Insulin

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Insulin

Insulin has two critical roles in the body that we cannot live without,

yet it can be the root of many health problems, including diabetes.

Insulin carries sugar (glucose), fat and protein into your cells where

they are used for energy and the repair of your cells. When you eat, a

certain amount of the food will be converted into glucose and enter the

bloodstream. As the sugar levels rise, the body senses it and the

pancreas secretes insulin to lower the sugar. This is insulin's second

main function.

 

If you eat too much of any food, especially carbohydrates (starch and

sugar) the levels of glucose in the blood rise to very high levels. In

turn this triggers a large release of insulin from the pancreas. Your

cells will take what they need and then insulin will begin the process

of converting the excess glucose, fat and protein into fat and then put

it all away in your fat cells. By combining foods the right way for your

body, you will maintain optimum levels of insulin throughout the day.

 

The best way to control insulin and fight sugar cravings is to eat

protein snacks when you are hungry or when you have severe "sweet"

cravings. Also, try to limit yourself to three carbohydrate-containing

meals per day and try to eat vegetables with most meals and snacks.

A particularly good snack is non-fat cottage cheese and salsa. The only

vegetables to avoid in the evening are corn, yellow or orange squash,

peas, beets and carrots. They have high simple carbohydrate (sugar)

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