The information in this article is from the most current summary of insulin's effects on your health written by one of the world's top researchers in paleolithic nutrition, Dr. Loren Cordain. He attended my recent lecture in Portland and I had a chance to meet with him and he shared this article with me. The link at the end of this article will take you to the entire 18-page study (PDF).

Insulin resistance, a condition in which people lose their sensitivity to insulin, which results in excess blood sugar, and hyperinsulinemia have been associated with a host of diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer for some time, but now emerging research suggests that the related disease extend far beyond these.

Diseases of insulin resistance represent far and away the major health problems not only in the United States but in all of Western civilization. The chronic illnesses like heart disease, which represents over 40 percent of all U.S. deaths, and obesity, which kills close to 300,000 Americans each year, are virtually non-existent in less Westernized societies that still follow their traditional diet.

The increase in insulin-related diseases is largely dependent on the substantial addition of sugar and carbohydrates to the typical American diet. Although refined sugars and cereals are common foods in current societies, they were eaten sparingly or not at all in the 17th and 18th centuries and only started to become available after the industrial revolution.

In fact, from 1909 to 1999 the U.S. per capita sugar consumption increased some 64 percent. Fiber consumption decreased during this time, and while carbohydrate consumption remained relatively stable, the type of carbohydrate consumed changed. Refined cereals, which were not consumed only 200 years ago, now make up over 85 percent of all U.S. grain consumption.

This increase in sugar and refined carbs has caused a host of problems. Some that are often overlooked are the increased height and earlier age of menstruation among today’s population. A number of studies have conclusively linked these phenomena to the amount of sucrose consumed. The amount of sugar consumed also appears strongly related to the need to wear glasses for myopic vision, and the scourge of youths, acne, also appears clearly related to grain and sugar consumption. Interestingly, another skin problem, skin tags, appears to be related to insulin resistance as well. Many patients have asked me what caused them and up until reading this article I had no idea that they were related to grains and sugars, but I am certainly not surprised.

So what can you do to ensure that you don't fall victim to insulin resistance or one of its related disease? A great first step is to check out my book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program, which will explain the dangers of grains and sugar in detail and provide youwith an easy-to-follow plan to keep your diet healthy, delicious and grain-free. This book also details the importance of eating according to your metabolic type, and provides the means to learn your type. Finally, routine exercise and proper sleep are also essential.

For more information on insulin’s effects on health, be sure to read Dr. Rosedale's classic and highly informative insulin lecture.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 136 (2003) 95-112 (PDF, Full Journal Article)

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