Insulin Resistance and Diabetes (Type 2)

Insulin is the hormone that the pancreas secretes when glucose enters the bloodstream. Its
function is to move the glucose into the cells to be used for energy. When there is too much
glucose over a long period of time, insulin levels rise, but the cells get more resistant to allowing
the insulin to move glucose into them. It takes more and more insulin to convince the cells to let
that glucose through. This is called insulin resistance and may be the first sign that the
metabolism is breaking down. Too much insulin over a long period of time damages metabolism
and may lead to diabetes and heart disease as well as those tell-tale inches around the waist we
fondly refer to as the “insulin meter”!

Eating fewer carbohydrates can reverse insulin resistance! With a lower carbohydrate intake (you
could start by reducing it to 100 grams a day and eventually work up to no more than 72 grams a
day) the cells become more sensitive to insulin and the metabolism starts to normalize. Studies
have shown that people with abnormal glucose tolerance curves (type 2 diabetics and
hypoglycemics) had more normal curves after a few months on a low carbohydrate diet.

Heart Disease

Arteriosclerosis is hardening or calcification of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is the condition that

results when there are fatty deposits and cholesterol in the arteries. Most heart disease is a result
of the reduced blood flow that happens in the above conditions.

The fat and cholesterol theory of heart disease would have us believe that a low fat diet is the
best way to prevent it. However, studies have shown that low fat/cholesterol diets may actually
increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, because the body makes what it needs and more.
Also, there are many people with normal or even low levels of cholesterol that die of heart
disease, so this theory has a lot of holes in it.

There are other theories that make more sense. Homocysteine (a protein found in the blood that
damages arteries) levels are often high in people who experience heart attacks. Homocysteine
levels can be reduced with a low carbohydrate diet and supplementation with B vitamins such as
B6, B12 and Folic Acid. Polycythemia, a condition where there are too many red blood cells
which makes the blood thick with an increased tendency to clot, is also helped by a low
carbohydrate diet.

Hypertension or high blood pressure tends to improve with a low carbohydrate diet when it is not
too severe. In severe cases, studies have shown a low carbohydrate diet may keep it from getting
worse.

Food Cravings

Foods high in carbohydrates tend to have an addictive quality. The more sweets or baked goods
we eat, the more we tend to want. This is partly because of their effect on the serotonin (the “feel
good” chemical) production in the brain. When we try to eliminate these from our diet, we may
have withdrawal symptoms, which can be helped by taking a gram of the amino acid l-glutamine
in a glass of water whenever we have an uncontrollable craving for sweets.

Using Herbs and Antioxidants

Our food supply has deteriorated greatly because of the farming, processing and storage methods
used. Therefore, it is difficult to get adequate nourishment from the food we eat. Staying away
from processed foods and buying organic foods helps, but most of us need some form of
supplementation to provide what is lacking in our diets.

Herbs or “super foods” like spirulina, bee pollen, rose hips, chlorella, blue green algae, etc.,
provide the vitamins and minerals we need in an organic matrix that the body can readily absorb.
They also supply antioxidants, which are important to counteract the free radicals present in the
body. Free radicals are thought to be a primary cause of aging as well as diseases like cancer, so
a daily intake of antioxidants makes good sense.

Humans all have the same basic physiological needs, but there are biochemical differences. Food
allergies are a prime example of how “one man’s meat may be another’s poison”. Therefore, it is
important to develop a supplement plan suited to your unique biology and lifestyle. You must
also take into account any prescription drugs you may be taking, since some herbs may lessen or
increase the effects of prescription drugs. It is important to work with your health care
professional to develop the ideal program for you.

Disclaimer

The information above is for educational purposes only, and not to be construed as medical
advice. For medical problems, please consult your health professional!

References

Life Without Bread: How a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Can Save Your Life by Christian B. Allan,
Ph.D and Wolfgang Lutz, M.D. Keats Publishing, 2000

Diet & Heart Disease: It’s NOT What You Think by Stephen Byrnes, PhD, RNCP, Whitman
Publications, 2001

Dangerous Grains: Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous to Your Health, by James
Braly, M.D., and Ron Hoggan, M.A, Avery, 2002.