host posted on January 07, 2010 23:17
There are 4 major factors that lead to accelerated aging and the erosion of your health.
Homocysteines
Insulin Resistance
Chronic Stress
Lack of Sleep
Understanding the causes of aging will help as we look into the steps needed to invigorate our health and improve our chances for healthy longevity.
Last week we looked into Homosysteines. This week let's look at the second factor that can kick our aging clock into high gear: Insulin Resistance (IR).
We are intrigued with those who live over 100 years, and yet we have really not found too many socio/economic/environmental commonalities in centenarian lifestyles.
However, all centenarians share 3 consistent blood metabolic indicators that are relatively consistent:
- low sugar
- low triglycerides
- low insulin
Among these 3 variables, insulin is the common denominator. The cells' level of insulin sensitivity is a telling marker of a long lifespan.
Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful anti-aging strategies that can be implement. Sugar and grains cause your body to produce insulin and high insulin levels are the single largest physical cause of accelerated aging. If you want to slow down aging and be healthy, exchange your grains for greens.
Insulin resistance is the basis of all of the chronic diseases of aging, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, all the so-called chronic diseases of aging.
Fortunately insulin is the variable most easily influenced by a healthy diet and exercise.
IR and Sugar
When your body notices that its blood sugar level is elevated, (your body is not burning it and therefore it is accumulating in your blood) it releases insulin to take that sugar and store it. Your body stores some glycogen in your liver and muscles, but it is not enough to last through 1 active day. All other excess sugar is stored as saturated fat.
A high complex-carbohydrate diet is not healthy as it is nothing more than a high-glucose/sugar diet. Your body ends up storing excessive carbs as saturated fat.
The main way your body gets rid of this toxic sugar is to burn it. Any sugar which your body can't burn is stored as glycogen. When glycogen reserves are full, sugar gets stored as fat. Your body will burn sugar before it burns fat..If your sugar level is high you stop burning fat. You become insulin resistant, your insulin levels are high and your body begins to suffer.
Symptoms of IR
1. Fatigue-physicaly exhausted regardless of time of day or amount of rest.
2.Brain fog- inability to focus, decreased memory, loss of creativity, poor grades in school often labeled as "learning disabled".
3. Low blood sugar-hypoglycemia, serious dips in energy levels, agitation, jittery, moody and almost immediate relief once food is eaten.
4. Intestinal bloating and gas produced from carbohydrates in the diet.
5. Sleepiness-especially after eating a meal containing more than 20% or 30% carbohydrates.
6. Weight gain and fat storage. In males, a large abdomen is the more obvious and earliest sign of Insulin Resistance. In females, it's prominent buttocks.
7. Increased triglyceride levels- a direct result of carbohydrates in the diet being converted by insulin.
8. Elevated blood pressure
9. Depression- carbohydrates are natural depressents
10. Obesity-90% of those with insulin resistance are obese
Simple Steps to Alter your IR
A low grain, no sugar diet is one of the most effective ways to lower insulin levels. This is especially effective when combined with an aerobic exercise program which increases the heart rate to about 75% of its maximum and maintains it there for 45 minutes, 5 times a week.
Chromium supplementation may help insulin work more efficiently. Clinical studies show that blood glucose is improved in patients supplemented with chromium: blood glucose, insulin levels, and cholesterol all decreased, with a higher dose (over 200mcg) generally being more effective.
Consider reducing insulin levels as much as possible, through diet and exercise, by taking appropriate vitamins for women, and by controlling your weight.
Take care of yourself, take your vitamins for women, and be blessed, Kersten
