Diabetes is all too common in the United States. The American diet is high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats that cause or contribute to high blood sugar. Excess caffeine can, indirectly by way of the thyroid, contribute to hormonal imbalances that cause diabetes. Some of the symptoms include:

• Frequent urination

• Thirst

• Blurred vision

• Weight loss accompanied by increased appetite

• Fatigue

• Erectile dysfunction

• Headaches

What Causes Diabetes?

Simply put, diabetes is caused by high blood sugar, or “too much glucose in the blood.” This is a problem with insulin, whose job is to carry blood sugar into the cells of the body. A lack of insulin or faulty insulin response by the cells results in too much glucose in the blood. Another cause of diabetes is simply too much sugar intake— especially fructose. Here is a summary of the causes of diabetes:

• Diet: Too much sugar. Too much fat. Too much caffeine.

• Obesity: Often resulting from dietary problems, obesity can cause a loop of insulin and hormonal problems that can cause or worsen diabetes.

• Thyroid imbalance: Hormonal imbalances from thyroid and adrenal problems can affect insulin response and cause or contribute to diabetes.

• Poor liver health: If the liver cannot cleanse the blood and process excess blood sugar, the result is diabetes.

• Chronic use of steroids: These drugs can change your body chemistry and cause or worsen diabetes.

Treatments

A new set of dietary habits is the first line of defense against diabetes. Here is a summary of these dietary strategies, along with some other natural treatments:

• Avoid sugars: Sugars come in the form of sucrose (cane sugar), lactose (dairy products), fructose (fruit and corn syrup), corn starch, dextrose, glucose (usually glucose is converted by the body from other sugars), sorbitol, and malt.

• Reduce carbohydrates and starches: The body converts starches from carbohydrates into glucose. Avoid simple carbs, which include fruit, fruit juice, dairy products, honey, and sugars. Also avoid peanut butter, soybean oil, cheese, and processed meat. Keep complex carbohydrate consumption under control, including breads, pasta, beans, grains and fibrous vegetables (squash and eggplant, for example). Remember that whole wheat products are better than refined products. Better yet, replace wheat with other grains, such as oats, bran, rye, and barley.

• Eat more low¬glycemic food: Healthy foods for maintaining good blood sugar levels include green leafy vegetables, potatoes, yams, whole grain breads, nuts, legumes, chicken, and fish. Raw foods have a lower glycemic level than cooked foods.

• Take herbs to help control blood sugar: Herbs that help include fenugreek, garlic, bilberry, ginseng, and olive leaves (or extract). Other helpful supplements for diabetes include chromium, vanadium, cinnamon, and bitter melon.

• Strengthen your immune system: If you have diabetes, you should definitely take a multivitamin. Concentrate especially on getting enough antioxidants, as they help prevent free radical damage that causes many common diabetes complications (blindness and the necessity of limb amputation). Spirulina provides vitamins and minerals, while helping to balance blood sugar.

• Cleanse: If you crave sweets, you may be suffering from a lack of protein or you might have parasites in your system. Cleansing your liver and colon cannot only help with these cravings, but can help reduce your blood sugar levels by providing better nutrient absorption.

Not only are both algaes bursting with protein, vitamins, minerals and tons of other nutrients that the human body craves, but they are practically essential cleansing the body of toxic metals (which it does not crave).

According to citizen journalist, Elizabeth Walling:

Spirulina has been shown as an effective chelating agent for removing toxins such as mercury, and radioactive substances from the body. It has also been used to remove cadmium and lead from waste water.

While some detoxifying supplements simply release toxins from cells and tissues, chlorella is particularly adept at binding to toxic metals and ushering them out of the entire system. Chlorella contains proteins and peptides which are designed to bind to these substances and carry them out of the body. The chlorophyll in chlorella also aids heavy metal detoxification.

Read the entire article here: http://www.naturalnews.com/027740_spirulina_chlorella.html

Spirulina and Chlorella are two of the main ingredients in BōKU® Super Food for just these reasons. So have a healthy BōKU® drink and literally get the lead out!

Some people may hear the word spirulina and think that it is some kind of Italian food, but what it really is an ultra-nutritious super food! This statement begs the question “Well, what exactly is spirulina?” It is a type of blue-green algae that grows in warm climates. While some may not think of algae as something to eat, the following facts may change a lot of minds.

Spirulina’s odd sounding name comes from its helix of spiral-like shape. Its distinct coloring comes from its natural plant pigments that can provide numerous health benefits. Among these pigments are the green chlorophyll which aids in ridding the body of various toxins, the blue phycocyanin which promotes healthy immune function and protein absorption. Spirulina also contains a heavy amount of beta carotene which is a potent antioxidant that is converted to retinol (vitamin A), which is essential for healthy vision, and eventually converted into retinoic acid, which aids in processes related to growth and cell differentiation.

Another incredible fact about spirulina is that it is known to accelerate the body’s elimination of dioxins more effectively than any other food. Dioxins are toxic chemical contaminants formed through the combustion of organic material. People come into most contact with them via contaminated food, the dioxins are stored if fat tissue and the compounds can take years to break down in the body on their own.

Spirulina is one of the few food sources of GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid), an essential Omega-6 fatty acid which is essential to human health yet is not made in the body and must be obtained from food. GLA is necessary for proper brain function, bone health, growth and development and metabolism regulation. Ingestion of this fatty acid may also help with various disorders such as dry eye conditions, bone loss and osteoporosis and prevention of nerve disease, especially in those with diabetes. In some studies, spirulina seemed to increase production of the anti-inflammatory chemicals called interferons and interleukins. Some researchers also believe that the algae may help block the release of histamine from mast cells during an allergic reaction and therefore prevent some responses in allergic individuals.    Its antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties may also produce anti cancer effects. One such effect is that spirulina promotes the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is a chemical in the body that attacks tumor cells.

Apart from all of these wonderful health benefits of spirulina it is also high in vitamin B-12 as well as easy-to absorb iron, it boosts energy and encourages weight loss, helps to purify the liver, helps fight viral infections, increases mental alertness and lowers blood cholesterol and excess triglycerides. With all of these benefits how could one not want to incorporate spirulina into their diet? The only question left is how. While processed spirulina tablets are available, the body can absorb all of the super nutrients much more efficiently in the form of a natural and organic super food, like Boku Super Food.