The Humbled Homemaker: How To Avoid Christmas Blood Sugar Blues

I'm so excited to have contributing writer, Brandy, of Living Water Health and Wellness, posting today! Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God! Be sure to stop by her blog--Living Water Health and Wellness!

With Christmas only a few days away, many of us are wondering what we can do to make sure our bodies receive the nourishment they need during the holiday season.

For those with diabetes, this is especially important, and many times, incredibly difficult.

When surrounded by sweet treats, sugary drinks, and simple carbs of all kinds, what can we do to avoid the dreaded blood sugar spikes that so often come with holiday meals? It certainly shouldn't have to consume your every thought and take away from the true joy of the season.

After all, Christmas means time with family and friends, Christmas lights, favorite songs, snuggling by the fire, giving gifts, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Yet, while the holidays are full of wonderful traditions and memory making, they can also quickly become a hazard to your health, especially if you are watching your blood sugars.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was two years old. To read more about my story and how I use real food to stay in control of diabetes, please click here. Each Christmas brought the same seemingly insurmountable challenge. How can I enjoy the ample smorgasbord of holiday food without feeling terrible later?

It's been a long journey for me, but I have learned over the years that it is possible to take part in family gatherings without totally compromising your blood sugar control.

Here are a few tips and tricks that will allow you to enjoy your Christmas dinner, while still maintaining a healthy blood sugar range:

Coconut Oil

1. EAT YOUR FATS

Yes, you read that right. And no, I'm not talking about the fat in Grandma's banana pudding or Aunt Suzie's margarine-laden casserole.

Healthy, whole food fats help to keep your appetite in check, and some even lower blood sugar and speed up metabolism! My absolute favorite fat for anyone, but especially diabetics, is Virgin or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil!

Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but it is different from other types of saturated fat. It is a medium chain fatty acid, which means that it is absorbed quickly and used by the body more like a carbohydrate.

Most fats have to go to the liver to be converted to a lipoprotein, and then require insulin to get into the cell. MCFO's like coconut oil do not have to go through this process. They can pass freely into the cell walls and provide almost immediate energy.

They also are used by the body more quickly, and actually speed up metabolism. (A nice perk when you are probably going to eat at least a little too much.) :-)

When taken before a meal, coconut oil can actually lower blood sugar all by itself! We use this amazing oil in many ways: eaten right off the spoon, in coffee or hot tea, in smoothies, as a spread on toast, waffles, pancakes, etc., in cooking and baking, and the list goes on. I also use it as my whole body moisturizer! It's really not hard to get the recommended daily dose of 3-4 tablespoons in.

Coconut oil is also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, which offers seasonal protection from common germs that tend to be passed around this time of year.

For a more detailed description of why I believe coconut oil is such a super food and for more ideas on how to incorporate it into your diet, you can read my post The Food You Should NEVER Go Without!

Other good fat choices include whole, organic or raw butter (learn how to make your own), organic extra virgin olive oil (best when consumed raw), whole milk yogurt or kefir (learn how to make your own), and free-range eggs.

2. MAKE A DECEPTIVELY-HEALTHY DESSERT

There are so many recipes for healthy desserts and other holiday favorites. It's really all about making substitutions. For instance, use coconut oil in place of other oils when baking, use whole wheat pastry flour instead of refined, white flour, or use raw honey and other natural sweeteners in place of corn syrup or highly-refined white sugar.

For Thanksgiving this year, I made a beautiful Coconut Flour Cake with Homemade Butter Cream Icing. My husband said it was the best cake he had EVER eaten and the whole family loved it.

The best thing about this cake is that it is made with coconut flour, which is naturally low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fiber. And because the recipe calls for a large amount of eggs, that increases the protein and healthy fat content. It is truly an amazing dessert. You can find the recipe here.

Other healthier dessert options include Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Soft Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Coconut Oatmeal Cookies, and my favorite Fudgy Whole Wheat Brownies! Erin, from here at The Humbled Homemaker, has a fantastic, free Healthy Holidays eBook with MANY amazing recipes!

Now, this is not me giving you permission to eat a whole pan of brownies or plate of cookies because, of course, these desserts still have carbohydrates. They are made with more natural ingredients, and are absorbed more slowly into the blood stream, therefore, do not cause the same kind of sugar spikes that their alternatives do.

However, you should still eat only small amounts of even natural sugars/carbs in order to maintain good glucose readings, and check your blood sugar often to make sure you are staying in control.

Now, we all know that too much sugar isn't a good thing, but there is something that can be FAR worse for you...and that brings us to number 3.

Image by amp2

3. AVOID ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS LIKE THE PLAGUE

We talked about making substitutions above, but one substitution I would NEVER recommend is artificial sweeteners. While they may not raise your blood sugar (which is actually not entirely true), they can cause a host of other health problems including nerve damage, brain tumors, seizure disorders, migraines, anxiety, and many more.

The worst of these impostors is called Aspartame, Equal, or Nutrasweet, although I read recently that it is being renamed AminoSweet. This "sweetener" is a chemical concoction that has no place in the human body, but is the most widely used sugar substitute. It is actually classified as a neurotoxin. That means it causes your nerves to fire over and over again, eventually wearing them out, which can lead to many health problems, including neuropathy and retinopathy.

Isn't it interesting that those are two of the most common complications associated with diabetics, who are usually the heaviest artificial sweetener consumers? Coincidence?

Splenda and Sweet'N'Low are not much better. I do not use ANY artificial sweeteners. For more about why, you can read my post Stop Poisoning Yourself!! - Aspartame & MSG. If you want something sugar free, I recommend Stevia. It is an all natural calorie free sweetener derived from a plant. It can be used to sweeten beverages and even in place of sugar when baking.

4. AIM FOR BALANCED MEALS & SNACKS

While that may seem like an impossible feat, it's really not that hard to do. Try to make sure you incorporate protein and good fats into each meal or snack. Much of the traditional holiday fare majors on carbohydrates and sugars, which make it to the blood stream with alarming speed. When you add protein and healthy fat along with it, you slow the absorption and can also help avoid the blood sugar crash that comes when the sugar has been used up.

Try taking a tablespoon of coconut oil before a meal and eat some raw cheese, yogurt, or a hand full of almonds before you dive into the rest of your food. Or, eat the low-carb options first, such as a salad, turkey, or a deviled egg, before moving on to the higher carbohydrate dishes.

Image by getwired

5. DRINK LOTS OF WATER

You've heard it said a million times, but drinking water truly is one of the best things you can do for your body. Not only does it curb your appetite (many perceived hunger pangs are actually thirst signals), but it also helps rid your body of toxins that are introduced from the not so healthy foods you may be indulging in.
I have given you 5 tips on how to help manage the all too common blood sugar spikes that come with Christmas time meals. And whether you are diabetic or not, these tricks can help you stay on track this Christmas and have a little less eater's remorse after the holiday. :-)
Merry Christmas everyone! May it be your most blessed one yet!

Brandy is a full-time homemaker, has been married to the love of her life for 7 years, and is the mommy of two amazing little boys. The two most important things in her life are her relationships with God and her family. She is living the abundant life with her wonderful husband and sons and is constantly learning how to walk in the fullness of the promises of God.Her mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God and traditional wisdom! She blogs at Living Water Health and Wellness.

If you're an e-mail/RSS subscriber, have you received a copy of my Christmas gift to you yet? If not, please send me an e-mail to erinodom at pobox dot com, so I can get you a copy of Healthy Holidays: Slightly-Indulgent Sweet Treats!