We all are aware of the sugar rush feeling after an especially indulgent beverage or meal —a brief sensation of hyperactivity quickly followed by a sugar crash. That bone-weary exhaustion makes you just want to wriggle in bed.
If this sounds normal, you’ve had a glimpse into the roller coaster effect that sugar can have on our energy levels and how tough our body must work to balance it.
You see, we quite literally run on sugar— each organ and cell in our body requires glucose. The food we take gets broken down into glucose for quick absorption into our bloodstream.
Insulin, a hormone secreted in the pancreas, aids our body take glucose out of the bloodstream and place it into our cells to be stored for later use or converted into energy [1].
If we consume too much sugar or high-glycemic carbohydrates (think crackers, cakes, cookies, and bread), we experience a quick influx of blood sugar. Your body must rush in to compensate with a spike of insulin to take care of glucose’s rapid overabundance, leaving us irritable and tired from the volatile effect.
Managing your blood sugar levels within a normal range is one of the most crucial steps you can take for vitality and overall health.
Besides eating a wholesome diet rich in low-glycemic whole vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, and protein, you can maintain your blood sugar levels in a healthy range by incorporating supplements that back glucose balance.
Why Does Blood Sugar Matter?
The concentration of sugar(glucose) in your bloodstream is referred to as blood sugar. This amount should remain steady throughout the day, and you should caution when it rises too high when it drops too low.
These extreme spikes in blood sugar can lead to tiredness, fatigue, weight gain, excessive cravings, and diabetes. These natural supplements for blood sugar support can help manage your blood sugar.
As you add supplements to your routine, look for a high-quality formula like Hyperbiotics Glucose Support. With 7 targeted probiotic strains, vitamin D3, and Banaba leaf extract, Glucose Support includes three of the top ten nutrients for support and BIO-Tract®.
This patented time-release delivery method delivers the good bacteria deep into your gut, where they can get to work supporting your health.
Because each cell in our body requires glucose to function, having the right balance of sugar in our blood is essential. From our mood to energy to brain function and weight and endurance, our blood sugar affects nearly every aspect of our health.
[Also Read: 13 Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Out of Control]
How do Blood Sugar Supplements Work?
Blood sugar supplements usually work in one of the 4 following ways:
- Mimicking insulin
- Supporting insulin activity
- Reducing or slowing glucose absorption
- Improving glucose metabolism
Unlike prescription pharmaceutical medicines, supplements do not have to be proven to work before they can be sold. However, the great news is that most supplements have at least some research evidence backing their use, and various clinical studies support a few.
Top 5 Blood Sugar Support Supplements
Here are the top 5 supplements you can take to support healthy blood sugar levels already in a normal range.
1. Pure Encapsulations’ Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg – 120 Capsules
Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant known as Acetate Replacing Factor, ALA, Biletan, Lipoicin, Thioctan, and many other names. This water and fat-soluble antioxidant addresses free radicals in the body, supporting our organs and tissues.
Alpha-lipoic acid supports glucose conversion into energy in our body’s cells and can help maintain insulin sensitivity after just four weeks of supplementation [1] .
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg of Pure Encapsulations is both fat-soluble and water-soluble to maximize absorption. It can support energy production‚ blood vessels, healthy metabolism‚ and overall heart health. Each capsule provides 200 milligrams of alpha-lipoic acid‚ as well as some vitamin C.
2. Pure Formulas’ Chromium 200 mcg – 100 Vegetarian Capsules
Chromium is a type of mineral that is present in some foods and the environment. There are two known forms: chromium 3+ (trivalent) and chromium 6+ (hexavalent).
Pure Formulas’ Chromium 200 mcg offers a biologically active form of the trace mineral in a convenient supplement. It contains the GTF (glucose tolerance factor) chromium polynicotinate, which is regarded to be the most effective type.
Research has proven that tissues retain up to 8 times more chromium intake from chromium polynicotinate (bound to nicotinic acid) than they do from the more commonly used chromium picolinate or chromium chloride [2].
3. Pure Encapsulations’ Cinnamon WS – 120 Capsules
A spice made from Cinnamomum trees’ bark, cinnamon, is a powerful antioxidant that can support slower stomach emptying after meals to help maintain insulin sensitivity. Research has found that the intake of cinnamon can help reduce blood sugar. Studies have shown that it may be useful to people who have prediabetes or diabetes [3] .
Every capsule of Cinnamon WS also provides vitamin C in the form of ascorbyl palmitate. This vitamin offers additional support for immunity while promoting protecting cells, collagen production‚ and maintaining skin health. It may even lower the impact of potentially harmful sun rays.
4. NOW’s Fenugreek 500 mg – 100 Veg Capsules
This aromatic plant’s seeds support blood sugar levels already within a normal range by supporting carbohydrate absorption and digestion. Fenugreek can also help to maintain insulin production due to the abundance of amino acids. In one research, 3 years of Fenugreek supplementation supported healthy blood sugar levels.
Fenugreek can also help prevent the onset of diabetes. One 3-year study found that people with prediabetes who took 5 grams of fenugreek powder two times a day before meals were remarkably less likely to develop diabetes, possibly due to decreased insulin resistance [4]. LDL “bad” cholesterol was also drastically reduced.
Take 2 capsules 1 to 3 times daily.
5. Douglas Labs’ Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg – 120 Capsules
Acetyl-L-carnitine is just one of the several amino acids that can possibly improve your health. It’s produced inherently in your body and can also aid with the energy-producing process. Douglas Labs has produced its Acetyl-L-Carnitine capsules for people interested in supplementing their diets with this amino acid.
Douglas Labs’ Acetyl-L-Carnitine capsules offer 500 mg of Acetyl-L-Carnitine in every single capsule serving. Acetyl-L-Carnitine supports your body to convert fat into energy [5] . It can stimulate fat-metabolizing enzymes for mitochondrial energy support. Besides, this amino acid can help in the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter crucial for nerve communication.
Bottom Line
Like our blood sugar, life is truly a balancing act—exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and taking relevant supplements will go a long way towards harmony and health and your mind and body!
