Did you know there is a strong relationship between metabolic health and mental health? Insulin resistance is the biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is also capable of adversely affecting mental health. Depression, anxiety and ADHD can all be more severe in a person with poor metabolic health.

Adults with ADHD are almost twice as likely to have high blood pressure, and twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes. Similar patterns were found in both men and women with ADHD, although depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety are more prevalent in women, while substance use disorders, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are more prevalent in males than females.

Insulin is a hormone that your pancreas secretes into your bloodstream after you have eaten. It enables the glucose from your food to enter your cells, where it is burned for energy. If insulin is not doing its job properly, less glucose will be burnt for energy and more of it will be converted into fat. Some of the fat is stored around your body, just under your skin, and some of it accumulates in your liver. Having too much fat in your liver (fatty liver) is a classic sign of elevated insulin. Eventually insulin loses the ability to control your blood sugar and it can become abnormally high.

Mental health problems like ADHD, depression and anxiety are affected by a person’s overall state of health. The brain is connected to the rest of the body. What’s happening in the body will affect the brain. Hormone levels in your body affect neurotransmitter levels in your brain; so does your blood sugar level. Insulin resistance can reduce the brain’s ability to use glucose efficiently for energy.

Improving insulin sensitivity enables the brain to have a better energy supply. This helps foster a better mood, sharper brain, better motivation and concentration.

Strategies for improving metabolic and brain health

  • Reduce the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. Insulin resistant people cannot handle common levels of carbohydrate in their diet. They oversecrete insulin in response to eating carbs and they are less likely to feel satisfied after a meal, therefore tend to over eat. That means carbohydrate needs to be restricted in the diet. Grains, cereals, sugar and starchy vegetables are the main sources of carbohydrate in the average diet. It’s best to base your diet on protein, natural fats and non starchy vegetables. There is an easy to follow low carbohydrate eating plan in the book I Can’t Lose Weight and I don’t know why.
  • Protein is the most important nutrient for those wanting to improve metabolism, mental health and reduce their blood insulin level. Neurotransmitters are made out of amino acids. It is critical to eat protein at every meal because it is extremely satiating. It will help to make you feel more full and satisfied after a meal, and keep you feeling satisfied for longer. This way sticking to a healthy diet will be easier. Examples of protein include eggs, seafood, poultry and red meat. Dairy products, nuts and seeds contain smaller levels of protein. Protein powders can be extremely helpful because they provide a quick, tasty and easy meal option for busy days.
  • It’s important to eat adequate fat because it increases meal satiety, is used for hormone production and does not cause insulin to be released or blood sugar to rise. Examples of fats to eat include egg yolks, olive oil, salmon with the skin, avocados and the fat on beef and lamb (preferably grass fed).
  • Sugar, industrial seed oil, dairy products and alcohol can all increase inflammation in your brain. Inflammation worsens insulin resistance. Almost any health problem is associated with excess inflammation. Being inflamed can make you feel tired, suffer with a low mood, poor concentration and can make weight loss very difficult.
  • People with a sluggish liver also have a sluggish metabolism. Their liver doesn’t regulate their blood sugar well, so they are prone to overwhelming sugar cravings. The liver also cleanses your bloodstream. If there are too many toxins in your blood you can have a foggy brain and poor concentration. Livatone Plus helps to make your liver healthier and more efficient.
  • Berberine is a powerful plant extract that helps improve blood sugar control. It makes insulin more efficient in your body, thus helps correct insulin resistance. Berberine helps with weight loss from the torso and improves blood sugar and blood fat levels.

For more information about diabetes see our book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse It Naturally.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.