Nervousness, anxiety, confusion, fatigue, headaches and hunger are all signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Low blood occurs when there is more insulin than glucose in your bloodstream; your cells need glucose for energy and hormones are signalling your brain that you need to eat to increase the supply of energy. A low-carb/high-protein diet helps to regulate glucose, prevent hypoglycemia and should stop those feelings of nervousness and anxiety.
Understanding Hypoglycemia
When your blood sugar level drops, the first sign may be hunger. The longer you wait to eat, the more intense your symptoms may become. Your blood sugar may be low because it's time to eat, you may have skipped a meal or you exercised more vigorously than usual -- using more glucose than normal. You may have had to much alcohol to drink, which interferes with glucose production, or you may be taking a medication that affects blood sugar. Although prevention is the best treatment, when hypoglycemia strikes, you need to eat. Try eating 15 g of simple carbohydrates that your body can easily convert to glucose -- that's one slice of bread or 8-oz. of skim milk.
Preventing Hypoglycemia with a Low-Carb Diet
Sugar and starch are most easily converted into glucose. When you eat foods that your body quickly turns into glucose, blood sugar levels rise. The faster your blood sugar levels rises, the more insulin your pancreas produces to move glucose into your cells for use as energy. When too much insulin is released, your body thinks you need more glucose; you are experiencing hypoglycemia and may feel anxious. This is a negative cycle of high and low blood sugar that may ultimately lead to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. You can stop this pattern by limiting simple carbs in your diet. Prevent that sugar spike and you'll prevent the inevitable sugar crash that follows.
Slowing Digestion
The key to regulate your glucose level is to choose high-fiber complex carbohydrates rich in essential nutrients rather than simple carbs and added sugar. A low-carb diet is not a no-carb diet; you must learn to choose carbs that have a minimal impact on blood sugar. Fiber, protein and fat all slow digestion, ensuring your body can't produce glucose too quickly and therefore won't overproduce insulin. Eating foods that slow digestion will also help you feel full faster and stay satisfied longer. This can result in fewer calories being consumed during the day and weight loss.
Dangers of a Low-Carb High-Protein Diet
A high-protein diet is not recommended for anyone with impaired kidney function. Protein digestion strains your kidneys and can speed the progression of kidney failure. Critics of high-protein diets warn that saturated fat intake may be too high. You can limit saturated fat by eating plant proteins such as beans, soy and nuts and by choosing lean animal protein such as fish, seafood and poultry. Choose unsaturated fats such as olive oil instead of saturated fats, such as butter. Use nonfat or low-fat dairy products. Saturated fat intake is linked to elevated cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease.
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