Nutrition Tip #3: The Three Nutrition "Types": A Follow-Up on Fasting Glucose and Fat Loss

A popular question on my last post was “Does a low carb/high fat nutrition plan make your cholesterol worse?”  Before answering that question it’s important to understand how Fasting Glucose can be the foundation for optimal cholesterol and body composition.

Fasting blood glucose indicates how much sugar is in your blood.  It’s normal for your blood glucose to rise after eating carbohydrates but should be lower when fasted.  Many Functional Doctors suggest fasting glucose should be less than 85 mg/dL.  For example, Dr. Mark Houston author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Heart Disease suggests 80 mg/dL.  Here are some reasons for those recommendations:

1. The risk of dying from a stroke increases 27% for every 18 mg/dL increase beyond 83 mg/dL[1]

2. Each 1 mg/dL increase above 80 mg/dL raises the risk of coronary heart disease by 1% (A rise from 80 to 100 would increase the risk by 20%)[1]

3. Each 1 mg/dL increase over 85 mg/dL increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 6% in a ten year period (A rise from 85 to 95 mg/dL would increase the risk by 60%)[2]

4. There is usually a direct correlation between lower fasting glucose levels and lower levels of body fat.  People are usually very lean on the shoulder blade and oblique areas as a result.[3]

5. High insulin levels have a negative effect on all the hormones in the body.  By keeping blood glucose low, insulin is usually lower resulting in more efficient hormone production in the body.[3]

Now that you understand the importance of measuring fasting blood glucose the next post will explain triglycerides, different cholesterol types and optimal ranges for looking good on the outside, being healthy on the inside and performing at an optimal level physically and mentally.

References:
1. Houston, M.C. 2012.  What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Heart Disease.  New York, NY: Hatchette  Book Group.
2. LaValle, J.  “Optimize Performance at Every Level.”  Corporate Office, Chanhassen, MN.  2 November 2011.
3. Poliquin, C.  “BioSignature.”  Poliquin Performance Center, Providence, RI.  15, May 2011.