Sugar rush

Today, we're breaking down the basics of blood sugar and why it matters for everyone.

Plus: 

• Entrepreneur and endurance athlete Jesse Itzler shares his go-to products.

• New drops for endurance runners, NFL fans, and weighted walks.

Let’s go!
- Ash Read and Joe Niehaus

Blood sugar 101: Why everyone should be glucose-aware

Reality check. Poor diet is a leading cause of mortality in the US, resulting in over half a million deaths annually. With 40% of US adults classified as obese, the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes is increasing.

Glucose tracking, essential for diabetes treatment, is gaining wider appeal.  As a key indicator of metabolic health, it reveals how diet, exercise, and sleep affect your body.

Why blood sugar matters: "The 'average person' is precisely who should understand blood sugar!" says Noosheen Hashemi, CEO of January AI. "In the USA, 100 million people have prediabetes, often with no symptoms." The kicker? Prediabetes is reversible, but 80% of those who have it don't know.

Sugar signals. It's normal for blood sugar to spike after meals, but Hashemi explains, "The important thing is whether your body is sensitive enough to insulin to clear that sugar from your bloodstream quickly." 

When monitoring glucose Hashemi advises paying attention to the "area under the curve" (AUC). This measures how high your blood sugar spikes and how long it remains elevated. "When blood sugar hangs out too long, it can be dangerous," Hashemi warns.

Get the data. A medical device turned consumer health wearable, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide real-time blood sugar insights, showing how your body responds to foods and potentially catching prediabetes early. "If your blood sugar or AUC is consistently high, it might be a sign to get an A1C test and see if you have prediabetes," Hashemi advises.

There are now several brands offering CGMs to consumers, including Levels, Veri, and Signos. Without using CGMs, Hashemi recommends January AI's app, which "lets users see personalized, directionally accurate blood sugar curves in response to millions of foods."

Balancing act: To manage your blood sugar effectively:

• Monitor your diet: "It might surprise people without diabetes that certain foods touted as 'healthy' cause significant blood sugar spikes!" Hashemi notes.

• Exercise regularly: Physical activity helps your body use glucose more efficiently.

• Time your meals: Hashemi advises, "Don't eat for 3 hours before you go to bed."

• Manage stress: Stress hormones can affect blood sugar levels.

• Get enough sleep: Poor sleep can disrupt glucose metabolism.

The bottom line: Understanding and managing your blood sugar isn't just for those with diabetes. It's crucial for overall health and preventing serious conditions. As Hashemi says, "We want people to understand their blood sugar before they progress to irreversible and incredibly dangerous diabetes."

My Health Stack by Jesse Itzler

Each week in our Health Stack series, Wellworthy taps into its network of health and fitness experts to offer personal insights and recommendations.

This week: Jesse Itzler. Jesse is an entrepreneur, public speaker, author, and endurance athlete. His diverse career has taken him from co-founding Marquis Jet to co-owning the Atlanta Hawks, and now he's set his sights on revolutionizing the wellness and fitness industry. 

Despite his packed schedule, Jesse maintains an impressively active lifestyle, aiming for three cumulative hours of exercise daily. His fitness philosophy is refreshingly straightforward: "I want to be fit enough to say 'yes' to anything on short notice."

Jesse also follows a unique nutritional approach, consuming only fruit until noon each day. "It brings me so much energy," he explains. 

Here’s Jesse to share his Health Stack:

• HOKA: “I’ve been wearing HOKA’s for years now. They’re the best running shoes for me, The Clifton’s have been my go-to’s.”

• All Day Running Co Hat: “I’m a big hat guy. The All Day Running Co – Legacy logo hat has been a staple for me.”

• Zico: “I love coconut water, and Zico keeps me fueled. No added sugar, tons of electrolytes, and great to grab on the go! Super refreshing and hydrating.”

• Big Ass Calendar: “I map out my entire year well in advance. I designed a giant 365-day one page calendar called ‘The Big Ass Calendar’. It helps me track towards my annual goals and gets me excited to plan more.”

• Contrast therapy: “I’ve basically been saunaing every day for 25 years. I’ve been doing it before all the science came out behind the benefits because it makes me feel really good. My standard session is 15-minute hot, 2-minute cold, 15 minute hot, 2 minute cold, 15 minute hot, and finish with a quick cold dunk. You do that and you’ll feel incredible.”

Go deeper: Check out our full interview with Jesse here.

Just Dropped: Alo’s first performance shoe

Designed for runners at all levels, the Alo Runner features a breathable double-layer mesh upper, an ergonomic dual-density midsole, and a strong cushioning pad at the heel for enhanced stability, responsiveness, and comfort. 

Made to provide performance and style on any terrain, the Alo Runner is available today and comes in monochromatic white or black. Buy now.

More drops perfect for:

• Running fast. HOKA unveiled the Mach X 2, a daily runner that’s built for speed. Shop now. 

• Football fans. Ahead of the new NFL season, Nike launched its Pegasus 41 NFL Pack, featuring custom Pegasus 41 colorways for all 32 franchises. Get yours here.

• An energy boost. AVVIKA is a new energy drink formulated with science-backed ingredients and it has no caffeine. Add to cart here.

• Post-run chillouts. Sustainable running gear brand Un-sanctioned introduced three new t-shirts made with recycled materials and stylish designs. See the collection.

• Increasing protein. Juice brand Pressed Juicery introduced a new collection of smoothies providing various nutritional benefits and 20g to 30g of plant-based protein per serving. Buy now.

• Endurance. Sock brand Courier debuted with two styles designed to endure a wide range of intense activities with superior sensibility, control, and comfort. Pre-order.

• Weighted walks. Fitness brand Built for Athletes launched their first-ever rucking backpack, the Rucking 10L Gym Backpack. Find it here.

Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Joe Niehaus and Ash Read.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Send us your favorite gear, personal health stack, or feedback on the newsletter.