How do these relate?
Let's discover....
Blood Sugar: The concentration of glucose (a greek word for "sweet", a type of sugar we gain from food) in the blood.
When we ingest foods that are high in carbohydrates the digestive system will begin to break down the digestible carbs into sugar which then enters the bloodstream.
As blood sugars rise the pancreas will produce a hormone called Insulin that prompts the cells to absorb the blood sugar to use for energy or store for later use. If we ingest too many carbs and the body can not keep up it stores this sugar and or neglects to absorb it for energy causing the blood sugar levels to rise. When we eat a moderate amount in which our body tolerates well once the Insulin transports glucose to cells throughout the body that absorb and use it, glucose then drops.
There are differences in the carbohydrates we ingest and the glycemic index that comes with them. The two main types are Refined carbohydrates and Whole carbohydrates.
Refined carbohydrates are simple or processed carbs meaning they have a high amount of sugar in them leading to a spike in blood sugar.
Refined carbohydrates include: White bread, Pizza dough, Pasta, Pastries, White flour, Sweets, and Cereals.
Whole carbs include: Vegetables, Quinoa, Oats, Beans, Whole Grains, and Potatoes.
Now we connect blood sugar to Hormones..
Sugar can disrupt one of the most powerful hormones in the body which is Insulin.
Insulin is closely connected to all of the other hormones in the body which include Estrogen, Testosterone, and Cortisol. When your Insulin levels spike this leads to lower levels of a protein known as SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). SHBG binds to excess Estrogen and Testosterone in the blood when it is low the hormone levels increase. Cortisol is known as your "Stress" hormone.
High insulin levels can communicate to the ovaries to produce more testosterone which will lead to an increased risk of facial hair and acne. High Insulin levels can also lead to excess estrogen which translates to heavy menstrual cycles, fibroids, and sore breasts.
When these hormones become imbalanced many symptoms can become present such as mood disorders, anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, weight gain, and skin conditions.
Now to Inflammation..
One of the biggest consequences of a hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance is inflammation. Along with Estrogen, Cortisol is the main culprit that correlates with long term chronic inflammation and an overactive immune system.
Inflammation is the body trying to tell us that something is not right, something needs to be fixed. It is a response in attempts to correct itself.
When the body is under stress it will begin releasing "fighters" to correct itself leading to a drop or rise in hormones and lead to inflammation.
Chronic inflammation will present in many different ways including Acne, Skin disorder flare ups, Trouble sleeping, Mood disorders, Brain fog, Irritability, food cravings, Digestive trouble, and Weight gain.
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