Insulin Resistance

When we think of insulin, we think of diabetes. Insulin is needed Metabolic Syndrome (also known as MetSyn or Syndrome X) is the polite name given to the signs of an over-indulgent lifestyle. These cluster of signs include:

• High blood pressure            

• Low HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol)

• High triglycerides & LDL cholesterol (the not-so-good cholesterol)

• High blood glucose

• Overweight or obese

MetSyn is basically the precursor to our most common chronic diseases: diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Unless you’re having yearly blood tests, it may be tricky to catch yourself sliding into the MetSyn category… although, having said that, being overweight is a giveaway. You definitely can’t miss the physical symptoms that accompany MetSyn: fatigue, depression, constant hunger, erectile dysfunction, chronic inflammation, extra abdominal fat.

The classic indicator is, indeed, the beer belly. A simple way to check your likelihood of developing Metabolic Syndrome is to check your waist measurement:

Women: >80 cm high risk

Men: > 94cm high risk

The causes of Metabolic Syndrome are primarily related to a lifestyle of over-consumption. A high-carbohydrate, high-calorie diet; sedentary lifestyle and the constant bombardment of stress are all factors known to contribute to the development of Metabolic Syndrome. However, it is Insulin Resistance that is the driver of Metabolic Syndrome. Insulin is released in response to any sugar or carbohydrate in our food (think: bread, cereal, pasta, biscuits, crackers, chips, etc.) Insulin’s job is to move sugar from the blood stream into the cells where it can be burnt for fuel. The more carbs we eat, the more insulin is released. We humans, though, are simply not designed for this continual influx of carbohydrate. In fact, insulin, in an evolutionary sense, helped the body store fat from a short-lived carbohydrate feast, to be used in times of famine. After a time of continued carb-rich eating, our cells no longer respond to the presence of insulin. We are officially Insulin Resistant.

So, what’s the big deal? Insulin level stays high- this literally primes the body to store fat- regardless of what we may eat. We are all likely to know (or be) an overweight person who actually eats very little. This is Insulin Resistance, right there.

Treating Metabolic Syndrome necessarily revolves around dietary change. All dietary carbs must be avoided. Meals should be based on protein (meats, eggs, fish, chicken), vegetables and good fats (raw olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, butter). Exercise, too, is paramount in resensitising the cells to insulin. Herbal medicines, such as Cinnamon, Coleus, Gymnema and Panax Ginseng can greatly improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, as do the nutrients chromium, magnesium and zinc.

Can You Reverse Type II Diabetes?

Diabetes was virtually unheard of before the advent of our modern western diet. Today, the number of people with diabetes is reaching world epidemic proportions: in 2001, 366 million people were officially diagnosed with the disease; by 2050, this is predicted to be over 550 million. This figure is likely to include many people you know.

Type II is by far the more common type of diabetes, and it predominantly affects middle-aged, overweight people. In these people, their body struggles to handle all the sugar in the blood. It produces ever more insulin to get rid of the extra sugar into the body cells, but the cells no longer respond to the insulin. Their insulin level is up to ten times higher than normal which has some unfortunate side effects: it promotes fat storage, weight gain & creates a feeling of constant hunger.

So, what is driving this diabetes plague? In short, SUGAR. Not just the white granules we add to our coffee, but any rapidly-digested carbohydrate that quickly converts to sugar, such as pasta, potato chips& bread.

Treating type II Diabetes

The simplest & most important thing to do is to avoid all sugars & starchy foods i.e. soft drink, juice, pasta, bread, baked goods (flour), cereals,  rice, potato chips, beer, etc. This will bring down your insulin levels, and finally allow you to start losing some weight. It will also raise your energy levels & reduce those hunger pangs.

You can eat freely from the following list:

• Meat: any sort, fat & skin on

• Fish & seafood: especially the oily ones like salmon, herring & sardines

• Eggs

• Natural fats: butter, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil

• Vegetables: plenty of greens, moderate amounts of the starchier vegetables (beetroot, sweet potato, carrot). Avoid white potato & corn

• Nuts & seeds: especially brazils, macadamias & pepitas

• Dairy: full fat Greek yoghurts, cream, cheese. Avoid skim & low fat products.

• Fruit: berries, lemons & lime are fine. All other fruit contains natural fruit sugars which will only spike those insulin levels again.

This style of diet will lower your blood sugar levels relatively quickly. Avoiding high blood sugars means that, over time, you’ll need less of the medication you may be taking to lower it, so make sure you monitor your levels regularly.

Diabetes & Obesity

Type II Diabetes in Australia is reaching epidemic proportions. The number of people diagnosed with Diabetes closely correlates with the number of people who suffer from Obesity. Indeed, the two are intricately connected. And herein lies the key: to treat diabetes, you must tackle weight loss. But, wait a minute, the opposite is also true: to lose weight, you must tackle diabetes. It’s a bit like the “chicken & egg” scenario…which one comes first? And, more importantly, which one do we treat first? Well, the simple answer is BOTH! They happen together, and you can’t treat one without also treating the other.

When we look back at any early human culture, it is obvious that there was very little obesity. In fact most humans were surprisingly lean. So what has changed? PLENTY! It’s only relatively recently that we have had constant access to vast amounts of food. Previously, we had to work hard to find food and, when we did, we would generally feast. The next meal might be a long way off, so it would have been very common to then go into a fasting mode. This pattern of feast and fast is important; for when we are fasting, the body uses its fat stores for fuel. By regularly fasting, we stayed lean.

The type of food we ate was also vastly different. Meals typically consisted of meats (especially the fat), fish, berries, nuts & seeds. Containing mostly fats & proteins, these foods digested slowly and promoted a low, steady blood sugar level. We could easily go for many hours (or even a day or two!) without excessive hunger. In contrast, we now eat a largely carbohydrate-based diet (breads, cereals, refined sugars). This spikes high blood sugar and insulin levels, which is, essentially, a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. It is also a path to constant hunger, fatigue, and becoming a fat-storing machine.

Reversing Obesity & Diabetes

Yes, you can to both of these things! Charlotte’s specialised Metabolic Program involves comprehensive information on what and when to eat, as well as specific Nutritional & Herbal Medicines that support healthy blood sugar levels, energy production & cleansing. You can expect to:

• eat real food

• feel little hunger (except when its time to eat)

• have more energy than you’ve felt in years, and

• experience real, sustainable (& maintainable!) fat loss