Keep a check on your blood sugar levels, not only to prevent diabetes, but also your emotions. When your blood sugar drops your emotions can be affected and result in severe-mood swings, making you argumentative, angry, irritable, depressed, intolerant and easily upset. Also, if you suffer allergies, rhinitis, headaches, etc. these can be brought on if you have not eaten for a few hours. 

The symptoms below can be an indication of hypoglycaemia/low blood sugar:

• inability to concentrate
• confusion and irritability
• sweating
• nervousness, shakiness and weakness
• extreme hunger and slight nausea
• dizziness and headache
• blurred vision
• fast heartbeat and feeling anxious
• slurred speech
• unsteadiness on standing or walking
• muscle twitching
• personality changes, such as anger or crying

Avoid sugar and fructose which is very often hidden in foods we are not aware of, particularly fruit juices and sugar in cereals. Limit alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate and avoid canned, fizzy drinks altogether as well as artificial sweeteners.

It is important to regularly eat foods that include protein, complex carbohydrates, such as beans and pulses, goats cheese, oats, berries, buckwheat pasta, nuts. Make sure your minerals are balanced, paying particular importance to chromium levels, which helps to correct blood sugar and sweet cravings.

Contact me if you would like me to send you a comprehensive list of foods that are high and low on the Glycaemic Index Table.  (www.annshawclinic.com)