In this Issue
The True Role of Insulin
What Makes A Triglyceride Molecule?
WHAT CAN OUR CELLS USE FOR FUEL?
The True Role of Insulin
The True Role of Insulin
When most people think about Insulin, they automatically think about diabetes, and they also think about a person with a high blood glucose level who needs to be on medications or injections. Did you know that the true role of Insulin is Fat Storage? The primary threat to human survival now and in the past is starvation, and the primary role of Insulin is prevent this from happening. The way it does this is by helping glucose get from the blood stream and into the cells as fuel to 'operate' our bodies. However, when glucose is transported into fat cells (also called adipocytes), glucose goes through a process called oxidation. The oxidized glucose is changed into a molecule called Alpha Glycerol Phosphate, and this is the molecule needed to change free fatty acids that are in adipocytes into triglyceride molecules.
Triglycerides is the form that our body fat is stored in, and the more glucose we have in our adipocytes, the better able we are at storing fat. In other words, the fatter we get!
Foods that are easily converted into glucose are refined carbohydrates such as candy, cookies, pies, cakes, fruit juices, sodas and other very sweet treats. Starches are also fairly easily metabolized into glucose, and they include foods such as bread, pasta, noodles, rice, potatoes, com, green peas and some legumes.
The higher the starch and refined carbohydrate content in our diet becomes, the more insulin is stimulated. The higher the Insulin content in our blood stream is, the more glucose is transported into our adipocytes. The higher the glucose content in our adipocytes is, the more alpha glycerol phosphate. And, the more alpha glycerol phosphate we have the faster the adipocytes converts free fatty acids into triglyceride. The Triglyceride molecule is too large to pass in and out of the cell membrane, so it is 'stuck' inside of the adipocyte, and as more Triglyceride is formed, the adipocyte or 'fat cell' becomes larger and larger, and so do we.
Almost all of the other hormones our bodies produce are designed to burn fuel in order to provide us with the energy needed to exist. Fuel that is not readily available (such as the glucose we get from eating a meal or a snack) is produced by Triglyceride being metabolized into tree fatty acids.
What Makes A Triglyceride Molecule?
Triglycerides are made by combining 3 free fatty acid molecules bound by glycerol. When glucose is oxidized, it is converted into Alpha Glycerol Phosphate, and the 'Glycerol' component is used to make Triglycerides. The more glucose we have, the more 'glycerol' available to store fat. The less glucose, the less fat stored, and in the absence of readily available glucose, Triglycerides are broken down into free fatty acids. Free Fatty Acids can be use as 'fuel' for most organs in our bodies. When we use Free Fatty Acids for fuel, we lose weight!
INSULIN RESISTANCE
INSULIN RESISTANCE OCCURS AFTER MANY YEARS OF OVER CONSUMING STARCHES AND REFINED CARBOHYDRATES. THE CELLS INSULIN RECEPTORS BECOMES LESS ABLE TO WORK DUE TO "WORKING OVERTIME', AND THE PANCREAS BECOMES MORE EXHAUSTED BY PRODUCING HIGHER AND HIGHER LEVELS OF INSULIN IN RESPONSE TO HIGH CARB MEALS. INITIALLY THE SYMPTOMS WE HAVE ARE NAUSEA. LESS ENERGY OR BECOMING VERY HUNGRY. WE MAY BE DIAGNOSES WITH HYPOGLYCEMIA, PRE-DIABETICS OR ADULT ONSET DIABETES. THE END STAGE OF THIS PROCESS IS INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES, BECAUSE THE PANCREAS IS NO LONGER ABLE TO MAKE INSULIN, AND WE NEED INSULIN TO PUSH GLUCOSE INTO OUR CELLS.
WHAT CAN OUR CELLS USE FOR FUEL?
Glucose is the preferred form of fuel for all body cells, but some organs can survive on fuel produced from free fatty acids. Those organs are the Brain, the Eyes, the Kidneys and the Vascular System. It is interesting that when Glucose is in abundance, suck as the case with consuming excessive amounts of starched or refined carbs, it is 'driven' into these organs. So, the very organs that can operate on an alternative source of fuel has too much glucose pushed into them. Eventually, these organs become inflamed and then will show signs of damage. Once damage occurs. Me will be diagnosed with disorders like hypertension, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, gallbladder disease, gout and even some types of cancers.
Please contact 775-751-2100 for more information, or email drjleaks@swcnv.com
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