Insulin Resistance - The Root of Chronic Diseases

Insulin resistance will cause many chronic diseases. Photo: Illustration

To make it easier to visualize, imagine insulin as a key, and the cells in the body as doors. When everything is working properly, insulin (the key) opens the cell door, allowing sugar (glucose) from the blood to enter, providing energy for the body. However, when insulin resistance occurs, this door gets stuck, difficult to open or even not open at all.

The results are: High blood sugar when glucose cannot enter cells, accumulates in the blood leading to prediabetes and then type 2 diabetes; high blood fat when the liver reacts to excess sugar in the blood by converting it into fat (triglyceride), increasing bad fat (LDL, triglyceride) and reducing good fat (HDL); high blood pressure when high insulin levels stimulate water and salt retention in the kidneys, increasing blood volume, causing high blood pressure.

Why do we have insulin resistance? “Disease enters through the mouth” - this saying is not wrong at all.

When using sweets and soft drinks, refined sugars such as glucose and sucrose in cakes, candies, and milk tea quickly increase blood sugar. Every time you eat, insulin increases, and cells become "resistant" to insulin.

Refined starches like white bread, white rice, instant noodles - are all sources of starch that quickly converts to sugar.

Saturated fats and fried oils like fast food and greasy fried foods not only increase blood fat but also cause inflammation, making insulin resistance worse.

On the other hand, fiber from vegetables and whole fruits slows down the absorption of sugar. But most of us prefer fruit juice - throwing away valuable fiber.

In particular, being sedentary, such as sitting in one place and not exercising much, makes the body less effective in using sugar, while muscles are the largest consumers of sugar.

Common social media mistakes that are promoted as detoxification and healing contribute to insulin resistance. For example, many people mistakenly believe that drinking fruit juice is “healthy,” but when the natural fiber is removed, all that’s left is fructose. The liver has to metabolize this sugar, and if there’s too much, it’s stored as visceral fat.

Or using unverified functional foods: weight loss tea, fiber candy, fat burning drugs... not only have no effect but also cause digestive and hormonal disorders.

The right direction is nutrition and lifestyle.

Instead of following unproven methods, we need to focus on a balanced diet with whole foods, limiting sugar and refined starches, increasing fiber and healthy fats. Combining regular exercise such as walking, cycling, and gym helps improve the insulin sensitivity of cells.

Insulin resistance is not a disease, but the root of a host of chronic diseases. Don’t look for a quick fix or a “miracle cure.” Start with lifestyle changes—that’s the long-term key to controlling insulin resistance and protecting your health.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/khang-insulin-goc-re-cua-cac-benh-ly-man-tinh-3155466.html