Hypoglycemia is a condition marked by low levels of glucose, a sugar that serves as a fuel source, in your bloodstream. It is a common complication of diabetes, but can also be caused by poor dietary choices, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Symptoms include headache, poor coordination, fatigue, vision disturbances and slurred speech. Hypoglycemia may also result in coma. Although a raw food diet cannot cure hypoglycemia, it may help reduce symptoms.
Check with your doctor before adopting a raw food diet to address hypoglycemia.
Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber may help control blood glucose fluctuations, preventing symptoms associated with low blood sugar levels, according to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Raw vegetables such as spinach, edamame, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and carrots are rich sources of dietary fiber in the raw food diet. Raw fruits, nuts and seeds can also serve as fiber sources.
Iron-Rich Foods
Raw foods rich in iron may help reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Iron is a trace mineral necessary for the production of myoglobin and hemoglobin, which are substances that help provide your muscles and organs with oxygen, which may reduce hypoglycemia-related fatigue. Spinach, avocados, almonds, pears, peaches, sesame seeds, pumpkin, watercress and dates are abundant raw food sources of iron.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that may help regulate the production of insulin in your pancreas, according to Balch. Insulin is necessary for preventing high glucose levels in your bloodstream; however, overproduction of insulin can cause your body to store glucose as fat cells instead of using it for energy. This can cause blood sugar levels to drop, triggering hypoglycemic symptoms. Boost your zinc intake by consuming raw foods such as pumpkin seeds, alfalfa, kelp, sunflower seeds and cayenne peppers.
Proteins
Although the raw food diet is not typically associated with protein, several raw foods can help supply protein in your diet. Raw walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, soybeans and sprouted grains and legumes contain protein. Along with carbohydrates, protein aids in cellular repair, and can help prevent hyperglycemia related fatigue, according to Balch.
Considerations
When preparing raw foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, use distilled water and a vegetable scrubber to clean the surface of these foods. This can help remove natural and chemical pesticides and fertilizers that may be toxic to your body. Pack raw nuts and seeds as snacks between meals to help keep your blood sugar levels consistent, and to reduce the temptation to opt for snacks laden with sugars and refined flours, such as snack crackers, ice cream and pastries.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypoglycemia; February 2010
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., et al.; 2010
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