| Insulin resistance is the underlying cause of metabolic | | | | before diabetes, however, high insulin levels lead to |
| syndrome, a complex of symptoms that often leads to | | | | weight gain and high blood pressure. |
| weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and | | | | Insulin does not just store sugar. It also stores fat. |
| type 2 diabetes. The very best way to overcome this | | | | When insulin isn't capable of transporting sugar, it's still |
| common impediment to good health is lose weight. | | | | very capable of storing fat. Insulin resistance results in |
| Almonds, however, also help you overcome it. | | | | higher insulin levels so weight gain is almost impossible |
| Insulin resistance is often described as if it is the result | | | | to avoid. |
| of personal failing or lack of willpower. Actually, it | | | | There is a great deal of laboratory and clinical |
| usually begins after physical stress, a bad case of the | | | | evidence to suggest that almonds contain as yet |
| flu, a broken bone, a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. | | | | unidentified substances that reverse insulin resistance. |
| People who become resistant to the insulin their bodies | | | | Dieters who eat almonds lose weight even though |
| produce typically don't know when it starts, because | | | | almonds are packed with fat and calories. |
| the process of progression to disease that show | | | | There is an upper limit to how many almonds a day |
| visible symptoms can literally take decades. | | | | would be helpful. The studies that found that almonds |
| Once resistance sets in, however, it is a vicious cycle. | | | | reverse insulin resistance in people used 3 oz (84 |
| Blood sugar levels are just a little too high for cells to | | | | grams) a day. In a study at the City of Hope National |
| take in sugar safely. They change their outer | | | | Medical Center, however, dieters who stuck to their |
| membranes to be resistant to insulin to avoid being | | | | weight loss programs for a full six months lost nearly |
| flooded by sugar. | | | | twice the weight while eating 500 calories more every |
| If cells in the muscles and the liver don't absorb sugar, | | | | day. Almonds break insulin resistance, less insulin |
| however, blood sugar levels stay high. To lower them, | | | | resistance results in lower insulin levels, and less fat |
| the pancreas releases more insulin. In turn, the same | | | | gets stored. Almonds give your diet a fighting chance. |
| cells become even more resistant. Amazingly, this | | | | Just be sure you are getting those extra calories from |
| process can go on for years before the pancreas | | | | up to 3 ounces of almonds - and don't eat almonds if |
| eventually "burns out" and diabetes ensues. Long | | | | you are allergic to them. |