I have been researching the many healthy ways that people can lose weight and keep it off. I will be culminating this research as well my clinical experience into a new book which will be released in the New Year.
In each monthly newsletter each month I will be highlighting the many reasons for weight gain and how we can improve our health so that we can acheive a healthy body weight.
Reason One: Insulin Resistance
What is it? According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, insulin resistance is defined as a condition in which the body manufactures insulin but doesn't use it in a normal fashion. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps us to use blood sugar, glucose, for our main source of energy.
Blood sugar levels rise after a meal which stimulates our pancreas to release the hormone insulin to help the cells absorb and use the glucose for energy.
However, when people are "insulin resistant", their cells do not respond correctly to insulin. As a result they need more insulin to help glucose enter the cells. The pancreas works hard to keep up with the increased demand by manufacturing more insulin. Eventually, as you can imagine, the pancreas gets worn out and cannot keep up with the demand for insulin. Excess glucose starts to build up in the blood and sets the stage for diabetes.
Some of the symptoms of insulin resistance are:
· A high hip to waist ratio or a waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women
· Elevated triglyceride or cholesterol levels
· Low good cholesterol or HDL
· Blood pressure readings above 130/85
· Higher fasting blood glucose levels
Risk factors for developing insulin resistance are:
· being overweight or obese
· being age 45 or older
· a sedentary lifestyle
· a family history of diabetes
· having a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds or being diagnosed with gestational diabetes
· high blood pressure or those being treated for high blood pressure
· having low good cholesterol
· having polycystic ovary syndrome
· having a history of cardiovascular disease
· chronic stress (I added this in, because I have found people that do not control their stress levels, increase abnormal hormone production that leads to blood sugar imbalance).
An imbalance in blood sugar leads people to have a whole host of other diseases as well as a hard time losing weight especially around their midsection.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms of insulin resistance contact the clinic to have a to rule out this disorder and have a laboratory test called a "diatest" done to determine if you are truly insulin resistant.There are many dietary and natural supplements that effectively improve this condition.
In North America our exposure to the sun is limited from November until March. Many of us feel well when the sun is shining. We notice a big difference when we have a few dark days. There are a number of ways to beat the winter blahs and improve your mood before the snow flies.
