Have you ever tried Black Nile Barley? We purchased this delicious, ancient grain recently from Lentz Spelt Farms. Glucose control is important to LivingTheCRWay members, so we decided to test the glucose effects of a new Black Nile Barley recipe. You can read more about it by becoming a Healthy Start member and logging into the Recipes & Foods, Cooked and Raw forum on LivingTheCRWay.com.
Here is the glucose testing regimen followed by Paul McGlothin, President of LivingTheCRWay, starting from the time he awakened:
Fasting Glucose – 73 mg/dL
Exercise:
Upper Body Exerciser – 17 minutes
Wearing a 25-lb. weight vest while walking up and down hills – 30 minutes
Glucose after exercise – 75 mg/dL
When Paul’s glucose levels are raised by exercise before breakfast, he has usually finished his last meal of the previous day a bit late. Indeed it was at 4:15, more than two hours later than he prefers. That means extra glycogen will be available to fuel glucose levels, even when exercising during fasting.
Tease meal (a small meal, usually a single course, to stimulate insulin production)
FOS (Fructo-Oligosaccharides) – 3 grams
Lemon wedges – 45 g
Tart Cherries – 55 g
Walnuts – 4 g
Sunlamp Exposure – 2 minutes
Meditation – 30 minutes
Mental Challenges –Dual n-Back and rapid solving of chess problems
Upper body Exerciser – 17 minutes
Glucose – 63 mg/dL!
Glucose control success! The regimen’s glucose-lowering effect says that the insulin level is ready to tackle Black Nile Barley.
Since we know this barley has a higher GI than most CR Way Foods to Choose, a delicious savory recipe helps blunt its glucose effect:
Black Nile Barley
Eggshell and flax seed, both ground
Lemon wedges
Pumpkin seeds
Garlic (pre-pressed in Jo Robinson style) and onion add to the flavor.
Here’s how the glucose testing went:
Time Blood glucose/mg/dL
9:14 am 68 – after finishing Black Nile Barley serving
9:34 80
9:57 92
10:17 78 – glucose control success!
The glucose control protocol muted the barley’s postprandial glucose effect. A 24-point rise occurred within an hour’s time, followed by an insulin-lowering effect – bringing blood glucose down to very healthy levels.
Now look at the barley’s effect on blood glucose without The CR Way to Great Glucose Control regimen. The barley raised glucose levels by 28 points. Most important: It took an additional hour for glucose to return to healthy levels. Don’t be fooled by the big drop from 104 to 67: Significant glucose fluctuations have been linked to increased risk of disease.
Time-interval Blood Glucose Readings
Time Blood Glucose/mg/dL
8:43 am 76 – After finishing Black Nile Barley serving
9:03 71
9:23 101
9:43 89
10:03 104
10:23 87
10:43 67
Glucose control is complex. It requires knowledge of the blood glucose-raising effects of the foods you eat and what works to lower it safely. Controlling glucose levels has the potential to improve health – particularly cognitive functions.
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