When advising parents regarding glycemic stress, Christine Northrup, M.D., writes in her book Mother-Daughter Wisdom (page 367), that it “happens when you consume foods with a high glycemic index and load. Blood vessel inflammation begins and glycemic stress ensues, resulting in blood vessel damage from oxidative stress. At this stage, many individuals actually experience hypoglycemia−the effects of low blood sugar. They feel weak and shaky after a high glycemic meal or after drinking caffeine. The reason is that the caffeine or the candy bar actually produces a stress response in the body, increasing epinephrine levels. This in turn raises cortisol, which triggers insulin production. Blood sugar levels initially go up, and then plummet below where they were before you ingested the caffeine (or the candy bar). Now you’re worse off than when you started. So you reach for another ‘hit’ of sugar or caffeine to make you feel better. It’s a vicious cycle. Over time, the swings in blood sugar lead to a thickening of the blood vessels in muscles first, then elsewhere. Next, insulin can’t get across vessel walls to help the muscle cells utilize blood sugar. And fat builds up in the liver and muscles.” Read your food labels; know which foods have naturally high glycemic content (potatoes, most fruits), avoid much alcohol, and if a glycemic condition exists, consider getting natural health advice, and oral chelation or clathration for cleansing the blood vessels.
