Insulin: an absolutely crucial part of a healthy life
Insulin is a crucial part of a healthy life!
Insulin is a hormone produced in the beta-cells of the pancreas. It’s responsible for helping us to maintain a consistent blood sugar level by regulating the metabolism of carbs, fats, and sugars. It’s also an anabolic hormone, meaning helps cells to grow and multiply
Muscles: Provides energy to cells through glycogen; stops muscle breakdown
Adipose Tissue: Slows down fat lipolysis and encourages fat storage
Liver: Promotes energy storage as glycogen
Endocrine: Signals growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors (IGF)
Think of insulin’s effect like a storage cellar filled with an ample supply of food to get your household through a rough patch.
When we’re in a “fed-state” insulin basically acts as a signal to the body to say “HEY, everything is ok! We’ve got plenty of energy to go around. In fact, we’ve got so much that we can put some in storage!”
Your body actually stores energy (glucose, fats and amino acids - the macronutrients) in your organs. Think muscle tissue for amino acids, adipose tissue for fat, and liver for glucose. That’s a very rough picture, but you get the idea.
In a "starvation state", the opposite is true. Insulin tells the body to begin breaking into the storage cellar, extracting all the nutrients it needs. This can lead to tissue breakdown (and is why calorie restriction is a piece of weight loss).
Now there’s a lot more to insulin’s effects on the body, and I definitely recommend you dive into the research if you’re interested.
But for now remember this: insulin is a very positive thing. We want insulin, we NEED insulin, but we also need to be mindful of how our habits affect insulin.
The best way to test whether your body is properly creating insulin is with a simple fasting insulin blood test.
In my practice, I aim to have fasting insulin less than 8 for optimal health. If your fasting insulin is higher than this, it’s time to consider blood sugar regulation!
If you are ready to get to the root cause of your health concerns, reach out to the EmpowerMed team of naturopathic doctors today. We take a collaborative approach to natural medicine, partnering with patients to help them achieve their unique health and wellness goals.
Contact us today at 760-456-7501 or use our booking link to schedule.
EmpowerMed Clinic is located just off the I-15 and Carroll Canyon within the Fitness Quest 10 Wellness Center of Scripps Ranch, San Diego County, CA. We serve the communities of North County San Diego, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Santee, and more.