White Sands Missile Range employees attended a 21 Days to a Healthier You: Kick Sugar Cravings presentation Oct. 20 at the Professional Development Center as part of the Take 5 To Save Lives Suicide Prevention training. Clifford Kinnear, a Nutritional Health Coach with Natural Grocers, was the guest presenter.

21 Days to a Healthier You: Kick Sugar Cravings

White Sands Missile Range employees attended a 21 Days to a Healthier You: Kick Sugar Cravings presentation Oct. 20 at the Professional Development Center as part of the Take 5 To Save Lives Suicide Prevention training.

Clifford Kinnear, a Nutritional Health Coach with Natural Grocers, was the guest presenter.

“We all have the power to stop the dangerous cycle through our diet and lifestyle choices,” Kinnear said.

Kinnear talked about the Standard American Diet and said it is high in processed foods and full of added sugars and refined carbohydrates, making it a recipe for high blood sugar and lacking in protein and fiber.

He said that sugar in a person’s blood needs to be balanced because it can be toxic to cells in the body.

“We want to bring in protein and (healthy) fat foods to slow down that glycemic response to support a healthy blood sugar balance.”

Kinnear said eating fiber is important because it helps slow down the glycemic response or how quickly sugar goes into our blood stream.

“The more carbohydrates and sugar you eat the harder your body has to work.”

Although we do need sugar or glucose for fuel to think, learn, remember and to move and exercise, Kinnear said it is important to balance the amount of sugar.

He also went over the importance of environmental lifestyle and how it affects our insulin resistance.

Things like lack of sleep, high stress levels, pollution, pesticides, the use of plastics and physical inactivity can affect our insulin resistance.

He said staying active is important for blood sugar balance.

“Five things that are very important when it comes to supporting healthy blood sugar balance are water, sleep, diet, physical activity and anything that brings you happiness.”

By Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs