Written by: Taylor Morrison, Wellness Communications Intern, B.Sc. NANS
Control Your Blood Sugar with This Açaí Vinaigrette
By now, we all know that sugar can wreak havoc on our bodies.
Yet, sugar is pervasive throughout the food industry.
Whether it be that granola bar you’re snacking on or the flavoured nut butter you added to your child’s lunch box, there are added sugars everywhere you look!
With our current food environment, many of us are consuming huge amounts of sugar – sometimes even unknowingly.
This means that every time we eat we get huge spikes in our blood sugar. These spikes bring short-term energy, but soon leave you with elevated free radicals which lead to inflammation, impaired artery function, and a fight or flight response of the body. Ultimately, these challenges can set us up for an increased risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
How do we avoid these added sugars? Better yet, how can we prevent these spikes in our blood glucose? The answer to these questions lie in our food choices.
The more whole, high-fiber, nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts we consume, the better control we have over this bodily response and our overall health.
This is where açaí comes in – with its high antioxidant, fiber, and zero sugar content, we can reduce and even control the blood glucose spikes and inflammatory response of a carbohydrate-heavy meal.
If you really want to combat the sugar onslaught, vinegar has been shown to further reduce the glycemic spike observed after a meal. Vinegar does so by slowing down glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, effectively controlling the rise in blood sugar after a meal. It’s no wonder vinegar has been a traditional remedy for diabetes for years.
So, how can we get the benefits of açaí and vinegar in one meal? We’ve got the perfect recipe for you! This açaí vinaigrette is sure to become a staple of any meal. Add it to salads, use it as a marinade, pour over noodles, or add to grilled vegetables, the possibilities are endless! View the new recipe by clicking on the "Recipes" tab at the top!