Why Insulin Makes You Fat
by Linda Tremer

This is a simplified version of the insulin-carbohydrate cycle. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin’s role in the body is to regulate blood sugar (glucose levels). Insulin helps the glucose molecules enter the cells. When we eat, the pancreas releases insulin to transport the blood glucose into the cells. If the cells are sensitive to insulin the glucose is sent into the cell without any trouble.

The more carbohydrates you eat the more glucose you will produce. Blood sugar levels rise rapidly when you eat refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates upset the insulin balance. The body produces large amounts of insulin to deal with the rise in glucose. The body can’t burn all the glucose and if all of the storage areas are full insulin will convert the glucose to fat.

The increase in insulin in the blood stream from eating refined carbohydrates or too many calories causes the cells to lose their ability to respond to insulin. Then the pancreas produces more insulin trying to get the cells to respond. It becomes a catch 22. As cells become insulin resistant the body makes more insulin to get rid of the glucose and stores it as fat rather than using it for energy. The higher the blood sugar levels the more insulin the body produces and the fatter you become. Besides becoming fatter you become more tired since the body cannot process insulin effectively and coverts the glucose to fat rather than energy.

Excess insulin also keeps fat from being released from the cells and makes you hungry. Obesity leads to insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity leads to obesity. Insulin triggers the body to manufacture more fat cells. Fat cells actually tell the brain to eat to fill them up.

Excess insulin may cause cholesterol and blood lipids to be deposited on the artery walls. This leads to high blood pressure from hardening of the arteries.

The result of all this is hypoglycemia, diabetes, pancreas exhaustion. Excess insulin is associated with inflammation, damaged nerves, obesity, and high blood pressure. High insulin levels lead to premature aging. Eating the wrong foods is a major factor in all of these diseases. Besides refined carbohydrates any processed food can be considered the wrong foods.  Most, if not all processed foods contain significant sugar.

What You Can Do
You can increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin in a couple of ways.

1. Calorie restriction is by far the most successful method to reduce insulin levels. Yet it is the hardest for most of us.

2. Exercise will cause the excess glucose in the blood stream to be used for energy and not stored as fat. Walk briskly every day. A comprehensive weight loss program of diet and exercise will reduce your insulin levels.

3. A Mediterranean type diet, low in simple sugars and high in vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, olive oil and whole grains is a healthy diet plan for a lifetime. Eat whole foods which will help keep insulin levels stable. Fiber tends to reduce blood sugar surges. Use nut butters on oat bran crackers.

4. Eliminate cookies, cakes, candy, chips, all white sugar and other refined foods which cause insulin levels to rise much too fast. Eliminate from your diet white flour and processed foods. These foods make insulin levels go wild.

5. Obesity is a major factor in diabetes and syndrome X. Losing weight will often bring insulin levels under control..

6. Take Supplements
Chromium supplements increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin and improve glucose tolerance. Chromium levels are depleted by refined sugar and white flour. Take 200 mcg daily.
Zinc helps regulate glucose. Low levels of zinc have been associated with food cravings.
Cinnamon extract has been shown to improve glucose metabolism. Take 400 mcg daily.
Gymnema sylvestre is an herb called the sugar destroyer. It helps to regulate blood sugar as well as make your cells more responsive to insulin.
Vanadyl sulfate improves the cells’ sensitivity to insulin.

Check with your doctor before using supplements.

Insulin resistance leads to a variety of life threatening diseases. Aging is accelerated by an over supply of insulin. Insulin levels are increased by refined carbohydrates and by eating too many calories at a meal. Insulin resistance is not inevitable. Take action now before it is too late. Life-style changes are the most effective and least expensive way to treat and to keep diabetes and other insulin related diseases at bay.

Return to The Center For Weight Loss

Return to Weight Loss Programs