Losing weight – importance of insulin and blood sugar

Losing weight through change
 
Losing weight is often equated with fasting. However, this can also be the wrong approach and can quickly lead to giving up on the resolution. If you have been overweight for years due to your eating habits and lifestyle, you cannot simply change everything. The body has adapted to these habits and would now "rebel" if changes are made too abruptly. Losing weight through change therefore also means understanding your own body and its behavior.
 
The human body consists of hundreds of different types of cells, which are the basic building blocks. Each cell has its own cell organs and components, such as genetic information (DNA), proteins and lipids. All cells have the same basic structure, but they differ due to their very different functions. Nerve cells, blood cells, muscle cells, brain cells and gland cells are just a few examples, as are fat cells as a component of fatty tissue. Each cell is an independent and self-sustaining system. It absorbs nutrients and can use the energy contained in them through metabolism.
 
Insulin and Weight Loss
 
Insulin plays a key role in the activity of cells. Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels and for the adaptation of relevant cells. Every time we eat, a certain amount of insulin is released into the blood. It ensures the metabolism, which extracts sugar (glucose) from food. Part of it remains in the blood because the brain, red blood cells and kidney medulla in particular rely on glucose to generate energy. The rest is primarily supplied to the fat cells, which use it to provide energy to the muscles in particular, but also to all other organs, using fat metabolism.
 
During and for a certain period after each meal, blood sugar and insulin levels are increased until the energy is obtained and distributed. During this time, the cells of the liver and muscles are particularly active, as they play a major role in metabolism. Once food intake has ended and the essential tasks of the various cells have largely been completed, insulin and blood sugar levels return to normal levels.
 
This means that it is necessary to take breaks between meals to allow the entire organism to rest. The shorter the breaks between meals, the less the blood sugar and insulin levels will drop. In this context, the insulin released also plays a significant role in whether the food consumed is processed to the greatest extent possible. If the body is given more food than it can currently convert into energy, the excess is stored.
 
Fat cells influence weight loss
 
Fat cells are components of adipose tissue, a form of connective tissue that is located in several places in the body. The job of a fat cell is to store fat and water in its cell body and to release it when needed. The fat cells absorb fatty acids from the blood and use them to produce lipids (fatty substances), which are stored in the cell as reserves. When needed, the lipids can be released back into the blood so that other cells can use them to generate energy.
 
The amount of stored fat can vary greatly. The size of the cell adapts to this, or new fat cells are formed. Only in “starvation phases” does the body fall back on the reserves and break them down. This means that as long as the person concerned does not initiate starvation phases or even change their general eating habits, the body does not have to fall back on its reserves. On the contrary - any excess food consumed is fed into the reserves and increases the volume of the fatty tissue. However, this leads to the insulin level not being reduced far enough. This can also lead to various illnesses - up to and including Diabetes mellitus – which are caused by impaired insulin levels. 
 
Losing weight with diets
 
At some point, the situation arises where the person concerned wants to lose weight consistently. Apart from the fact that such a plan is not easy to implement, the question immediately arises as to which method of losing weight is best for the person concerned. Anyone who researches or wants to get help with information will soon be overwhelmed by all the good tips. A wide variety of methods, therapies, diets and remedies are offered. It is almost impossible for the layperson to get an objective overview, let alone make the right decision.
 
When losing weight, reserves must be used up. However, for this to happen, insulin levels must temporarily rise again. In order to then permanently lower insulin levels and thus escape the insulin trap, those affected must repeatedly induce phases with very low insulin levels. The body must adapt and produce less insulin in the long term. The only way to temporarily lower insulin levels significantly is to completely abstain from food for a certain period of time. The most efficient and sustainable strategy for this is ultimately regular fasting. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether therapeutic fasting, intermittent fasting or pseudo-fasting is the right thing.
 
Losing weight with medical support
 
Anyone who wants to lose weight – not only for health reasons – should seek medical help or professional support. This way, measures can be planned and implemented individually and sensibly. We recommend a comprehensive health check before starting to change your diet. Dietary supplements and medications are known to Doctor and the nutritionist. They know which preparations or remedies can be used - or which are not an option.