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| Glucose Metabolism and Weight Loss |
Disfunctional glucose metabolism is the condition
behind insulin resistance, a condition that can lead
to obesity and diabetes.
Glucose is the energy molecule that fuels the body
and feeds the brain. It is derived from the food we
eat, primarily carbohydrates. After carbohydrates are
broken down in the stomach, it is absorbed into the
blood stream through the small intestine. |
In order to get into the liver and muscle cells to
be used for energy, or into the fat cells to be stored
for future energy use, the glucose molecule must have
insulin. Insulin is a protein hormone secreted by the
islets of Langerhans, in the pancreas, which helps
the body use sugar and other carbohydrates.
In normal glucose metabolism, just enough insulin
is released to do the job. The insulin converts the
glucose to glycogen and starch which is stored in the
muscles and liver for energy use.
Insulin binds with receptor molecules on the cell
membrane which takes the glucose into the cell. When
the cells are full, any leftover glucose is converted
to triglyceride and taken to fat cells where the insulin
binds with receptor molecules there and it is stored
for future use.
When most of the glucose is cleared from the bloodstream,
the brain secretes a chemical, serotonin, which signals
the body that it is no longer hungry. It will be 4
or 5 hours before hunger is felt again.
Human glucose metabolism evolved in prehistoric man
when his food came unprocessed from the environment.
It was quite adequate for the job. In our modern society
we overload the system with carbohydrates, most of
it simple sugars and refined grains.
As we dump that junk into our systems, the pancreas
must produce a lot of insulin to take care of it. All
that insulin flooding the system "insults" the cells
and causes them to close the receptors to let little
or no glucose in. The glucose remains in the blood
stream, causing a release of even more insulin.
Meantime, you are feeling tired and hungry because
the muscle cells are not getting any energy and the
brain is not releasing serotonin.
The "frustrated" insulin takes it's load of glucose
and dumps it into the fat cells where it is converted
into fat.
Insulin resistance leads to carbohydrate addiction
because the body is begging for energy. You keep eating
the carbs trying to supply that energy. But it is not
getting into the cells and you just keep getting fatter.
If this cycle is not broken, eventually the fat cells
also become resistant and you do lose weight, but you
don't look good. You are sick. Eventually the pancreas
wears out and no more insulin is produced. You are
in full blown diabetes.
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