Reversing Diabetes With Diet And Fasting – What You Haven’t Been Told
When people hear the term “diabetes,” they usually think reversing diabetes is impossible, as it is a life-long condition that cannot be cured. While there is no magic pill or secret formula to cure diabetes, it can be reversed with proper diet and lifestyle changes. In addition, fasting is one of the most effective ways to reverse type 2 diabetes.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.1 Short-duration water fasting is even more effective at reversing diabetes.2 Studies have also found that fasting may help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower their risk of developing health complications.3
Fasting is a strict dieting plan where you avoid food for specific periods of time. There are many types of fasting, such as alternate-day fasting, time-restricted eating, and water fasting. Regarding diabetes, fasting can be especially beneficial when practiced regularly. It helps reduce insulin resistance, which is essential for controlling blood sugar levels. Fasting also encourages healthier eating habits by helping you control cravings and stay away from unhealthy processed foods.
Reversing Diabetes By Stopping Inflammation
Reversing diabetes all comes down to stopping chronic, systemic inflammation. Studies have shown that reducing inflammation in the body can help improve insulin sensitivity, which decreases the amount of sugar in your blood and helps restore normal glucose levels.4 5 This means that if you take steps to reduce chronic inflammation in your body, reversing diabetes is possible.
Read more about stopping inflammation, as it is not only responsible for diabetes, but more than 50% of preventable worldwide disease-related deaths.6 Inflammation is the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, lung conditions, such as asthma, mental health issues like depression, neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, and certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.7
Read more about how to stop inflammation.
What Exactly Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is also known as insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s cells are loaded with glucose and can not accept any more glucose, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Are Insulin Injections The Solution To Insulin Resistance?
In response to insulin resistance, most medical doctors prescribe insulin injections. By adding more insulin to the bloodstream, more glucose can be packed into cells, thus normalizing blood sugar levels. However, the problem isn’t solved but rather exemplified, as the cells now contain even more sugar than before. At a certain point, higher quantities of insulin are required to add even more sugar to an already overwhelmed cell. This is why diabetics require more insulin as the condition progresses.
Essentially, diabetes type 2 is the result of a body that is overwhelmed by sugar. The solution to reversing diabetes is to remove that excess sugar.
With fasting, this excess sugar can be burned off, thus reversing diabetes by removing excess sugar from the cells. Without excessive levels of sugar within the cells, insulin can again operate normally. During fasting, the pancreas, the organ insulin is excreted from, regenerates, regaining its function.8
Reversing Diabetes – Diet
Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases like weight loss resistance are mainly due to unhealthy lifestyle choices and exposure to toxins. Diet plays a role in both developing and reversing diabetes. In fact, simply restricting dietary carbohydrates was shown to reduce or even eliminate the need for diabetes medications.9
At the very least, stop consuming processed foods, and avoid sugar, soda, and grains, as they all contain carbohydrates. Additionally, avoid vegetable oil and GMOs.10 Also, avoid synthetic sweeteners like aspartame, as they are linked with health issues.11
Instead, fill up on nutritious foods defined in my Cellular Healing Diet like grass-fed meat, coconut oil, low glycemic fruit, like avocados, olive oil, vegetables, eggs, and raw, grass-fed dairy if desired.12 13
Reversing Diabetes – Turmeric
Turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine, has been credited with fighting diabetes. Its active ingredient, curcumin, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and has been studied for its potential to reduce insulin resistance and improve glucose levels in diabetic patients.14
Studies have found that turmeric can also help stimulate the production of pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin and regulate glucose levels. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce inflammation of the pancreas.15
Reversing Diabetes – Carnivore Diet
The carnivore diet is a dietary approach that has gained traction recently as an effective way to reverse diabetes. It is based on the premise of eating only animal-based foods and eliminating all plant-based foods, with the goal of reducing inflammation and reversing insulin resistance. Since the carnivore diet restricts carbs to nearly zero, it can quickly reverse diabetes.
This diet has been found to be beneficial for individuals living with type 2 diabetes, as it helps to reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.16 17 Furthermore, the carnivore diet has been found to help individuals lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight, which can also be beneficial for reducing diabetes risk.
The diet typically consists of eating only meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products – eliminating grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. In addition to helping improve diabetes symptoms, the carnivore diet has been found to help reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can be beneficial for individuals who are living with diabetes.18
Reversing Diabetes – Fasting – The Simple Solution To Stop Inflammation
The key to quickly reversing diabetes is to just stop eating for a short time. It’s really that simple, yet so difficult for people who aren’t accustomed to fasting. When you are first starting out with fasting, it is often best to begin with baby steps. That way, you can ease your body into the process and avoid any potential negative side effects.
Fasting has been shown to reduce glucose levels, reduce hemoglobin A1c levels, and reduce cholesterol. Fasting also helps reduce inflammation, which is a key factor in many diabetes-related complications.19 20 21
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting has been shown to be effective in treating diabetes.1 In one study, 55% of people experienced complete diabetes remission after intermittent fasting for only 3 months.22
If you have never fasted before, start with shorter fasts of 12-16 hours, something called intermittent fasting. This will give your body time to adjust to periods without food and ensure that you don’t experience any negative side effects.
Eat healthy meals during the eating window when you are allowed to eat. This will help to ensure that you get all of the nutrients you need while still adhering to the fasting process.
Drink plenty of water. It is important to stay hydrated while fasting, so make sure that you are drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. Ideally, consume spring water from a reputable source or reverse osmosis-filtered water.
Listen to your body. If you are feeling weak or dizzy during the fasting window, take a break and eat something. It is important that you listen to your body’s cues and adjust accordingly.
Feast And Famine Cycle – Alternate-Day Fasting
A feast and famine cycle is a style of dieting that switches between periods of eating in a caloric surplus (feast) and periods of eating in a caloric deficit (famine). By alternating between feast and famine, this type of diet allows one to take advantage of the body’s natural ability to respond to changing nutritional demands.
During the feast phase, high-quality sources of protein and fat are consumed in order to reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity. After a period of feasting, it is then time for a famine period where calorie intake is decreased and the focus is on using body fat for energy.
Alternate-Day Fasting (ADF)
Alternate-Day Fasting (ADF) is an intermittent fasting approach where one only eats on alternating days. On fasting days, no solid food or calorie-containing beverages are consumed except for water and other non-caloric beverages. On non-fasting days, individuals can eat whatever they want, but ideally, choose a diet like my Cellular Healing Diet for optimal results.
ADF in combination with exercise has been found to decrease body weight, improve metabolic health markers, and reduce inflammation. It can also help to improve mental clarity and focus.23 24 Aside from the obvious health benefits, ADF is an easy approach to incorporate into a daily routine since it only requires fasting every other day.
The Key To Reversing Diabetes – 5-Day Water Fasting
Reversing diabetes is possible with 5-day water fasting cycles. Fasting helps reset the metabolism, which is essential for managing diabetes. It reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and boosts immunity. This makes it easier for the body to regulate glucose and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.2 Additionally, water fasting can reduce cravings for unhealthy foods, helping to reduce caloric intake and maintain a healthy body weight.
Water Fasting – Autophagy, Stem Cells, And Human Growth Hormone
Water fasting is an effective way to induce autophagy, a process in which the body’s cells break down and recycle old proteins and cell components. Autophagy can help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.25 Additionally, research suggests that fasting activates stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells capable of developing into various types of tissue in the body. This can reverse many undesirable conditions as well as improve overall health.26
Fasting has also been associated with increased levels of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is responsible for tissue repair, muscle growth, and other metabolic processes. It may also help reduce fat accumulation, improve energy levels, and enhance cognitive functioning.27
Ultimately, water fasting is a powerful tool for improving health in many ways.
Reversing Diabetes By Fasting
Fasting is an effective way to reduce blood sugar levels and ultimately, aids in reversing diabetes. Fasting can help you lose weight, which also helps your body better control its blood sugar levels. During a fast, the body draws on its stored energy, specifically, it uses body fat for energy. This process can help your body become more sensitive to insulin, ultimately allowing your body to reverse diabetes and put an end to insulin resistance.
Read more about the benefits of fasting.
References
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2 Li, C., Sadraie, B., Steckhan, N., Kessler, C., Stange, R., Jeitler, M., & Michalsen, A. (2017). Effects of A One-week Fasting Therapy in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome – A Randomized Controlled Explorative Study. Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association, 125(9), 618–624. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-101700
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