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INSULIN RESISTANCE: A Silent Epidemic
There is a current epidemic that is often overlooked and
misdiagnosed. This issue involves the inability of our body
to make the most with the food we eat. In fact, it is so
common, you may currently may be suffering with some form
of it and don’t even know it. This condition is referred to
as insulin resistance or syndrome X.
If the name does not sound familiar the following
indications might;
- Highs and lows in energy throughout the day
- Early day irritability and late night drowsiness
- Continued desire to eat (especially sweet foods) despite
having a filling meal
- Constant craving for carbohydrates and fatty foods
- Inability to loose weight despite caloric restriction
- Irritability before meals with an intense need for food
- Poor sleeping habits
Under normal circumstances after you eat a meal
insulinassures efficiency in the conversion of glucose from
the blood cells to the body where it is needed. Glucose
prompts the release of insulin and is the hormone
responsible for glucose regulation.
Constant abuse to our bodies can dramatically suppress the
bodies natural capacity to go about this internal process
effectively. Cells become less responsive to insulin, hence
the name “insulin resistance”. Our bodies compensate by
causing beta cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin.
As a result, insulin remains high and little glucose
gets burned. This explains the storage of certain food
types as fats, as our body is unable to utilize the energy.
Ultimately, these beta cells can wear out and the bodies
ability to produce insulin in the amounts needed is
completely suppressed, resulting in Diabetes Mellitus (Type
2 or adult onset diabetes).
If effected with even minor forms of insulin resistance
the results can be devastating, not only to our everyday
lives, but to our long term health. Glucose, a highly
energetic compound and the primary source for energy, will
spontaneously oxidize. This causes it to be a substantial
contributor of free radical damage, which is linked with
many diseases and ailments (an issue we will cover in
future mail outs).
Knowing how to prevent and control this disease is
important, and the same techniques can also be used as a
healthy way to loose weight and for a feeling of well
being. The most beneficial way to counteract this is by
going back to the basics; proper nutrition, healthy living
(exercise) and good eating habits. Exercise is important,
it primes are cells to be active, and we get the energy for
exercise by moving sugar into fat into cells with insulin,
where they are in turn burned as fuel. With the increase in
insulin activity, sugar levels are decreased resulting in
our bodies producing less insulin.
The worst things we can do is eat refined carbs (namely
white bread, pasta, donuts, candy, etc.). Proper nutrition
is key in maintaining proper body weight because essential
nutrients are critical for burning the fats and removing
the carbs from the diet. We recommend a low glycemic diet
that consists of foods that don’t superficially spike the
blood sugar, helping you stay off the energy roller
coaster. Improving the quality of fats that we eat is
critical, avoiding saturated fats and trans fats and
increasing monosaturated oils and omega 3 oils (proper
ratio of omega 3-6-9 and quality is important). It is also
beneficial to ensure we are eating several small meals
throughout the day rather than a couple large meals,
ensuring we can make the most of the food.
Various vitamins and herbs can be beneficial to integrate
into insulin resistance treatment and prevention as well as
assist the weight loss process. The right choice in
supplements can make a big difference in benefiting weight
loss and the symptoms of syndrome X. Choosing the right
products on an individualized basis,based on which specific
set of symptoms, current diet,genetics, and lifestyle
history on a case by case analysis is the true wholistic
approach to recovery. 
Free online holistic health consultations Click here. 
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