Experts say one heart risk factor often flies under the radar: blood sugar swings.
Nearly 98 million American adults have prediabetes, and more than 80% don’t know it.
Many people associate blood sugar with diabetes, but doctors say repeated spikes and crashes can affect anyone, increasing inflammation and raising heart disease risk.
Experts say millions may be stressing their hearts simply by choosing the wrong “healthy” foods.
About 537 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, and experts warn that the damage often starts years before a diagnosis.
“If your blood sugar levels are spiking and spiking, often that is contributing to your risk of getting diabetes in the future,” said Megan Ware, a Registered Dietitian.
Experts say that over time, chronic blood sugar spikes can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, which is why doctors pay close attention to blood sugar.
For many people, it starts with everyday food choices. Those bars you see at the counter? They may look healthy, but many pack a sugar punch.
“Sometimes they have upwards of 40 grams of sugar in them or 60 grams of carbohydrates in them,” explained Ware.
Experts say rapid blood sugar swings can lead to fatigue, brain fog, cravings, and energy crashes, even in people without diabetes.
Dried fruit is another culprit. If you find some that don’t contain added sugar, they can still spike your blood sugar. These fruits have been dehydrated and may contain just as much sugar as a whole fruit, but in a single bite.
Potatoes can do it too. Their high carbohydrate content means they break down quickly, sending glucose rushing into the bloodstream.
Even a short burst of movement after a meal can help lower the spike and stabilize blood sugar.
And what you pair your carbs with matters. Meat and fish, tofu, nuts, eggs, and cheese can slow that flow of glucose and help stabilize blood sugar.
And one more favorite food to watch out for: breakfast cereal. Many are high in carbohydrates and low in fat or protein, which means they digest fast and can flood the bloodstream with glucose, causing a spike and a crash soon after.