Many of us suffer from our blood sugar level being out of balance. If you have high blood sugar levels (diabetes), then you will hopefully be under the supervision of a medical practitioner. This article is about low blood sugar levels, sometimes referred to as hypoglycaemia.

There are many causes of low blood sugar, including stress, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies. However, here we are focusing on three ways in which we can all make changes to our habits to greatly reduce the likelihood of suffering low blood sugar – our intake of sugar, coffee and tobacco.

Sugar

Refined grains and refined white sugar are probably the most significant factors involved in hypoglycaemia. As well as the sugar we ourselves add to drinks and food, surprisingly large quantities of sugar are added to many processed foods and drinks, even savoury ready meals. Refined grains are stripped of their nutrients and only a few are replaced. E.g. up to 98% of chromium is lost and 78% of zinc. These two minerals are critical for blood glucose control. Refined grains are not only depleted of nutrients, but they use up your body stores of nutrients in the process of trying to deal with them.

Solution –  Purchase only natural ingredients and resist the temptation to add sugar to your food and drinks!

Coffee

Coffee can drastically lower your blood sugar level. Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands, which encourages the liver to breakdown its glycogen stores, and release it back into the bloodstream as glucose. The dependable quick fix of a cup of coffee with sugar is like a double â..whammy’. The body is flooded with an immediate source of sugar into the bloodstream, while coffee adds to the total sugar load by acting through the adrenal glands and liver.

Solution –  Try to cut back your coffee consumption, and gradually reduce the amount of sugar you take with it.

Tobacco

Studies have shown that nicotine rapidly increases glucose levels by as much as 36 percent, followed by a rapid drop shortly after the cigarette is put out. This sudden drop in blood sugar level after a cigarette helps to explain the addictive nature of nicotine and the craving for the next cigarette soon after. Although the mechanism isn’t clearly understood, tobacco use can cause a severe deficiency of vitamin C. This vitamin has many roles in the body and a deficiency is associated with many degenerative diseases.

Solution –  Quit smoking if you can. If you can’t, bettering your diet by eating more fruits and vegetables can help to reduce cravings, thus making it easier to quit smoking in the long run.