It has been hard to miss in the news: Covid-19 patients with serious complications often have one or more characteristics of metabolic syndrome. Obesity is the most obvious one but high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are other common factors. You may also have noticed that the term insulin resistance is often mentioned in the context of Covid-19.
What is insulin resistance?
The most important role of the hormone insulin in the body is to lower your blood sugar level. Every time you eat your body produces insulin and this gives a signal to the cells that they have to absorb the incoming glucose. If your diet consists of foods with an excessive amount of carbohydrates and especially at too many times a day, more and more insulin has to be released. Over time, the cells become less sensitive to insulin so they become inefficient at regulating the glucose in the blood. This insulin resistance is actually pre-stage type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. And keep in mind: this is something that builds up over many years. And with this insulin resistance the previously mentioned conditions, such as obesity, arise.
We can’t ignore the fact that this is a really big problem in my own country, the Netherlands. More than 50% of Dutch people over 18 are moderately or seriously overweight. And on closer inspection most of these people will have insulin resistance. These numbers are even greater in other parts of the world. This of course also has a negative effect on the immune system. Not only are you more susceptible to a viral infection such as Covid-19, but it also becomes more difficult for your body to fight such an infection. Your immune cells simply cannot function optimally.
How do I reverse this?
A transition to a generally healthier lifestyle can have an enormous positive impact on your health within just a few weeks. Simply limit your intake of sugary and processed foods, keep moving, reduce stress and ensure good sleep. But are you more serious about reversing insulin resistance, and thus your symptoms of metabolic syndrome? Then now is the time to make the conscious choice for the ketogenic lifestyle.
How do I start a keto lifestyle?
Start by reading the keto information on my website. While reading, learn exactly what keto entails, what foods you can eat and what you need to pay attention to.
Would you like to know first if you have insulin resistance? Find out with the insulin resistance symptoms check.
Sevi Rutgrink - Keto Coaching 