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Test 3: Blood Test for Glucose and Cholesterol


This painless, finger-prick blood test measures both your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. The best part? You don't have to fast beforehand!

If you haven't eaten within a couple hours, your blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 100. A measure of 100-125 is considered prediabetic, and 126 means you've got diabetes. If you've eaten recently and your blood sugar level reads above 200, it also places you among the 80 million Americans living with diabetes. And as the sugar builds up in your body due to insulin resistance, it acts like shards of glass, scraping away at the walls of your arteries, leaving them severely weakened.

You can take 2 supplements to temper the effects of diabetes. Many type-2 diabetics are naturally low in magnesium, which is important for regulating blood sugar levels. Taking 400 mg a day of magnesium supplements can help manage blood sugar levels. Additionally, taking 200 mcg of chromium polynicotinate supplement daily can improve how insulin works in your body, going so far as to bring pre-diabetics—people in the 100-125 blood sugar range—back down to healthy levels. (If you're already taking diabetes medication, or if you have kidney or liver problems, talk to your doctor before trying any supplements.)

Your cholesterol levels should also be below 200. Anything higher should prompt a trip to the doctor's office. In addition to the treatment she or he recommends, add coconut oil to your meals as a substitute for butter and other unhealthy, saturated fats. In fact, adding just 1 tablespoon to your diet per day could help raise your HDL, or healthy cholesterol levels, to protect your arteries. You can also include a red yeast rice supplement in your daily routine to help lower cholesterol. This supplement may work like the class of prescription drugs known as statins, blocking the enzyme that produces bad cholesterol. Try taking 1200 mg twice daily to get your cholesterol under control (after checking with your doctor, of course).

Remember, there are a million excuses to avoid taking these tests. Maybe you're too busy with family, work, or even just afraid to find out what the results may be. But the sooner you know the status of your body, the sooner you'll be able to turn it around and experience the best health of your life.

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