20/04/2021
YES! Such a wonderful post by Dr. Hyman that I had to share! Please take a few minutes to read. Comment below with any questions, thoughts, or "aha's."
This is the result of the mountains of sugar and flour we consume, which leads to high glucose and insulin, which creates a domino effect. It drives excess calories into fat cells that then produce messengers to increase hunger, slow metabolism, prevent fat burning, and cause inflammation to spike.
In women, too much insulin turns estrogen into testosterone. This can lead to something misleadingly called polycystic ovarian syndrome. It is not an ovarian problem. It is a dietary problem.
The extra testosterone in women causes hair loss, facial hair, acne, and infertility. In men, the testosterone gets converted to estrogen, which is why men with big bellies often have man b***s and lose the hair on their bodies.
The same high-sugar and -starch diet also spikes the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. When you eat a sugar- and starch-laden diet, your body literally perceives it as a stressor, just like when a tiger chases you. Adrenaline and cortisol increase, worsening insulin resistance and increasing cravings for sugar and starch.
In my practice I bring balance to hormones by addressing insulin resistance, first using the Pegan Diet—a whole foods, good-fat, plant-rich, fiber-rich, low-glycemic diet.
For women who are dealing with estrogen dominance (leading to PMS and cancers), I work on maintaining a healthy gut microbiome by increasing fibers (such as flaxseeds), which can detoxify and remove excess estrogen.
For men who have low testosterone, we reduce sugar and increase healthy fats. I raised my testosterone significantly when I reduced starches and ate more healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and grass-fed meats.
You can learn more in my latest book, The Pegan Diet at PeganDiet.com.
