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Raised blood sugar levels could be linked to a greater risk of heart diseases, a new study suggests. Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that men and women with raised blood sugar levels have a 30-50% increased chance of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) even when these levels are below the threshold for diabetes. Highlighting the importance of diet and lifestyle factors, the study also found that for blood sugar levels within the normal range, those with the lowest levels had a 10% lower risk of developing any form of CVD, which includes heart attacks and strokes. What are blood sugar levels? “Blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, are a measurement that shows how much glucose you have in your blood,” says Dr Gill Jenkins, GP, and advisor to the Tea Advisory Panel. “Glucose is a sugar that you get either directly from food and drink, through digestion of carbohydrate-containing foods, or through other metabolic processes in the body.” Blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day, she explains: “Increasing with eating and drinking (including alcohol), falling if you haven’t eaten or drunk for some time.” The energy spike and subsequent slump you get from a fizzy drink or sweet snack is explained by the rise and fall of blood sugar. “Blood glucose levels can also change with exercise, state of hydration, and with physical or mental stress, and certain medications,” Jenkins says. “Even in people without diabetes, major illnesses, hormonal disorders, or certain medications such as steroids and some antidepressants, can cause blood sugar fluctuations.” How can you tell if your blood sugar is raised? Getting a sudden energy boost from a sugary food or drink isn’t actually a symptom of high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycaemia. “Symptoms of very high blood sugar usually come on gradually and include feeling very thirsty, peeing a lot, blurred vision, feeling weak or tired and unintentionally losing weight,” Jenkins says. “However, you may have no symptoms – or may not notice them – running constantly raised sugar levels.” How to lower your blood sugar levels Diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors can all impact your blood sugar levels. “In general, avoid eating too much sugary or starchy food – and that includes sugary drinks, as well as alcohol,” says Jenkins. “Focus as much as possible on unprocessed grains, such as oats, mixing in a few seeds or nuts.” Getting your five-a-day fruit and vegetables also helps: “Especially green leafy varieties such as kale, broccoli, spinach, cavolo nero.” Fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are excellent, but be careful with ripe tropical varieties: “Limit fruit which may, depending on the individual, produce a higher glycaemic response, such as mango, banana, pineapple, melon.” Stay hydrated with water or other low-sugar beverages, such as tea, which has been shown to normalise blood sugar levels following a meal. “The reason for these findings are related to the polyphenol content of black tea, which help to regulate blood glucose and insulin,” says Jenkins. Aim for the NHS-recommended 150-minutes of exercise a week, combining moderate movement – such as walking – with intense activity, if your fitness allows. “Walking alone reduces weight – if you also pay attention to diet – and improves insulin sensitivity, which helps to control blood glucose,” Jenkins says. “Even if you don’t ‘exercise’, being more active will help – take the stairs rather than the escalator, park your car a little further from work, get off the bus one stop early and then walk.” A study last year found that even standing up as much as possible throughout the day can significantly reduce your blood sugar levels. Lastly, check with your GP if you have other illnesses, advises Jenkins. “If you have diabetes, take your diabetes medication exactly as prescribed and follow any recommendations your diabetes nurse, doctor or health care team gives you.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Remove VAT from period pants, government urged ‘Long Covid has taken away my ability to eat food or urinate in three years’ 11 ways to max up your monochrome scheme

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Blake Lively has been widely praised for the bold look she wore to mark her return to New York Fashion Week. The actor has been a mainstay at fashion events throughout her career, from attending runway shows to wowing fans with her ensembles on the red carpet. On Monday (11 September), the former Gossip Girl star further cemented her credentials as a style icon while attending the Michael Kors Spring 2024 show at Domino Park, Brooklyn. Lively, 36, wore a flared, floor-length nude jumpsuit with gold sequins, completed with a narrow beige belt. Her hair was styled in curls with a centre part, and she kept her accessories simple with a few statement rings and hooped earrings. In photos from the event, Lively is seen sitting front row beside former Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo. Lively’s disco aesthetic was fitting with the late Sixties and early Seventies theme of the Spring 2024 show. Her attention to detail did not go unnoticed by fans “Gold was inspired by Blake Lively,” one person wrote on Twitter/X, while another crowned her the “ultimate disco queen”. In May, the A Simple Favor star skipped attending the Met Gala, an event she is usually a reliable presence at and co-chaired in 2022. After confirming her absence, she shared an Instagram Story revealing that she spent the evening pumping breast milk. Lively gave birth to her fourth child with fellow screen star Ryan Reynolds in February. Their elder daughters were born in December 2014, September 2016 and October 2019. Speaking to ET Canada in April, Reynolds, 46, spoke about expanding their family and the difference between having four children. “You know, two to three was a huge jump…three to four less so,” he said. “I cannot speak for my wife, but it’s just from what I’ve observed. But, we love it. You know, we would be idiots to do this again if we didn’t love it.” Lively’s next on-screen project will be the highly anticipated adaptation of the bestselling Colleen Hoover novel It Ends With Us. When the first pictures from behind the scenes spread online in May, fans were divided on their thoughts on whether Lively and co-star Justin Baldoni looked like the lead characters they’d envisioned. Read More Sarah Burton to leave Alexander McQueen after 13 years as creative director Breakfast at Burberry’s: Fashion house launches collaboration with London café How Burberry evolved from humble raincoat maker to luxury fashion giant Young people not snowflakes or wasters, says curator of rebellious fashion exhibition Sarah Burton to leave Alexander McQueen after 13 years as creative director Heidi Klum hints at her ‘really extra’ 2023 Halloween costume: ‘Going to be good’

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