Is Too Much Insulin Making You Gain Weight?

Blog post by Janet Perry, Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant & Metabolic Balance Coach

Did you know that having too much of the hormone insulin can lead to weight gain?

Insulin is one of the most misunderstood hormones. Too much of it can cause weight gain and lead to insulin resistance, and too little of it may lead to serious health problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes.

Insulin helps control our body's blood sugar (glucose) levels and metabolism, the process which turns the food we eat into energy.

When we eat, our glucose levels rise which prompts the pancreas to release insulin, the insulin then signals cells throughout the body to absorb the glucose to use as energy. Insulin converts the excess glucose into glycogen and stores it in the liver and muscles for future use.

Lipolysis is the mechanism where the body breaks down stored fat to be mobilized for energy. This process happens when insulin levels decrease, meaning having too much insulin can slow down your body’s ability to burn fat.

Lipogenesis is the metabolic formation of fat. This is often referred to as being in fat storage mode. This happens with the increase of insulin levels.

Insulin also stimulates hunger. When we snack between meals, our insulin levels rise, and our metabolism goes from burning fat to storing fat, making it very difficult to lose weight and easy to gain it.

All hormones are interconnected, therefore having too much insulin can lead to other imbalances. For example, high insulin levels promote the excessive release of estrogen into your system which may contribute to uncomfortable PMS, perimenopause and menopause symptoms, plus heavy menstrual bleeding. As well, increased insulin levels signal the ovaries to produce more testosterone, which has the potential to cause facial hair growth and possibly acne.

Metabolic Balance is a nutrition program that resets metabolism, balances hormones, and reduces inflammation through whole foods. It creates individualized meal plans by analyzing 36 blood markers to determine which nutrients your body needs, and which foods will provide them. The program supports hormonal balancing by encouraging the body’s release of insulin the way nature intended, leading to a reduction in food cravings, increased fat burning capabilities and healthy long-term weight management.

To book a free consultation to see if the Metabolic Balance program will work for you, click here.