Are there any other benefits to keeping insulin low? - PaleoHacks.com

Are there any other benefits to keeping insulin low?

2012-08-01T18:44:24Z

In my opinion I think it is very well established that insulin doesn't necessarily cause fat gain, at least in my case it doesn't. However, I was wondering if there are any other benefits to keeping insulin low throughout the day, and consuming the majority of my carbs post workout. Better skin, mood, teeth?

John Berardi also states many times that elevated insulin in the presence of fat elevates "blood fat" levels. Paul Jaminet, in his book, states that saturated fat is benign in the presence of low insulin, and that elevated insulin levels are bad for infections and longevity. However, in this study http://phys.org/news203180020.html, researchers found that insulin reduced several inflammatory pathways induced by bacterial infections.

If insulin is beneficial for bacterial infections and doesn't necessarily cause weight gain, what other reasons are there for keeping it low?

Answer by RaiseFitness for Are there any other benefits to keeping insulin low?

2012-08-01T18:46:47Z

Glucose causes insulin release, and cellular glycation is caused by burning and using glucose. Fat is generally a cleaner burning fuel.

Answer by Potato Avenger for Are there any other benefits to keeping insulin low?

2012-08-01T18:47:00Z

I think that there might be reason to not eat 10 meals a day in bird-like fashion and have the system working constantly, but I'm not so sure the pulsated doses after your 2-4 separated meals is going to cause any sort of problem.

Answer by Mscott for Are there any other benefits to keeping insulin low?

2012-08-01T19:35:50Z

My answer is not really an answer to your question, so sorry about that. It's more of a counter argument against demonizing insulin, especially since:

Insulin reduces high blood sugar levels.

Insulin increases the production of glyoxalase-1, which detoxifies methylglyoxal.

Insulin is an anabolic hormone and inhibits muscle protein breakdown.

Insulin decreases appetite.

Attempting lowering blood insulin levels by increasing insulin sensitivity is probably a good idea. Attempting to lower blood insulin levels via restriction of carbs and maybe protein if you have diabetes, particularly type 1 is also probably a good idea. And I think lowering blood insulin by cutting back on crappy food like refined grains and sugar is also good idea, though not because it lowers insulin, but because those foods are crappy.

But trying to lower blood insulin levels beyond that? Don't expect good things to happen. Insulin, irrespective of healthy food choices, is not bad. It has important functions in the body and I don't think your average person should try to lower it unless they're doing so inadvertently by eating healthier.