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Why insulin can stop you from losing weight!
5/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
I must apologize for a slip up that I made in the last newsletter... nicely pointed out by one of our readers! I referred to C-Reactive Protein as being inflammation of the blood. What I meant to say is that C-Reactive Protein is a 'marker' of inflammation of the blood. Sorry about that!
WHY INSULIN CAN STOP YOU FROM LOSING WEIGHT!
Most people do not understand the role that insulin plays when they are trying to lose weight. If you understand how important this substance is, you will find it easier to lose weight and keep it off. In this issue I will do my best to explain what insulin means to you particularly if you are on a quest to remove excess pounds.
Let's start off with a brief explanation of what insulin is:
Insulin is one of the most powerful substances in your body and it controls the distribution and storage of energy. It is also the controller of glucose which is a form of sugar. The insulin is manufactured in your pancreas. Your pancreas releases insulin in response to sugar in your blood. As you put more sugar in your blood you cause more insulin to be released. That's when things get interesting!
But, before we examine why, let's have a quick look at what happens when you eat a meal, because it is relevant.
When you sit down and eat a meal a number of things occur to the food as it passes through your body. A normal meal consists of a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Your body will absorb sugars from the carbohydrates which are then converted to glucose. It will absorb amino acids from your protein... essential building blocks for your cells. From fat it will absorb glycerol and fatty acids.
OK, this is all straightforward and you probably knew that anyway, so I'll get to the point of how insulin comes into the equation. Lets assume that your intake of carbohydrates, or 'sticky buns' is a bit higher than it should be. This will put more sugar into your blood stream won't it? Yes, it sure will. OK, that means more glucose. Glucose means more energy doesn't it?
Hey... pass me another sticky bun!
Sorry... it doesn't work that way. It won't give you more energy and will ultimately lead to a loss of energy. This is where we bring insulin back into the equation. That last sticky bun (or the one before) extends the call to your pancreas for more insulin.
Here comes the Insulin. Insulin is a transporter of glucose and its prime function is to do just that... transport the glucose to your cells where it can be used for energy! That's good, but what if your blood has more glucose than the cells can use for energy? What if you have been sitting on your couch all day watching your favorite program and your body doesn't NEED that extra energy from the last sticky bun? What's going to happen to the glucose? Your insulin is carrying around this glucose but it has no where to go? Problem!
As usual the body has a solution. It will take the excess glucose back to your liver which will convert it into glycogen. The glycogen is then stored in the liver and muscles for future energy use. Good system! But, there is a potential problem. The liver and muscles can only store so much glycogen. So, there may be not enough room for the glucose from that last sticky bun.
Another problem... what to do?
Here's the body's solution when the glycogen storage cupboard is full! The insulin takes the glucose back to the liver for more processing! This time around though, the excess glucose is not converted to glycogen because there is no where to keep it. So, instead the liver converts it to FAT and sends it to areas which have no limitation on storage capacity...your belly, buttocks, and thighs etc.
That's the process which takes place in a normal healthy person when their insulin is working properly. If however over a long period of time you eat to much sugary or processed foods (carbohydrates) the insulin receptors on your cells may become blocked and thus prevent the entry of glucose into your cells. This is one of the reasons why many overweight people suffer from low energy...they are unable to get the energy from the glucose.
When the insulin is no longer able to take glucose to your cells for energy your liver converts it to fat. Result... your body becomes an efficient fat manufacturing machine!
The problem gets continually worse because when your cells are unable to get their energy from glucose your cravings for sweets foods intensify.
Why diets don't work!
You may now have a better appreciation as to why some people can never lose weight even if they eat little and why most diets never generally work. You can probably also understand that intake of fat is not the 'bogey man' it is made out to be. Fat in your diet does not make you fat. However, I'm not suggesting that you splurge on fatty foods. I'm just saying that natural fats that occur in meat, fish and eggs should not be restricted.
I won't go into this subject now as it is too involved and I will deal with it in a future newsletter. What I will say in the meantime is if you have an overweight problem a significant part of your problem may be due to an excessive intake of sugar which comes from carbohydrates. Be aware at all times of your intake of carbohydrates. Try to keep your carbohydrate intake to just fruit and vegetables and avoid as much as possible all processed foods... most of which have excessive levels of sugars.
As for the processed foods which are promoted as 'low fat' healthy food... avoid them as well. They will do nothing to help your quest for better health and a trimmer figure. It's just advertising hype.
A final comment
Often the cravings people have for sugary food is due to an imbalance of nutrients in their body which can also affect their neurotransmitters which in turn impact on their cravings. This is why we have so many people write to us telling us about how they have been losing weight after taking Total Balance and Bee Pollen extract. They say that they have not changed their lifestyle or eating habits and are surprised that they have lost weight.
However, when these cases are examined more closely we invariably find that they have made eating habit changes even though they may be subtle and they are not immediately obvious. They admit that the sticky bun is not so appealing any more and it's not until they really think about it that they realize that they have changed certain aspects of their diets.
So, if you have a weight problem cut back on carbohydrate foods which have obvious high sugar content, avoid processed foods, replace that morning glass of orange juice with a glass of water, eat more unprocessed protein foods and use a quality multinutrient supplement.
There is much more to be said on the subject of weight loss and why it is so difficult to lose weight permanently. (It doesn't have to be) So, I will follow this newsletter up with another one with more information, probably the one after next. I am committed to devote the next issue on how we can guarantee a reduction in high cholesterol.
Until then,
In good health
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Subscribers and customers are invited to submit questions for inclusion within this newsletter. Space does not permit the publication of all Q & A's, but we promise to answer all questions directly. Your questions are considered confidential and only your first name and last initial with State or Country will be published. To ask a question please
contact us. Note: This is the context of a telephone question from a new customer which I think you may find amusing. This customer had just received her order for 3 bottles of Total Balance. This is how the conversation went.
EW of Arizona calls:
I purchased your Total Balance product for both my son and myself. My son has a weight problem but I am interested in the anti aging properties. I am a little concerned though because I read that this product is good for sexual enhancement. My son is 17 years old and he definitely does NOT need any sexual enhancement. What should I do?
Warren Matthews answers:
I understand... although I'm 55 now I used to be 17 once myself. (She asks if I can remember that far back... definitely)
Anyway, I explained to her that the assistance that Total Balance and Bee Pollen extract provide in enhancing sexual activities is due to the 'topping up' of essential nutrients which become depleted as we get older and are harder for our bodies to absorb from our food. I assured her that the direct impact that the products would have on her son's sex drive would be minimal if any at all, so she can put aside the fear that Total Balance would turn her son into a sex maniac!
I also suggested that she add Bee Pollen extract to his Total Balance which would help with his drive to lose weight. Because I enjoyed the conversation so much we sent her a bottle of Bee Pollen Extract to try on the understanding that she only pays for it if it works. We will see what happens with him. I'll let you know in a later issue.