This could be the real reason your blood sugar is out of control

Is this the real reason your blood sugar is out of control?

If you struggle to keep your blood sugar in line, and you struggle with weight that yo-yos up and down, you’re sure not alone.

That’s not much comfort, knowing that others are struggling too. But you’ve got to wonder — all these people, working hard to be diligent about blood sugar and weight control — why is it such a common struggle?

The answer might be something you would never suspect.

It might be something right there in your kitchen — but not in the fridge or on the stove. No, this culprit is in your kitchen sink, lurking in your tap water.

Problems by the gallon

When I think of arsenic, I think of the standard poison villains used in old movies. It was always in a dark bottle with a skull and cross bones on the label.

But arsenic isn’t a poison manufactured in a lab. It’s actually a natural element in soil that seeps into groundwater. That’s how it makes its way to your faucet.

A new report finds that even low levels of arsenic in drinking water can impair lung function.

Now, poor lung function is bad enough, obviously. But it’s also linked to high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, and abdominal weight gain.

And I probably don’t have to tell you that it’s that weight around your middle that’s the hardest to get rid of. It’s also the most dangerous, because it’s linked to inflammation and fatty liver disease.

And that’s why this new arsenic report is so disturbing.

Even a low level of arsenic (19 parts per billion) can start undermining your health. But if you regularly drink water that contains just a little more (120 PPB), it can set you on a course toward all these chronic health problems.

And here’s the kicker: As many as 13 million Americans get their water from private wells. And many of those wells contain arsenic levels of more than 500 PPB!

If your tap water comes from a well, you should test it ASAP. If it comes from a municipal water supply, your danger is lower. But it would certainly be worth a test.

Inexpensive test kits are available online. For instance, the Arsenic Quick Test Kit (filtersfast.com) is less than $15. More expensive kits are designed for repeated testings.

Standard water filters like Pur and Brita don’t catch arsenic. If your arsenic level is high, you’ll need a more advanced filter, such as a reverse osmosis system. The design and size of these systems vary, so check around and see which one is right for your home.

Sources:
“Arsenic in Drinking Water: 13 Million Americans at Risk” Newsmax Health, 9/20/13, newsmaxhealth.com