With obesity tipping the scales of health for many Americans, and with one in three Americans who are now classified as obese, it is no wonder that every second article you see or read these days is talking about sugar, diet, or weight loss. Obesity increases your risks of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and many more life threatening diseases. Blood sugar levels and the ability to control healthy blood sugar levels play a crucial role in the development of obesity and diabetes. Although diet is one of the most important ways of regulating blood sugar levels, there are also a number of nutrients, spices, and herbal extracts that can assist and support your ability to regulate your blood sugar levels. The nutrients, spices, and herbal extracts that can help you regulate blood sugar levels include:

• Chromium
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Green Tea
• Gymnema Sylvestre

Chromium

Chromium is one of the trace minerals that you need to supply the body in sufficient amounts to support blood sugar regulation. Your body needs chromium to support insulin function. Insulin is a hormone that plays an exceptionally important role in regulating blood sugar in the body. When you eat carbohydrates, your body converts it into glucose. Glucose in your bloodstream binds to insulin, and this allows the glucose to enter your cells where it is converted into energy. The more efficiently insulin functions, the more glucose you can convert. By converting glucose, blood sugar levels are kept within healthy ranges. In diabetics, cells become insulin resistant, or the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Either of these situations leads to an increase in blood sugar levels that can be life threatening. It is therefore vital to ensure your body has sufficient chromium to support insulin function. A top quality chromium supplement may, therefore, be a great addition to your diet to help regulate blood sugar levels, particularly if you are deficient in this essential trace mineral.

Cinnamon

Your pantry is packed full of ingredients that can assist you in supporting health. Cinnamon is one of the ingredients that doesn’t only make baked goods taste just like what Grandma made, but is potentially a life saver for those who are struggling with blood sugar regulation. Studies have revealed that cinnamon helps to improve blood sugar levels, it reduces triglyceride levels, and it may even help you to regulate cholesterol levels. Now, that doesn’t mean you should head off to the pantry to grab your cinnamon. The cinnamon you have in your pantry may not be pure, and may not even be real cinnamon, since most “cinnamon” sold for baking is in fact cassia and not cinnamon. If you want to add cinnamon to your diet to help you regulate blood sugar levels, then you should consider investing in a cinnamon supplement specifically designed for the purpose.

Ginger

Another ingredient you most likely have on hand in your pantry is ginger. Ginger offers a number of health benefits, and, if you are trying to regulate blood sugar, lose weight, or improve energy levels, then ginger may be a great way to spice up your life and improve health at the same time. The addition of ginger root to your food can be one way of adding ginger to your daily dietary intake, but it may be difficult to add ginger to every meal you take. Reliable and consistent addition of ginger is required to help regulate long term blood sugar levels. Once again, the best way to add ginger to your health regimen is by investing in a good quality ginger supplement designed to provide you with the levels of ginger that can support blood sugar regulation.

Green Tea

Green tea is a great refreshing beverage that is packed with potential if you are struggling with blood sugar control, or if you are trying to avoid diabetes or obesity. Green tea contains a number of ingredients that support and promote health. Studies show that Green Tea decreases fasting blood glucose levels, and that it may increase insulin sensitivity. Drinking green tea also reduces your calorie intake if you swop your regular tea or coffee with this delicious treat. Green tea also contains a number of vital antioxidants that can help to reduce free radicals and free radical damage in the body.

Blood Sugar Control Is for Life

It is important to realize that, whether you choose a natural health supplement, or whether you choose to take medication, no supplements or drugs are miracle cures. Long-term health requires a healthy diet, and a long-term concerted effort to support the body and improve health. Supplements that control blood sugar are a great tool to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, but they are only part of what you need to maintain optimal health.