124: Why We Get Fat, How to Fix Insulin Resistance, IGF-1 and Cancer | Benjamin Bikman, PhD
Aug 19, 2020
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Benjamin Bikman, PhD, discusses the relationship between fat cells and insulin resistance, the consequences of insulin resistance in chronic diseases, the link between IGF-1, insulin, and cancer, and optimizing protein consumption for growth.
Insulin resistance in fat cells leads to the accumulation of ceramides and the spread of insulin resistance throughout the body.
Factors such as hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, and chronic stress can cause insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can be reversed through dietary and lifestyle changes, including controlling carbohydrate intake, getting enough sleep, and managing stress levels.
Deep dives
Role of Insulin in Fat Cells
Insulin plays a crucial role in fat cells. It stimulates lipogenesis, the creation and storage of lipids, and adipogenesis, the creation of new fat cells. It tells fat cells what to do with energy and promotes the storage of fat. However, when fat cells become hypertrophic, they become insulin resistant and start leaking fat and pro-inflammatory hormones. This leads to the accumulation of ceramides and the spread of insulin resistance throughout the body.
Causes of Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance can be caused by factors such as hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, and chronic stress. Hyperinsulinemia refers to continuously elevated insulin levels, which can result from consuming foods that cause a spike in insulin, such as those high in added sugar and refined grains. Chronic inflammation and stress can also lead to insulin resistance by directly antagonizing insulin's actions and creating a chronic state of insulin resistance.
Reversing Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance can be reversed through dietary and lifestyle changes. Controlling carbohydrate intake, especially those that cause a rapid increase in insulin, is a key step in reversing insulin resistance. Other factors such as getting enough sleep and managing stress levels also play a role in improving insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown that insulin resistance can start to reverse rapidly, with improvements seen within a day and significant reversal within weeks to months.
High prevalence of metabolic unhealthiness in Americans
A study from the School of Public Health at UNC found that 88% of US adults were metabolically unhealthy, showing signs of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. This includes a significant proportion of normal weight individuals as well. The findings suggest that up to 88% of US adults may be on the insulin-resistant spectrum, leading to various metabolic and health problems.
Insulin resistance and its implications
Insulin resistance, often a consequence of obesity and chronic hyperinsulinemia, plays a direct role in several chronic diseases. It is linked to Alzheimer's disease, migraines, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and erectile dysfunction. Conventional medicine tends to treat each symptom separately, but addressing the root cause of insulin resistance through lifestyle changes is more effective than medications. Controlling insulin levels through diet, particularly by reducing carbohydrate intake, can provide a metabolic advantage and impact overall health.
Benjamin Bikman earned his PhD in Bioenergetics and was a postdoctoral fellow with the Duke-National University of Singapore studying metabolic disorders. His professional focus is to better understand the origins and consequences of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes, with a particular emphasis on the role of insulin. He is the author of Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease—and How to Fight It.
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