B for Balancing Sugar: Top tips to Curb Cravings by Balancing Blood Sugar

Some say sugar is terrible, others say it's necessary. Everybody is scared of it, but everyone craves it. The truth of it lies at the crossroads of the food system, media signaling and the science of our bodies.

Learn more about the truth behind sugar itself here.

Of the six tastes that are necessary to be included in everyday diet, sugar is the most satisfying and primal. An imbalance in diet and emotional health can cause cravings and the irresistible urge to eat that extra couple of cookies.

But there is a way to eat what you want without worry - Focusing on Balance. Here are my top ways to balance blood sugar levels that can help you keep cravings at bay, maintain energy levels and avoid erratic blood sugar spikes that cause sudden hunger, mood swings and ultimately cardio-metabolic lifestyle disorders like diabetes, cholesterol etc. :

1. Include whole foods and diversity - grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices and herbs
2. Add the 6 tastes - sweet, salty, sour, bitter, astringent, pungent everyday - this is done by increasing the diversity of food, adding different spices and herbs. While you focus on the taste, the body is able to pick up the many nutrients it provides.
3. Balance the ratio of cooked and raw food - This is extremely important to ensure you keep bloating at bay, improve gut health, and allow for slow digestion that is they key to keeping blood sugar levels stable. Ideally your salad and raw food needs to be eaten before or with meals. The cooked meals should be an essential part of your diet to provide satiety and nutrients which are unique to cooking.

4. Have a snack or sharbat every two hours - this ensure you’re not suddenly hangry - also, these need to be wholesome snacks - not store bought biscuits, processed food.

5. Have adequate meals if you’re exercising - many people tend to cut their meals down and this can cause low grade inflammation in the body.

I’m also sharing a recipe here for a summer salad that has a great nutrient profile and will help beat the summer heat as well.

Mango and Flax - Summer Salad

For the dressing :

• 1 cup peanuts

• 1 cup chana dal

• 1.5 cups flax seeds

• Handful of dried red chillies

• 3-4 bulbs of garlic

For the base :

• Chopped up green mangoes

• Pomegranates

• Cucumber

• Bell Pepper

• Carrot

Instructions :

• Dry Roast the dressing ingredients and grind them to a powder. You can keep aside the powder to be used for over a month.

• Take 2-3 tbsp and add salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil. Add to the salad base.

Have this as part of your lunch or even a mid-meal snack.

Sure to refresh you and keep you full!