Here is another episode with me as your host and co-host- Debbie Potts! I shared in past episodes- I am in school to become a “Nutritional Therapy Practitioner” (NTP) by next August 2017!
Check out the program here if you are interested in becoming a NTC or a NTP
Today I wanted to explain how glucose metabolism and fat metabolism works to help you understand how a sugar burner works vs. a fat burner!
I share some information I am learning in my NTP program on Blood Sugar Regulation- or rather dysregulation!
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is when our cell receptor sites become unresponsive to accepting or granting insulin access to the cells. One of the main jobs of insulin is to transport glucose, or blood sugar, into the cells. Think of insulin as the transporter – sending glucose into the liver cells to form glycogen in the liver -process called GLYCOGENSIS.
Remember when we eat sugar/carbohydrates – the glucose levels increase in the bloodstream. The hormone Insulin is released by the pancreas when the brain senses blood sugar levels out of balance- out of homeostasis and stimulates the release of insulin to convert glucose into glycogen (glycogensis). Muscle fibers convert glucose into the stored form- glycogen (via glycogensis) as well as in the liver. If the liver and muscles storage area for glycogen is full – then excess glucose gets converted in the liver to triglycerides and cholesterol for STORAGE in the FAT CELLS.
Next time we will talk more about the process of low blood sugar levels- the hormone glucagon is released by the pancreas to take the stored glycogen into glucose for the body to use as fuel in order to increase the blood sugar levels back to normal levels (homeostasis). The liver gets a signal from the hormone glucagon to make more sugar to increase the blood glucose levels- this process is called GLYCOGENOLYSIS (glycogen to glucose) – the breakdown of glycogen to glucose then the extra glucose is released into the bloodstream to raise the blood sugar levels.
We can also create more glucose by a process called GLUCONEOGENSIS – the liver generates more glucose by the process of breaking down (catabolic process- break down) protein- amino acids from the muscles then made into glucose by the liver.
Note that the breakdown of muscle cells stored form of glycogen is only used for the muscle’s need to sugar/glucose for energy. The more muscle we have -the greater amount of stored glycogen.
We become insulin resistant when we over eat, chronic snacking, consuming too much sugar, excessive non-stop stress, sugar burner and lack to exercise – and even movement. If you feel tired after meals- especially after a higher carbohydrate meal, crave sweets, desire
We need fuel for energy and the mitochondria in our cells are the “powerhouse” of the cell to generate usable energy by creating ATP from glucose, fat and ketones.
Carbohydrates, fats and proteins can all be broken down for energy but fat and proteins also act as building blocks for our body. Think as carbohydrates as short term and quick source of energy- stored in our liver for fuel (glycogen) when needed. Every cell in our body can use glucose for energy – but it is not the only fuel source or the preferred fuel to use. Too much of anything is toxic, as I say in my book “LIFE IS NOT A RACE”, and too many carbohydrates -glucose- triggers the release of hormones from the pancreas to bring the levels back to “normal”.
“Our body’s innate intelligence continually monitors the amount of glucose (and everything else) in our bloodstream to maintain balance.”(www.nutritionaltherapyassociation.com)
If we want to burn fat and ketones for fuel- ideal source of energy for our tissues including our heart, brain and muscles, then we need to stop eating so many carbohydrates (including excess fruit sugar- fructose) and get off the blood sugar roller coaster. Ketones can replace a lot of the amount of glucose required by the brain – so we don’t need to rely on strictly carbohydrates to fuel our brain! I believe in the product Pruvit to supplement our body with ketones so we can improve our brain health- memory, focus, sharpness and clarity (I obviously need it!). Learn more about Pruvit Ketone supplement here