For health, diet and fitness related information delivered to your inbox, hit the subscribe button.
Insulin and Fat
Lowering your insulin levels will lead to better metabolic health and immediate fat loss
Conventional thinking tells us overweight and obesity stem from a positive energy balance. I’m sure you’re familiar with the over-used saying “if you want to lose weight, just eat less and move more”. We have been led to believe that a positive energy balance leads to weight gain. This is bad nutritional science and has led to a health epidemic never before seen.
If we are going to reduce the current overweight and obese problem, this health model and construct should be thrown out and ridded of immediately. The inception of this approach to health was proposed in the 1960’s and look at where we are now.
If it’s not the positive energy balance theory, then what is causing the staggering rise in diabetes, obesity and overweight individuals?
Looking at you, Insulin
When you eat carbohydrates, the hormone insulin is secreted by your pancreas. In your body, carbohydrates are further broken down into glucose molecules. When glucose is present in the body, insulin is called upon to transport glucose into your cells.
In addition to glucose regulation, insulin is your bodies dominant hormone regulating fat and fat accumulation. When insulin is elevated, your fat storage mechanism becomes active.
Very simply put, insulin signals your fat to store fat and not release it into the bloodstream. Your body will not release fat when insulin is present so it goes into a fat storing mode.
Here is the issue that most are not aware of and that conventional thought is not mentioning. The fat in your cells is becoming trapped due to your bodies heightened insulin levels. When insulin levels are elevated or present in your body, your body holds on to the fat within your cells.
So here’s the deal
Fat tissue is highly sensitive to insulin. If you want to lose fat, minimize your insulin secretion by avoiding carbohydrates. Fat will start releasing from the fatty tissue when insulin levels are low. A low insulin level allows your body to start using fat as a fuel source. Research has shown that eating fat does not secrete insulin.
The problem that most people face is an excess or consuming carbohydrates with every meal. In order to achieve better metabolic health and fat loss, reduce your levels of carbohydrates. It really is that simple.
Check out these excerpts taken from a recent article published in JAMA about the effect that insulin has on fat tissue:
Although many factors affect fat cells, the hormone insulin exerts dominant anabolic control. Insulin decreases the circulating concentration of all major metabolic fuels by stimulating glucose uptake into tissues, suppressing release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, inhibiting production of ketones in the liver, and promoting fat and glycogen deposition. Consistent with these effects, states of increased insulin action are predictably associated with weight gain.
Among the many influences on insulin secretion, dietary carbohydrate has the most potent effects, which vary by amount and type. Dietary fat has little direct effect on insulin, providing a theoretical basis for the efficacy of high-fat diets.
You don’t need to starve yourself or adhere to a strict diet plan in order to better your health. Simply, start replacing your carbohydrate consumption with more fats. It is that easy and I can guarantee you that you will lose weight, have more energy, reduce your hunger cravings and feel immensely better.
If you want to know more or are interested in connecting with me about nutritional consulting, send me a message.
Alright, take care of yourself and each other
-Zach Winfield
If you learned something new or insightful, please share this with someone you think might also enjoy