Health

November is Diabetes Awareness Month – Three Simple Lifestyle Changes to Reverse Insulin Resistance

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2021

Michelle Langton

Photo Credits: Istock

by Cellular Health Specialist, Dr. Bill Cole

If you or a loved one has type-2 diabetes, chances are pretty good you’ve heard the term “insulin resistance” bandied about from time-to-time. But this Diabetes Awareness Month, according to Dr. Bill Cole, founder of the Cellular Health Accelerator Program, it’s time to get educated on these phrases and how they tie into your cellular health – and how this knowledge can empower you to take control of your health and your body’s needs.

Insulin resistance – one of the hallmarks of type-2 diabetes – occurs when cells in your muscles, body fat, and liver start resisting or ignoring the signal that the insulin hormone is attempting to put out. As a result, your muscles and organs stop grabbing glucose, the body’s main source of fuel, out of the bloodstream and feeding into the cells.

Sounds grim, right? It doesn’t have to be. There are ways to retrain your cells to respond to insulin as they should – but it all begins with what you eat and how you live. Here are some simple lifestyle and diet changes you can implement to begin countering – and even reversing – the negative impacts insulin resistance can have on your body.

Negative Impacts of Insulin Resistance

While diets primarily consisting of carb-heavy, processed food are largely to blame for insulin resistance, toxins also play a big role. Researchers estimate that 30 percent of type-2 diabetics are suffering from the disease because of exposure to toxic chemicals: BPAs, insecticides, and pesticides chief among them. These toxins settle into our bodies and inflame our cells, leaving them too damaged to function the way they were designed to.

When cells stop responding to insulin as they should, bodies lose the ability to effectively use glucose. That glucose buildup in the blood leads to issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol – which are often referred to as “metabolic syndrome.” This resistance isn’t unique to insulin as well; thyroid hormones can often cause similar symptoms for similar reasons.

The good news is that this resistance is treatable, often with diet and lifestyle changes. Reducing inflammation is key to restoring cell membrane health, and by doing this sooner rather than later, you can elevate your quality of life and ensure that these habits will help you manage your condition for years to come.

Cut Back

It’s a refrain you’ve probably heard countless times, but cutting back on sugars and refined carbs will go a long way in encouraging and maintaining cellular health. Processed food does a lot of harm to your body’s cellular function, and you’d be surprised at what switching to a nutrient-dense, whole food diet can do.

Additionally, be mindful of when you’re eating, in addition to what. Intermittent fasting – and fasting in general – has been found to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Try restricting your eating to an eight-hour window as early in the day as you can, and try to avoid nighttime eating and snacking. As always, be sure to consult with healthcare professionals before making any diet changes.

Reduce Your Toxic Load

Remember all those toxins I discussed a while ago? They’re more prevalent in your everyday life than you might think. From beauty and cleaning products to water bottles and cookware, these toxins can leak into your food, drink, and skin faster and more often than you realize.

Invest in BPA-free cookware and food storage, and be sure not to store any hot foods in plastic containers. Same goes for microwaving; plastic can seep into your food if the food or the plastic gets hot, so if you want to microwave something, transfer it into a glass or microwave-safe ceramic bowl or plate before you do.

Water bottles are another common source of BPAs and other toxins. If you use a reusable water bottle, chances are pretty good you’re not cleaning it as often as you should. Mold can grow quickly on damp, dark surfaces, so be sure you’re handwashing your bottles frequently.

Also keep in mind that, while plastic and silicone water bottles are the most popular, they’re not the best for your health; stainless steel water bottles, while darker than their plastic counterparts, are a much better option when it comes to toxins. Plus, if you enjoy cold water, those stainless steel water bottles are better insulated than plastic. Just make sure you wash them frequently!

Stay Active, Always

Again, you’ve probably heard this many times before, but it bears repeating: Whether you’re focused on building muscle, toning up, or reducing fat, staying active every day is an important part of ensuring cellular health and rejuvenation. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day every day – or as much as your energy levels will allow – will go a long way in improving not just your cellular health, but your overall health from top to bottom.

Reversing insulin resistance can be as simple as making small, sustainable lifestyle changes that will drastically improve your physical health and overall wellbeing. This Diabetes Awareness Month, pay close attention to the areas of your life where you can invest in your cellular health. Your insulin levels, body, mind, and spirit will thank you!

About Dr. Bill Cole

Dr. Bill Cole, the founder of the largest functional medicine group of its kind, has created the Cellular Health Accelerator Program that helps people to be well, feel well, and age well. He has already helped to transform the lives of thousands and has spoken on stages across the nation. For more information, visit http://drbillcole.com

Health

How to Increase Male Libido: Try These 7 Men’s Sexual Health Supplements

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2023

Michelle Langton

Gentlemen, listen up! If your sex life is feeling dull, your libido is low, or your performance is lacking, your sexual health might need a tune up. But don’t worry — there are a variety of common factors that may be responsible for low drive: stress, aging, alcohol use, sleep troubles, and low testosterone are all common causes.

Fortunately, there are plenty of natural libido boosters for men to get you back in the bedroom and performing better than ever! We’ll recommend the best supplements for men’s libido, and you can find even more at a local or online health supplement store!

Best Men’s Sexual Health Supplements

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most important factor to increase libido and sexual desire. When healthy choices aren’t enough, adding natural supplements to the mix can be the perfect way to refine and renew your sexual health. Unfortunately, we might not know what is causing our low libido. If that’s the case for you, here are two of the best men’s sexual health supplements that are sure to enhance libido, desire, and satisfaction in a completely natural and powerful way!

Terry Naturally Red Ginseng Male Enhancement: This natural libido booster enlists the help of red ginseng for erectile dysfunction (ED), enhanced sex drive, and better performance.

Lively Vitamin Co. Rock and Roll: The name says it all! This is among the best supplements for men’s libido because it blends together herbs and nutrients that focus on boosting stamina, strengthening erections, and intensifying sensations.

Stress and Libido

It’s no secret that stress can be the root cause of health issues. And that definitely doesn’t exclude sex drive! From daily work troubles to looming worries, stress might be behind your bedroom woes. Let’s take a look at some FAQs regarding stress and libido:

How does stress affect a man sexually?

Stress levels are on the rise, leaving many of us feeling overwhelmed.^[¹^] Unfortunately, this rise in stress can account for sexual health troubles. While short bouts of stress don’t typically leave a lasting impact on sexual function, prolonged periods of stress and anxiety can be to blame for low libido. In fact, chronic stress is the constant production of the stress hormone, which disrupts natural hormone levels that play an important role in reproductive health. Additionally, increased fatigue, distracted thoughts, and poor sleep often exacerbate stress’s destructive affect on sex drive.

Can stress cause erectile dysfunction?

Short answer, yes! Your mind can get in the way of arousal due to distracted thoughts, anxiety, and more. Additionally, stress increases blood pressure which can lead to narrowed blood vessels and poor blood flow throughout the body, making it difficult to obtain and maintain an erection.

How can I reduce my stress and increase my libido?

Thankfully, there are natural stress relief options that help bring your stress down so your sex drive can return to its normal level. In addition to leading a healthy lifestyle, there are supplements that can enhance your stress response and libido in a completely natural way. Let’s take a look!

Curcumin for Stress Relief

Curcumin works hard in the body! This bright orange flavonoid is the active ingredient in turmeric. It’s best known to reduce unhealthy inflammation levels, but this mighty nutrient does even more. In fact, you can add curcumin for stress relief to its long list of benefits! Curcumin has been shown to relieve anxiety and reduce the effects of chronic stress on the body.^[²^] Because stress often disrupts sex drive, curcumin can bring a calming sense of balance to restore a healthy libido!

We recommend Terry Naturally CuraMed® 750mg for extra strength protection against the damaging effects of stress and anxiety.

CBD for Libido and Stress

Make some room in the cabinet, CBD is an all-in-one powerhouse to renew sex drive, relieve stress, and enhance pleasure! CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) which plays an important role in a variety of processes like sleep, immunity, digestion, reproductive health, and more! Because it impacts hormonal health, CBD provides double the support for a better sex drive and reduced stress. Plus, CBD oil for ED is an effective method to maintain healthy reproductive function.

Try Hemplucid CBD Oil 1000mg for a potent CBD oil that helps relieve stress, boost libido, and avoid ED.

Natural Libido Boosters for Men

Low libido and diminished reproductive function can be the results of various factors. In addition to stress, physiologic factors play a major role in everyday reproductive health. For men, the key players include testosterone production, cardiovascular and circulatory function, and prostate health. Here’s how we can enhance sexual health by supporting the general wellness of our bodies!

How to Boost Testosterone

Low T? We’re here to help. If you’re experiencing a slump in your sex drive, there’s a good chance that low testosterone is at the heart of it. Known as the male sex hormone, testosterone is vital to a healthy sex life. When we’re able to maintain healthy levels of testosterone, our bodies can see an increase in mood, arousal, and even sexual satisfaction.

Want to know how to increase libido with a natural testosterone booster? Look to zinc! Zinc benefits for men center around this important mineral’s impact on testosterone levels.^[³^] Supplementing with zinc can be exactly what you need to raise your testosterone and your sexual desire at the same time. We recommend Pure Encapsulations Zinc 30 mg for a powerful and simple way to increase libido.

How to Increase Blood Flow to Penis

Like testosterone, we need healthy circulation in order to have a healthy libido. Why? Without healthy blood flow, it’s more difficult to obtain and maintain an erection. A key reason behind erectile dysfunction is poor circulatory health. But here’s the good news — the little blue pill isn’t always the best answer for a stronger erection. In fact, there are plenty of natural methods to improve blood flow for better reproductive health and overall wellbeing.

Some of the best circulatory and libido vitamins are B vitamins! A study in 2014 discovered that a deficiency in folate (vitamin B9) was associated with erectile dysfunction. This B vitamin is important for forming new blood cells and even assists sperm production. Additionally, niacin (vitamin B3) has been found to support erectile function.^[⁴^] That’s why we recommend a B complex supplement to improve blood flow and act as a natural libido booster for men.

Men’s Prostate Health

Prostate health is another essential piece of men’s sexual function! The prostate is responsible for creating the fluid that transports sperm and makes up semen, then causes ejaculation. With age, prostate health problems are more likely to occur and play a role in low libido and erectile dysfunction. Among these problems includes an enlarged prostate which commonly impacts urinary health. Additionally, the unpleasant symptoms of an enlarged prostate can result in low libido, difficulty maintaining an erection, and reduced satisfaction.^[⁵^]

The most effective way to avoid these symptoms and enhance your sex life is by targeting your prostate with the best supplements for prostate health. Check out Pure Encapsulations Quercetin. This natural antioxidant powerfully targets the inflammation associated with an enlarged prostate.

Maintaining Men’s Sexual Health

Sexual health is key to a healthy and happy life. In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, including a natural libido booster in your daily routine can bring the added support you’ve been missing for a better sex life. Be sure to browse your local good health store for even more natural libido boosters for men.