Are We Frucked?

     This is the Truth behind what sugar is doing to the body.

The accepted opinion of US Governmental health agencies and the Medical industry is that weight gain results from an energy imbalance: eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity. The recent research is proving that not all calories are equal. Dr Lustig has recently written a book called 'Fat Chance". His life work shows that it's the type of food we eat that determines if we gain weight not the number of calories.

What has caused the tremendous change in the health of Americans and the rest of the World in the last thirty years? Metabolic Syndrome, which includes diabetes, and heart disease is the result of insulin resistance and is driving our poor health. Insulin resistance leads to weight gain because the cells are unable to fully utilize the food, and the excess is stored as fat. Much of this weight gain is in the form of visceral fat, which is the worst kind of fat because it is in the vital organs.

You can be of normal weight and still be unhealthy because of this visceral fat. Our bodies have adapted to survive in times of famine and will hold on to fat if it senses starvation coming. In our modern day this survival tactic of our ancestors is working against us and keeping many people fat. Because of this survival mechanism when people go on a "diet" and reduce energy(calories) the body resists.

This resistance makes it very hard to lose weight and to keep it off permanently. There are many factors that work against us in our quest for a healthy life. The majority of people regardless of their weight, release double the insulin today than thirty years ago. The damage to the body from insulin resistance leads to metabolic syndrome and we don't have to be overweight to suffer from it.

The hormones insulin and its partner leptin play a large role in the development of metabolic syndrome. Leptin is a protein that is produced and released by fat cells. It circulates in the bloodstream, goes to the hypothalamus (master gland in the brain), and signals the hypothalamus that we have enough energy stored up in the fat cells. When leptin signals work the body is in energy balance, burning energy at a normal rate and we feel good. If the leptin signal is not working the brain senses starvation and signals the body to store energy. Science research has shown that chronically high insulin blocks leptin signaling and it causes people to overeat because their brain thinks they are starving.

The liver uses glucose, to support itself, to create glycogen (liver starch), and takes the excess and processes it into fat. Glucose comes in the form of starches such as pasta, white bread, white rice, and will cause you to gain weight but it won't make us sick. Not until we gain weight in the form of visceral fat do we really suffer. Visceral fat cells are more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, and drives inflammation. This is the worst kind of fat for our health, it leads to insulin resistance which leads to metabolic syndrome. The good news is when we change our diet and eat less, visceral fat is the first to go.

Fructose is especially harmful because it blocks the leptin signal since it does not stimulate insulin release. This means we keep eating without feeling full. Fructose is found in all sweeteners. The good news is that the fiber in fruit with the skin left on slows down the insulin response. The bad new is High Fructose Corn Syrup is used in so many products because it is sweet and cheap. Because the liver has to process Fructose directly is is being overworked and it causes liver insulin resistance.

Another component to weight gain is stress. Stress releases cortisol which raises blood pressure and increases blood glucose (sugar) levels. Cortisol also kills the neurons that play a role in the inhibition of food intake. When cortisol levels go up so does insulin levels which make us fat. Exercise improves muscle insulin sensitivity, which is key to improving metabolic health. Exercise is an internal stress reducer and releases endorphins (runners high). Exercise regularly to support your health.

What we can do to lessen the risk of metabolic syndrome is to eat more fiber, eat sugar in the form of fruit, eat a low carbohydrate diet, avoid GMO corn, trans fats, and exercise regularly.

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