How To Lower Blood Sugar Naturally: 5 Top Supplements

We all know that feeling after going to town on a bowl of pasta or indulging on a sweet treat. First there's the short-lived sugar rush that gives you near boundless energy, then quickly after comes the inevitable crash, weighing you down mentally and physically, lulling into an unplanned afternoon siesta.

While low carb and ketogenic diets are popular strategies to train the body to burn fat instead of glucose, the body and mind were designed to burn blood sugar as their primary fuel source. That's why maintaining balanced blood sugar levels is one of the most important things you can do for your energy, your mental performance, and your health.

In this article we share 5 of the best natural supplements to optimize blood sugar throughout the day, so you can minimize the metabolic cost from the one-off cheat day, indulgent treat, or whatever you have on the menu.

5 Supplements that Lower Blood Sugar

# 1: Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Recent studies have shown that EPA and DHA may both help diabetics manage blood sugar levels. [1]

These fantastic healthy fats have been shown to reduce insulin resistance and improve cardiovascular health as well (among a wide variety of other health markers). This makes fish oil a great supplement for everyone. Whether you need to monitor your glucose levels closely or not, omega-3 fats are great for overall health and keeping blood sugar levels at a healthy balance.

#2: Berberine and Cinnamon: Herbs vs Prescription Drugs

Berberine and Cinnamon are two natural herbal supplements known to be nearly, if not equally effective as certain prescription drugs for clearing glucose from the bloodstream. [2, 3]

Berberine improves the rate at which the body naturally clears glucose from the blood and doesn’t seem to have severe side effects in healthy adults.

Cinnamon has similar effects: while it may not be as effective as berberine when compared to prescription drugs, it has a great protective effect against further blood sugar increases. Cinnamon reduces the development of high blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity and the uptake of glucose into muscles to be stored as glycogen, the fuel for exercise. [4]

Optimizer tip: Take 1.5 grams of a high quality berberine supplement and add a pinch of cinnamon to your coffee before your next carb-laden meal or sugary indulgence. This will help increase insulin sensitivity, gastric emptying rate, and efficient glucose disposal.

#3: Garlic and Beyond: Adiponectin Modulators

Garlic is well known for its anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits, but research tells us that garlic contains compounds that activate a blood sugar-regulating protein called adiponectin. Adiponectin a protein in the blood that regulates the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats for use in the body. When adiponectin levels are increased, the body is more efficient at clearing blood glucose and fat from the bloodstream, and it may even increase fat-burning as well. [5]

Raw garlic and garlic extracts are both great ways of increasing adiponectin levels naturally.

Other adiponectin-increasing foods include:

Spinach and leafy greens
Pumpkins
Nuts and seeds
Avocados
Olive oil
Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel

Related: How To Get Into Ketosis Fast

#4: Magnesium and Chromium

Magnesium and Chromium are two of the most important nutrients that support healthy blood sugar metabolism and clearance from the blood.

Magnesium is a vital mineral your body needs to regulate bone health and calcium metabolism, nerve function, electrolyte balance, and even cognitive function. Both Chromium and Magnesium are also heavily involved in glucose metabolism, and with an adequate intake, we're better able to control spikes in blood sugar and maintain a healthy normal. [6]

#5: Resistant Starch

Resistant starch (RS) is a natural, plant-derived substance that can have a massive impact on how your body handles blood sugar after a carb-laden meal.

Both resistant starch and dietary fiber regulate blood sugar by slowing digestion, while improving digestive efficiency and metabolic health. One study found that a single serving of RS was able to blunt blood sugar levels up to 48 hours later. Early research has found that RS may even help reduce food cravings that are thought to originate in the digestive system. [7]

Optimizer's Tip: Combining 1 scoop of resistant starch with 1 scoop of your Natural Stacks protein powder is a great way to satisfy hunger, eliminate food cravings, and support healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Optimizing Blood Sugar Naturally

If you’re already struggling with managing your blood sugar levels, you should be focusing on a balanced diet, careful carbohydrate selection, healthy lifestyle, and of course, work with your doctor to come up with a plan that works for you.

However, even if you don't have blood sugar complications, the 5 natural supplements covered in this article are some of the most research-backed ways to keep blood sugar in check.

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Do you use any of these natural supplements in your daily routine? Are we missing anything? Let us know in the comments below!