Supplements to balance your blood sugar - Chromium & L-Glutamine

Chromium Polynicotinate or GTF Chromium

When you quit smoking, your blood sugar can become lower than when you were a smoker, since you are not having that blood sugar boost when you smoke. Taking chromium is an excellent way to regulate your blood sugar, while keeping yourself feeling balanced and calm while quitting smoking.

Chromium is a mineral that is is often deficient in the soil and is essential for a healthy blood sugar balance.

Studies have shown Chromium Polynicotinate is more effective than Chromium Picolinate (the more commonly known form of chromium, used to treat type 2 diabetes and promote weight loss) when it comes to blood sugar balance.

Chromium is essential for the absorption of sugar into the body’s cells via insulin. When sugar is not transferred into the cells to be used as energy then your body must move it away from the blood vessels to prevent damage to the vessels.

So, where does the body transfer the sugar to prevent it from causing harm? Initially, to the liver to be saved as glycogen for upcoming use. However, the liver can only store a limited amount so the surplus glucose is then moved to your body’s fat cells to be stockpiled as fat.

When your body has good levels of chromium, a healthy blood sugar balance is more easily acquired since your body is able to use greater amounts of sugar for energy rather than storing it as fat.

Since it normalizes your blood sugar, it helps to control your appetite. Chromium will also help your body deal with stress as it reduces elevated cortisol levels.

Dosage: GTF Chromium Polynicotinate - 200mcg with food 2 x a day

L-Glutamine

L-Glutamine is an amino acid most often used for repairing the gut and muscle recovery after workouts, but it has many other amazing benefits. It's a helpful supplement to take when you are in the withdrawal process.
 L-Glutamine is very useful for reducing alcohol, cigarette, sugar and carb cravings and is often used in programs for drug and alcohol addiction.

It also repairs the intestinal lining, calms you down and is an all-around wonder amino acid.

L-Glutamine helps to build muscle, as well as stabilizes blood sugar levels so it's also a great supplement to take to prevent weight gain after quitting smoking.

Taking L-Glutamine may also help decrease anxiety, as it increases levels of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is your brain’s natural valium. If you’re high in GABA-you feel relaxed and stress-free. If you are low in GABA-you feel anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, stressed and wired.

Alcohol, marijuana, valium and heroin all boost GABA in the brain and body, which is a big part of why we get addicted to those substances.

L-Glutamine can also improve mental clarity. If you feel “foggy headed” and have trouble focusing once you quit, L-Glutamine can be very helpful. It's absorbed into the brain quickly and is then turned into glutamic acid, which is a sugar-like substance that acts as a fuel for the brain. The result is an increased ability to focus, better memory and increased alertness.

For the first 2 or 3 weeks after quitting, take 1000-2000 mgs of L-Glutamine every 5 to 6 hours to reduce your withdrawal symptoms. You can put L-glutamine powder under your tongue to stop intense cravings quickly.

Caution: Do not take L-Glutamine for extended periods of time unless you are also doing regular exercise, which will help to use up the L-Glutamine because there is some controversy whether L-Glutamine is beneficial or harmful for long-term use.

Dosage: L-Glutamine - 2000 mgs before breakfast, and before lunch and mid- afternoon as needed.

Click here to read my recommended supplement chart.