The Insulin Resistance Epidemic: Why 99% of Us Are At Risk - AI Podcast
Mar 27, 2025•12 min
Episode description
Story at-a-glance
- When cells become insulin resistant, they struggle to use glucose for energy, forcing your body to convert excess glucose into fructose through the sorbitol pathway — a "backup plan" that prevents immediate crisis but causes long-term damage
- Modern diets high in refined sugars and seed oils (like soybean and corn oil), combined with exposure to environmental toxins and plastics, have led to an estimated 99% of Americans having some degree of insulin resistance
- The HOMA-IR blood test provides an early warning for insulin resistance, with scores above 1.0 indicating potential metabolic issues that should be addressed through lifestyle changes
- Contrary to popular belief, white rice may be healthier than brown rice for people with insulin resistance, as brown rice's fiber can feed harmful gut bacteria and its higher omega-6 content can promote inflammation
- Your body requires around 200 to 250 grams of carbohydrates daily, and severely restricting carbs can trigger stress hormones like cortisol that break down muscle tissue to create glucose