We all eat food, right? What we don’t all do is realize what happens inside our body after the food is swallowed. To break it down in the simplest form, your body converts food to glucose (sugar) for energy. If the system is not working properly then glucose is not used for cell energy and hence, you gain weight! To understand insulin resistance, it is important to recognize what insulin is.
Insulin: It is a hormone made in your pancreas (organ). Insulin’s primary role is to bring glucose into your cells for your body’s energy. Insulin can also guide fat into cells when not functioning properly.
Process explained:
In a normal functioning body the process looks like this: We eat → carbohydrates convert to sugar → insulin is released from pancreas (organ) → insulin brings sugar into your cells for energy → your blood sugar normalizes.
When your body has insulin resistance, this is what the process looks like: We eat → carbohydrates convert to sugar → insulin is released from pancreas → your cells do no acknowledge the insulin and the sugar never enters cells → your blood sugar remains elevated and now you have too much insulin free-floating → you GAIN weight → you develop chronic diseases.
Why is this bad?
Serious diseases and weight gain can result from a constant state of insulin resistance. And the bad news is, you won’t even know you have it! Insulin resistance commonly coexists with obesity.
Risk Factors associated with Insulin Resistance:
- Obesity
- Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes
- Excess Abdominal Fat
- Sedentary lifestyle
- High Blood Pressure
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Metabolic Syndrome (see article in blog to learn more about this or talk with Options Provider)
Foods to avoid:
- Sugary Beverages: Soda, DIET soda, juice, sugary coffees, energy drinks
- Fast Food: french fries, burgers, soft drinks, tacos, fried anything, etc
- Refined Flours: white bread, white pasta, white rice, enriched wheat flour, all-purpose white flour
- Unhealthy snacks: cookies, cakes, breakfast cereals, crackers, pretzels, chips, etc
- Processed meat: hot dogs, brats, sausage, bacon, etc
- High Fructose Corn Syrup: avoid this ingredient at all cost. Also labeled “corn Syrup” or “fructose”
*This list does not include all potential food sources for insulin resistance.
What can you do if you think you have Insulin Resistance?
- Meet with a medical provider to evaluate your risks for this condition. The providers at Options Medical Weight Loss can guide you towards a diagnosis and recovery.
- Get your labs, vitals, and body measurements taken
- Exercise, sleep better, get vitamin D, and decrease your stress levels (cortisol)
- Eat a diet rich in high fiber: vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grain.
- Drink Water!
- Focus on healthy weight loss. Mind, body, and soul.
Final Thoughts:
If you think you have this medical condition, do not despair. Meet with a provider at Options Medical Weight Loss to start your journey towards healthy living.
Options Medical Weight Loss can identify risk factors for insulin resistance based off your medical history, labs, vital signs, waist circumference, and clinical symptoms. We have diet plans, medication for insulin resistance treatment, and most importantly- support! We are here for you!
By Amelia Falat PA-C
Picture: http://www.fooducate.com/app#!page=post&id=560D1B9D-48E8-D383-4D2E-BEE9EDC99E36
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/16068/1/Signs-of-Insulin-Resistance-Syndrome.html