Insulin sensitivity

How our cells respond to hormones dictates, to a large extent, how healthy we are. For example, when our cells aren't sensitive to the effects of insulin (one of the main anabolic and energy-storage hormones in the body), we have a higher chance of developing metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. In contrast, insulin sensitive cells are able to efficiently and effectively respond to insulin in a way that allows us to carry out many of the vital mechanisms needed ...

We recently touched on how you can use the ketogenic diet to control symptoms of diabetes such as elevated glucose and triglycerides. In this article, we examine research showing the impact that the ketogenic diet has on levels of the hormone insulin, a key regulator of blood sugar in the body. What is Insulin’s Role in the Body? Before we look at the research, we need to know our main players. Insulin is a protein-based hormone produced by beta-cells located in the pancreas. The ...

With the increasing popularity of the keto diet, supplement companies are flooding the shelves with keto supplements. The most convincing supplement of them all — from a marketing perspective — is exogenous ketones. These keto supplements promise that you can have your cake and eat it too, literally and metaphorically. How? By giving you the ability to experience the benefits of the keto diet without having to limit your carb intake. After looking at typical keto weight loss results and ...

Fat is one of the three macronutrients (“macros”). Not only is this macronutrient essential for life to exist, but consuming healthy fats in the right quantity is crucial for optimal health as well. On a keto or low-carb diet, it is particularly important to choose the right types of fats since it will be your primary energy source. To set you up for success, we put together a guide with everything you need to know about good and bad fats: What is fat? Saturated fat vs. unsaturated ...

Saturated fat has been known for decades as being a “bad” or “unhealthy” type of fat. However, the truth is saturated with complexity. For example, specific types of saturated fats and different foods rich in these fats can vary in how they affect our health. These fats can also impact each of us differently depending on our genetic vulnerabilities. For most people, however, this “bad” fat actually has a neutral or positive effect on health, particularly when consumed as a part of a carb ...

Unsaturated fats are a broad category of fatty acids we consume in our diets. Although they are commonly known as “healthy fats,” some unsaturated fats can actually worsen our health. In fact, unsaturated fatty acids represent each end of the health spectrum, from completely toxic trans fats to polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that help support optimal health and longevity. To better understand this complicated category of fats, let's take a look at unsaturated fatty acids from the ...

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease (which is also commonly referred to as heart disease) is the leading cause of death globally. On the surface, this sounds like a dreadful omen for humanity, but there is some sweetness to this bitter news once we realize that heart disease is preventable and, in some cases, reversible. What is Heart Disease? Heart diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. In general, they fall into these ...