Tools for Blood Sugar Balance and Weight Loss

Excerpt from Rebuilding Your Temple: Blueprints for True and Lasting Health by Stacy Mal

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the information on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information contained on this site is for educational purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a medical doctor. Stacy Mal is not a doctor and does not give medical advice, prescribe medication, or diagnose illness. Stacy is a certified health coach, journalist, and independent Plexus ambassador. These are her personal beliefs and are not the beliefs of Plexus Worldwide or any other named professional. If you have a medical condition or health concern, it is advised that you see your physician immediately. It is also recommended that you consult your doctor before implementing any new health strategy or taking any new supplements. Results may vary.

If the furnace in my house was not working, and I called an HVAC professional, I would expect them to come to my house with tools. Granted, tools aren’t always “necessary,” but they can certainly make the job go more smoothly and quickly. What’s more, I would hope the professionals would bring the correct tools—a pipe wrench, leak detector, digital thermometer, those types of things. It wouldn’t be very beneficial if they came with hedge trimmers or a stump grinder.

It’s the same when you’re considering tools for the temple fueling system. They aren’t “necessary” in most cases, but they can certainly make the rebuilding process go more smoothly and quickly. That is, if you have the correct tools.

In this chapter, I will describe five products that I personslly think are the most state of the art “fuel tools” on the market today: Plexus Slim®, Plexus Block™, Plexus Balance™, Plexus Active™, and Plexus Edge®. Again, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before taking any supplements to ensure they are safe for you. These are not approved by the FDA.

Plexus Slim®

Plexus Slim® is known to many as the “pink drink.” It comes in individual packets which you can open and pour directly into a bottle or glass of water. You then shake or stir vigorously for a delicious fruity-flavored drink. This pink, low-calorie drink should be consumed in the morning 30-60 minutes before breakfast. (Though it can also be taken later in the day before another meal if need be.) The ingredients in Plexus Slim® are known for their beneficial effects on glucose metabolism, as well as many other things. Let’s go over a few of these key ingredients now.

Green Coffee Bean Extract

Green coffee bean extract (extracted from unroasted coffee beans) contains a substantial amount of chlorogenic acid, which is a naturally-occurring substance also found (to a lesser degree) in foods such as apples, plums, and cherries. Chlorogenic acid is not as prevalent in a roasted or ground coffee that you’d purchase in the supermarket, because the high heat involved in roasting the coffee beans breaks down much of the chlorogenic acid, thereby making it less available.

What makes chlorogenic acid beneficial as a “fuel tool” is that it can help decrease the absorption of sugar in the body. In fact, research shows it has a positive effect on blood sugar balance like some medications. For example, chlorogenic acid has been said to be an insulin sensitizer similar to metformin, with potency to stimulate the uptake of glucose molecules comparable to the antidiabetic drug rosiglitazone. (1)

The same research notes that high contents of chlorogenic acid can significantly reduce the risk for Type 2 Diabetes by 30%. It also reported that rats who were treated with chlorogenic acid had a decrease in cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels by 44% and 58%, and a decrease in liver triacylglycerols by 24%. In fact, in other studies, chlorogenic acid not only lowered cholesterol, but also significantly lowered body weight, visceral fat mass, plasma leptin, and insulin levels compared to the control group. (1)

Chromium Polynicotinate

Plexus Slim® also contains Chromium Polynicotinate.Chromium is referred to as an “essential trace mineral” because we need a small amount of it to maintain optimal health. One of the jobs of chromium is to help transport glucose into cells. Therefore, it plays a key role in balancing blood sugar and giving us steady energy. Chromium is not only needed to metabolize carbohydrates, but also protein and fat (including cholesterol). In fact, human studies show chromium supplementation can help lower levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). (2)

It’s been estimated by some, that up to 50% of the U.S. population is mildly deficient in chromium. I believe there are many possible reasons for this. First, the soil on many American crops is overused. Therefore, the soil itself often lacks nutrients like chromium. That means the produce grown in this deficient soil is often lacking nutrients also.

Additionally, several common medications such as H2 blockers, antacids, certain steroids, and proton-pump inhibitors can reduce chromium absorption or cause the body to flush it. What’s more, wheat products are a major source of chromium, but there is a rising number of people developing wheat allergies and sensitivities who are adopting wheat-free diets, which can increase the risk of chromium deficiency.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Plexus Slim® also contains an antioxidant called Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). ALA is present in every cell in the body. It is manufactured in small amounts in the mitochondria, whe