There’s a ton of science showing extremely strong links between lifestyle factors (sleep, stress and activity) and insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation — sleep especially has a bigger impact than diet! Yet, the diet culture and medical establishment tendency is to blame people with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, relying on an overly simplistic model of insulin resistance caused by too-high sugar intake.
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So, this week on The Whole View podcast, Stacy and I dive into the studies that explain exactly how sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress, and inadequate sleep reduce insulin sensitivity. We also discuss the various ways lifestyle and diet are linked. For example, not getting enough sleep reduces insulin sensitivity and increases cortisol which further reduces insulin sensitivity, and both inadequate sleep and chronic stress increase appetite and cravings so we’re more likely to reach for sugary foods at the same time that we’re more insulin resistant — yes, it’s a snowball of badness effect. We also sprinkle in lots of tips to start making lifestyle improvements, with the goal of reducing insulin resistance (and ditching the guilt!)!
If you enjoy the show, please review it on iTunes!
Recommended Reading and Listening
- TPV Podcast, Episode 305: Why Insulin Is Important & Awesome!
- TPV Podcast, Episode 320: Can a Paleo or AIP Lifestyle Manage Diabetes?
- The Case for More Carbs: Insulin’s NonMetabolic Roles in the Human Body
- 3 Ways to Regulate Insulin that Have Nothing to Do With Food
- Healthy Weight Loss with Paleo, Part 2: Lifestyle Choices That Make a Difference
Citations
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I am loving this AIP course and all the information I am receiving. The amount of work you have put into this is amazing and greatly, GREATLY, appreciated. Thank you so much. Taking this course gives me the knowledge I need to understand why my body is doing what it is doing and reinforces my determination to continue along this dietary path to heal it. Invaluable!
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The WHYs behind the Autoimmune Protocol: Nightshades