Insulin
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas into the blood in response to consumption of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Its role in managing blood glucose levels is especially important as diabetes rates continue to rise to epidemic proportions.
When blood glucose levels increase, insulin acts to lower the blood glucose levels back to normal. Excess blood glucose is absorbed into the muscles for contractile fuel, stored in the liver as glycogen, and converted to fat.
When insulin is too frequently secreted in abnormally high amounts (from over-consumption of carbohydrate rich foods) the insulin receptors on the muscle cells down regulate (shut down). This causes fatigue, cravings, and rapid conversion to fat.
It is generally a good health measure to keep insulin levels low by reducing carbohydrate rich foods unless the exercise levels match the intake (the more carbs you eat, the more you must move your body).
Holistic & Integrative Medicine