How many pieces of Halloween candy did you eat yesterday? A couple of pieces? A pound? High dosage of sugar can lead to sugar spikes and stress. Fortunately, you can take mindful steps to reduce your sugar stress.
The Halloween Sugar Crash
It’s been said that children will typically eat 3,100 calories in Halloween candy. While other experts have found that the average American consumes 3.4 pounds of candy over the Halloween season (that’s 7,00 calories).
Sugar Crash Symptoms
Eating high levels of sugar causes spikes and eventually drops in your blood sugar levels. These drops are called sugar crashes and when your blood sugar levels are low, the body lacks the energy to keep going. With a sugar crash, people may experience a variety of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and the inability to concentrate.
Tips for Blood Sugar Crash
Need helpful tips for a sugar crash? There are three helpful tips listed below.
- Eat the right foods. There are certain foods that will help you manage your sugar crash. Foods that are high in fat and protein can help slow down the digestion of the sugar. And foods high in fiber can also slow down the sugar absorption process in your body. So, prevent your crash by eating fruits and veggies with fiber or protein, such as apples, dried fruit, and raw veggies including carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower.
- Get some exercise. Although the temptation is probably strong, refrain from lounging about when you feel your body starting to slow down. You can use the sugar as energy instead of letting yourself crash and burn. So, get up and start moving. Do some stretches in your office, do some jumping jacks outside, or take a walk around the block. Your body will appreciate the exercise.
- Stay hydrated. Consuming a lot of sugar can cause dehydration, which can lead to additional stress. Drinking water can lower your stress and keep your hydrated. The water will also help you get rid of all the extra sugar coursing through your body.
Bonus: Avoid future temptation. Chances are you have a lot of leftover candy around your house right now. According to the National Retail Federation, 70 percent of Americans handed out candy this year and 30 percent of Americans took their children trick-or-treating. So, whether you distributed candy or picked up candy with the kids, you’re likely to have more candy than you know what to do with. Instead of eating all that candy and getting another sugar rush and crash, consider a more Mindful solution.