Diabetes is not a disease of blood sugar, but rather a disorder of insulin and leptin signaling, according to research conducted by Dr. Richard Johnson. Diabetes rates for both adults and children are climbing out of control, and one in four Americans either have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Climbing rates of diabetes are due to the presence of massive amounts of fructose in today’s Western diet, mainly through processed foods and soft drinks. Fructose has adverse metabolic effects on leptin, insulin, triglycerides and ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”).
Leptin is a hormone produced in the fat cells. One of leptin’s primary roles is regulating appetite and body weight. It tells the brain when to eat, how much to eat, and, most importantly, when to stop eating. Leptin controls insulin secretions and whether or not you become insulin-resistant.
When your blood sugar becomes elevated, insulin is released to direct the extra energy into storage, mainly as fat. Therefore, insulin’s major role is not to lower blood sugar, but rather to store the extra energy for future times of need. Insulin’s effect of lowering blood sugar is merely a “side effect” of this energy-storage process.
How does fructose adversely affect metabolism? Fructose does not stimulate a rise in leptin, so your satiety signals are suppressed. Your brain senses starvation and prompts you to eat more. Fructose does not suppress ghrelin, like glucose does, making you want more food as well.
Diabetes treatments concentrating only on lowering blood sugar do not cure the disease. The only known way to reestablish proper leptin (and insulin) signaling is through proper diet. One of the most important lifestyle changes to implement is eliminating sugar (especially fructose) and grains from your diet. Adopt an alkaline diet rich in natural, raw and whole foods, such as fresh and non-starchy vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, amaranth, millet, omega-3 oils, raw honey, lemon juice and most herbal teas.
Source: Dr. Ruben Rafaelov, PharmD, RPh, of Pure & Simple Health. Location: 128 N. Long Beach Rd., Rockville Centre. For more information, call 516-203-7442. See ad on page 3.
