In This Article
Health Risks
Highly processed and refined foods quickly raise blood sugar levels after they are eaten. This means fast food, most packaged foods, foods made with white flour and white rice, white bread, foods with artificial sweeteners, foods with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives, sugar-heavy drinks – you get the idea.
When blood sugar levels spike as a result of a processed meal, so do insulin levels and oxidative or free radical stress on the arteries. (1,2) Several of these high spikes throughout the day, day after day, are a major offender when it comes to increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular health concerns. (1,2)
Strategies to Suppress After Meal Spikes
Ayurveda recommends using healthy fats like ghee, coconut oil, nuts and seeds to slow the absorption of sugar, caffeine, processed and refined foods.
Drinking one’s coffee blended with coconut oil, grass-fed ghee or butter has become a popular way to slow the delivery of caffeine into the bloodstream and blunt the blood sugar spike. Doing so seems to deliver hours of caffeinated energy without a surge or crash.
Eating almonds or avocados with a higher carbohydrate meal (such as white bread, rice or potatoes) can significantly lower the blood sugar spike from the carbohydrates. In one study, white bread was shown to increase after-meal blood sugar spikes, insulin and free radical oxidation. When the white bread was eaten with 1/3 of a cup of almonds, the after-meal blood sugar and insulin spike, as well as free radical oxidation, were significantly reduced. (3)
Plant-based fats, like almonds, nuts, coconut oil and avocados, all seem to lower post-meal blood sugar spikes.
Animal fats, such as chicken and butter, seem to have the opposite effect. When chicken is eaten with carb-rich white rice, the after-meal blood sugar spikes increase. (3,4) Ghee, also an animal-derived fat, was not studied in this report, but the suggestion from Ayurveda is that the removing of the milk solids in the making of ghee renders it somewhat similar in effect to plant-based foods like almonds, coconut and avocado. More research is needed here to confirm this ancient wisdom.
The Takeaway
When you find yourself having a “cheat day” and eating foods that you know are not the wisest or wonderful – try to eat the not-so-great food with an avocado, or add some nuts or seeds.
- Indulging in ice cream or dark chocolate? Choose the ice cream or dark chocolate that contains almonds or other nuts.
- Eating pasta? Cook in some pine nuts.
- Having yogurt? Mix in some flax seeds.
- Having toast? Spread on some almond butter.
Whenever possible, add plant-based fat to your food to lower the dangerous after-meal blood sugar spikes, insulin and free radical oxidation.
Disclaimer: While high after-meal blood sugar spikes can occur in otherwise healthy individuals who indulge in high-sugar meals or enjoy alcoholic beverages with their meal if these become a regular occurrence, it may be a sign or symptom of pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. If you are concerned about whether you are vulnerable to developing either of these conditions, please contact your primary health care provider to discuss a holistic approach to addressing your concerns and to have your blood sugar levels tested.
Two Tests to Measure your After-Meal Blood Sugar Spikes
- The test to measure your 3-month average blood sugar levels is called a Hemoglobin A1C or HbA1C. This test actually measures the amount of glycation or blood sugar glucose in a blood sample. Optimal levels are below 5.4%.
- A 2-hour Postprandial Glucose Test checks blood sugar levels 2 hours after you eat. Ideally, this number should stay below 125 mg/dL.
>>> Get the tools you need to test your own blood sugar levels at home
