August 2010



How does insulin work?

When you consume carbohydrates, they are converted into glucose to be used as energy.  Carbohydrates can only be used as energy if the pancreas secretes insulin and if the insulin can drive the glucose into the cell.  Due to poor diet, toxins and lack of exercise, diabetes is on the rise.  Although genetics play a strong role, you can control your insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.

How to improve your insulin sensitivity

• Strength training is superior to cardiovascular work as it pertains to guarding against insulin resistance and diabetes.

• Strength training in the hypertrophy zone (8-12 rep range) with multiple sets will result in more muscle mass – improving insulin sensitivity.

• The proper amount of protein intake builds muscle mass – improving insulin sensitivity

Most of our Insulin receptors are located within our muscle tissue [click to continue…]

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It is best to do a baseline test before starting supplemental zinc.  Simply dosing up on zinc without a known baseline can be dangerous.  Zinc is neurotoxic in high doses.  Zinc is an aromitaze inhibitor and therefore has the ability to raise your testosterone to abnormally high levels.   If your testosterone levels get too high, it can affect the balance of other hormones.

Most commonly zinc levels are determined by testing serum and plasma as well as the Bryce-Smith Zinc Tally Test . Results from these tests are sometimes unreliable.  Your practitioner needs to evaluate your results after reviewing your symptoms and hormonal panel before determining dosage requirements.  After starting a supplement protocol, retesting will be needed in two to three months.

I repeat, even though zinc test results can give you information, realize that a greater picture is needed to tailor doses. [click to continue…]

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When monitoring your blood sugar levels through a home kit or lab test, current stress levels need to be taken into consideration. Various types of stress can affect glucose levels and the accuracy of these tests:

Physical stress: Over-training in your workouts/sports, overworking, illness/sickness, a chronic medical condition flair up, a physical injury/pain and environmental stressors (extreme hot or cold temperatures, living in darkness AKA – Alaska…).

Psychological/Emotional Stress:  Relationship, spiritual/religious, mental health challenges like anxiety or depression, moving locations, changing jobs, financial stress and many others.

If you discover after performing various blood tests your glucose levels are too high or low [click to continue…]

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The zinc tally test was developed by professor Derek Bryce-Smith, Professor of Biochemistry at Reading University. After reading some recent research on “supertasters”, it turns out the tally test is only valid for a certain type of taster. If you are not familiar with the zinc tally test, please view my article to understand more before continuing….

• Approximately, 25% of people are known to be “supertasters,” 50% are medium tasters, and 25% are nontasters. (1)

Through my experience using the zinc tally test in my practice, I have noticed:

Some people taste zinc tally upon immediate contact and need to spit it out, which indicates a passed tally test (intense taste in the first 2 seconds also qualifies as a pass).  Here is the caveat, I have had a clients whom are supertasters pass the tally test, but show a zinc deficiency upon measuring systemic levels via blood test.  The medium tasters seem to have a higher correlation when comparing zinc tally test results to blood-work.  The nontasters can fail the test even when their blood levels are within normal range or in high levels beyond normal range! [click to continue…]

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