Balance blood sugar the easy way

You know that keeping blood sugar steady not only keeps you happy and energized, it also protects against diabetes and heart disease. And now, research in the journal Diabetes Care reveals that maintaining healthy blood-sugar levels reduces the risk of COVID complications by 66%! And it’s easier than ever. Just…

Enjoy a premeal treat Drinking a refreshing sparkler with 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar or eating a sweet cider vinegar gummy before two daily meals blunts blood-sugar spikes by 64%, according to a landmark Arizona State University study. Credit goes to the vinegar’s acetic acid, which helps muscles absorb blood sugars. A gummy to try: New Nordic Apple Cider Gummies (Newnordicusa.com).

Giggle with Friends

Sure, walking is a great way to keep blood sugar in check. But what’s more fun and more effective? Plopping on the couch in front of a sitcom! Laughter activates muscles in the face, shoulders and abdomen, which use glucose for fuel. When Japanese experts compared folks who watched a comedy to those who watched a somber lecture postmeal, they found that laughing suppressed blood-sugar surges by 48% —that’s more than twice as much as a 10-minute walk!

Have another sip

Quenching your thirst with a glass of water every 3 to 4 hours combats dehydration, lowering the risk of high blood sugar by 32%. So say French scientists, who found the benefit in those who drank four 8-oz. glasses daily. Experts say staying wellhydrated keeps a lid on levels of the hormone vasopressin, preventing elevations that can trigger the liver to produce extra glucose.

Save the best for last Savoring a summer-fresh dinner is a welcome treat, and there’s an easy way to make it even better: Enjoy your chicken and veggies before digging into that tasty potato salad. Weill Cornell Medical College scientists say eating vegetables and poultry or meat prior to starchy, carb-rich foods lowers blood-sugar spikes by up to 37%. Researchers explain that protein and fiber slow the absorption of the sugar from carbs into the bloodstream. — Melissa Gotthardt