Fasting will help lower and stabilise blood sugar levels as it increases insulin sensitivity
It has finally become common knowledge that sugar is bad for the waistline and a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes. It raises insulin (the storage hormone), insulin takes the glucose from the blood and into the liver, fat and muscle cells.
If insulin is spiked too often the cells become insulin resistant, meaning the blood sugar has nowhere to go, leading to ‘high blood sugar’. Consequently the beta cells continue to produce more insulin, (that the cells are resistant to), leading to high blood insulin levels.
Human growth hormone (HGH), known as the ‘youth hormone’, produced in large quantities when we are growing is also produced in small amounts when we sleep for growth and repair. When we fast HGH hormone is increased by 2000%. It is thought this is because blood glucose levels are lower. Blood sugar levels have a negative correlation with HGH, when blood sugar rises, HGH levels fall. If HGH is higher, it increases the length of time in deep sleep.
It is also a perfect solution for Type 2 diabetics.
Type 1
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. Essentially your immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreas, which produce insulin. With the lack of the ‘storage hormone’ insulin, the blood sugar remains high ( the glucose stays in the blood rather than making it into the cells), as insulin is responsible for taking the glucose into the cells. Type 1 diabetics are then treated with insulin to keep their blood sugar stable as well as living an active lifestyle and a healthy low glycemic diet.
Type 2
Type 2 diabetes is very different. It isn’t a problem of too little insulin, but actually too much.
The hormone insulin is responsible in ‘lowering’ blood sugar, to help store it in the cells. When someone’s cells are packed full of glucose, it is now beginning to be understood that cells ‘refuse’ to take on any more. Effectively this state is called ‘insulin resistance’. The cells are becoming resistant to any more glucose. As more insulin is produced in an attempt to lower the glucose, it causes more and more problems. Glucose is stored in places where it doesn’t belong.
The perfect remedy for type 2 diabetes is Intermittent Fasting.
“Fasting is the most efficient and consistent strategy to decrease insulin levels, a fact first noted decades ago and widely accepted as true. All foods raise insulin; therefore, the most effective method of reducing insulin is to avoid all foods. Blood glucose levels remain normal as the body switches over to burning fat for energy” – Jason Fung, The Obesity code
