December 2020

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Blood sugar, or glucose, is the fuel that keeps our cells alive and functioning. It's the preferred fuel for most tissues because it’s used to create ATP, a molecule that powers body functions. Glucose comes from all kinds of carbohydrates and is released into the blood as food is digested. This triggers insulin production.Insulin: hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas that triggers cells to take in sugar Insulin acts as a “gatekeeper,” regulating levels of sugar circulating in the blood. It triggers the liver and muscles to store glucose as glycogen when there is enough sugar in the...

Not all body fat is harmful to health! Fat serves various roles in the body, including: Regulating body temperature Making up cell membranes Producing hormones, vitamin D, and myelinFat is also a storage tank for energy.Triglycerides: fats that function as metabolic fuel and are stored in adipose tissueTriglycerides are broken down into fatty acids through lipolysis for QUICK energy when blood sugar is low or adrenaline and cortisol are releasedKetosis: the process of converting fatty acids to acetyl-CoA in the liver to be used as fuel when glucose stores in the body are low. Subcutaneous fatLocated right beneath skin Less...

It’s common knowledge that adopting healthy eating habits and increasingphysical activity levels are both effective strategies for weight loss. But did youknow that these behaviors can have a significant effect on the gut microbiome,which in turn supports weight loss through key microbial actions? In fact,researchers have predicted that dietary and lifestyle recommendations forweight loss in the future may include personalized recommendations based onan individual’s gut microbiota. Human studies have observed that gut microbial composition varies between obeseand lean individuals. Obese individuals have less bacterial diversity in the gut overalland more Firmicutes, a type of bacteria that can negatively affect fat...