Insulin is an important hormone produced and regulated by the endocrine system – the sophisticated network of hormonal signals that regulate crucial bodily functions. Insulin directs many metabolic activities such as fat storage and energy usage.
A healthy metabolism needs cells that respond readily to insulin, the hormone that facilitates the passing of blood glucose through the cell wall to be converted into energy. Insulin does more than just regulate glucose. It also regulates many body processes, with its main targets being muscle, liver, blood vessels, the pituitary gland, and the brain. Insulin can affect the expression and regulation of protein synthesis and DNA, as well as steroid hormone metabolism (including the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone).
When your cells become insulin resistant, they lose their ability to respond properly to insulin. One result of this is that large quantities of glucose cannot enter cells and remain instead in the blood stream where the glucose passes to the liver and is converted into fat. This process often leads to weight gain.
In some cases, hyperglycemia may lead to increased excretion of glucose in the urine and sometimes an initial weight loss. Excessive glucose in the blood stream also leads to free radical damage and to sugar-related damage to body tissues.
Another potential result of insulin resistance is hormonal imbalance like that seen in PCOS, specifically elevated androgen levels. Androgens are masculinizing hormones such as testosterone and DHEA. Insulin resistance initially leads to excessively high levels of insulin in the blood stream, as your body attempts to compensate.
Ultimately, though, there is insufficient insulin, which may result in a rise in blood sugar and the onset of type 2 diabetes, one of the potential long-term complications of PCOS.
Ongoing fatigue is often a side effect of cells being unable to convert enough glucose into energy.
The adverse impact of PCOS can be greatly reduced by reversing insulin resistance to improve the insulin sensitivity of cells. This can result in lowered glucose and insulin in the blood stream as well as reduced androgen levels, and therefore a reversal of PCOS symptoms. One result of reversed insulin resistance is often a huge improvement in a sense of well being in those with PCOS, including greater energy.
The greatest advantage a vegan diet has is its low glycemic index diet. Of course, it depends on how you prepare your meals. Things like white rice, refined sugar, white bread have to go and you have to replace it with wholegrains and wholesome foods.
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