In this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Jessie Inchauspé explores the importance of managing glucose levels and their impact on overall health. She discusses the detrimental effects of glucose spikes, ranging from short-term issues like energy crashes, cravings, and hormonal imbalances to long-term risks such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart disease.
Inchauspé provides practical tips for controlling glucose absorption through diet and exercise, including incorporating vinegar, protein, and fiber; engaging in light activity after meals; and thoughtfully reintroducing carbs. Host Mari Llewellyn shares her personal experiences navigating sugar sensitivity and the challenges of strict diets, expressing interest in applying Inchauspé's glucose management strategies.
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Glucose is essential for bodily functions, but Jessie Inchauspé warns that excessive glucose can be detrimental, as the body cannot distinguish its sources and reacts negatively to rapid absorption or "spikes."
Inchauspé notes that glucose spikes lead to unsteady energy, cravings, skin issues like acne, and hormonal imbalances that disrupt menstrual cycles, fertility, and conditions like PCOS. They also contribute to mental health challenges like brain fog, anxiety, and depression.
Chronic glucose spikes heighten the risk of serious illnesses like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease.
Inchauspé recommends incorporating vinegar, protein, fiber, and healthy fats before consuming sugary or starchy foods to slow glucose absorption. Vinegar can reduce spikes by up to 30%, while protein and fiber-rich foods like nuts, avocado, and Greek yogurt also help.
Engaging muscles for at least 10 minutes after a high-glucose meal, even through simple exercises like calf raises, can help lower glucose spikes.
For those transitioning from restrictive diets like keto, Inchauspé suggests thoughtfully reincorporating carbs later in the day while employing glucose management techniques.
Host Mari Llewellyn has experienced significant sugar sensitivity, leading to brain fog, fatigue, and skin issues from even small amounts. Her keto diet aided mood regulation but negatively impacted gut health and hormone balance. Eager to implement Inchauspé's tips, Llewellyn plans to mindfully reintroduce carbs using glucose management strategies.
1-Page Summary
Glucose, the body's favored energy source, is necessary for various functions, from holding a pen to pumping blood. However, as Inchauspé warns, too much glucose can have detrimental effects, similar to overwatering a plant.
Cells use glucose derived from starchy foods like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and sugary treats such as desserts and fruit. The body absorbs glucose molecules at differing rates, depending on the food.
Inchauspé points out that the body doesn't differentiate glucose from a sweet potato or Coca-Cola; the speed of glucose absorption, or the "envelope" it comes in, is key. Glucose spikes are harmful, causing inflammation, aging, and damage to mitochondria—the powerhouses converting glucose into energy.
Glucose spikes result in unsteady energy, leading to tiredness and cravings, especially for sweets. Skin issues such as acne and psoriasis are also short-term impacts based on inflammation. Additionally, fertility hormones can be deregulated, affecting conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), infertility, PMS, and endometriosis. High glucose levels contribute to these issues by influencing the hormonal system. Mental health effects, including brain fog, anxiety, and depression, arise too, as the brain depends on glucose for energy. In women, elevated [restricted term] can increase [restricted term] pro ...
The science of glucose and its effects on the body
Jessie Inchauspé provides insightful and straightforward tips for managing glucose levels and avoiding spikes by incorporating certain foods and habits in our diet and daily routine.
A tablespoon of vinegar added to a big glass of water can reduce the glucose spike by up to 30%, slowing digestion and prompting muscles to soak up glucose. Eating protein, fat, or fiber-rich foods such as nuts, Greek yogurt, eggs, or avocado before indulging in something sweet like cake can slow down the absorption of glucose. Jessie emphasizes the importance of incorporating these elements in the right order, advising to first consume vinegar, and then to eat vegetables before starchy or sugary foods to minimize the glucose spike they could create.
If a meal consists mainly of protein and vegetables, like fish and greens without starchy sides, the consumption order becomes less critical. Furthermore, you can also reduce glucose spikes from smoothies by including ingredients such as protein powder without added sugar and healthy fats like hemp seeds or avocado.
Inchauspé underscores the benefits of vinegar in managing glucose levels. For those who incorporate vinegar daily, such as Mari Llewellyn who dumps vinegar on her salads, they can still experience glucose-lowering effects.
However, Inchauspé cautions against syrupy balsamic vinegar, which can be high in sugar; instead, regular liquid balsamic vinegar is recommended for the same benefits.
By prioritizing the intake of protein and fat, especially prior to eating high-sugar foods or beverages, the glucose molecules are absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream, thereby creating a smaller glucose spike.
Practical tips and hacks to manage glucose levels and avoid spikes
Mari Llewellyn provides a candid account of her experiences dealing with sugar sensitivity and dietary challenges that have had various impacts on her physical and mental health.
Mari Llewellyn expresses that she is incredibly sensitive to sugar. She notes that consuming just a small amount, such as a slice of cake, results in immediate brain fog, fatigue, and could even lead to skin issues like acne the following day. After losing 90 pounds through a significant fitness journey, Mari believes that she became more sensitive to sugar. Jessie Inchauspé acknowledges that this sensitivity is common, as decreasing sugar intake can increase the body’s reaction to it when consumed, leading to severe drowsiness or discomfort.
There's no additional relevant information available in the provided podcast transcript chunk for this topic, but Llewellyn's personal experiences reflect the issues at hand.
Mari's challenges with glucose led her to experiment with a ketogenic diet as a potential solution.
She mentions that, while being on a keto diet for two or three years did facilitate mood regulation, which aided in managing her mood disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), she also encountered drawbacks. She started to notice, through various gut and hormone tests, negative effects on her gut health due to the absence of essential good bacteria normally supplied by fiber. Additionally, the keto diet presented challenges, like maintaining su ...
The host's personal journey with glucose and health
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