Sugar is poison
ketsugami sent me this article last week: "Is Sugar Toxic?", by Gary Taubes. It's a long read, but fascinating.
Well, I'm convinced. But then, I can see that a low glycemic index diet is the only way I've ever managed to lose weight - and as I've said before, it's managed to completely eradicate the heartburn that plagued me. It remains to be seen what effect this has on the long-term health conditions I'm attempting to treat with diet, such as PCOS (which I may or may not have) or high cholesterol. I guess we'll find out at my next physical.
This seems a good segue into a post that's been kicking around on my computer for a while, in which I discuss the upshot of my attempt to diagnosis PCOS.
FACT: I do in fact have multiple cysts on my ovaries consistent with unreleased follicles.
FACT: a glucose tolerance test shows normal levels of glucose at all intervals, but elevated insulin levels. My NP told me the level was "93," but I have no idea what unit of measurement that is or what the lab's relative range is, so that's meaningless to me. I do know that normal glucose levels with elevated insulin typically implies insulin resistance, however.
My NP told me that, given all this, I probably have PCOS, but the usual treatment--metformin--doesn't make sense because it mostly addresses elevated glucose levels, which I don't yet have. I'm also not worried about fertility, so she says the big concern right now is just having periods often enough to prevent endometrial hyperplasia--and they can prescribe me drugs to make me bleed if I go too long without having one.
My weight is the other concern. Not by itself, because I'm not convinced carrying excess pounds by itself is the problem. No, it's because it's a sign I've still got all this excess fat hanging off my liver that's causing the insulin resistance problem. I've been less strict about my diet lately, so I think it might be time to go back to phase one. Once Palindrome is over, at least >.<
And, btw, just because I buy Taubes' argument doesn't mean I find avoiding sugar and other tasty carbs easy. Quite the contrary! It's difficult every. freaking. day. It's difficult when I go to the Reese's conference room and everyone around me is having peanut butter cups. It's difficult when someone in my office makes a cake to celebrate Network World's 25th anniversary, and leaves giant slices of it in the kitchen. It's difficult when I go out to breakfast and the restaurant refuses to substitute bacon for the carb explosion that usually accompanies their omelets. It's difficult when I go to Elsinore and some well-meaning soul has made homemade peanut butter cups and left them sitting in front of me for two freaking hours. (I resisted. That was an epic feat of willpower. I feel like the nun-ja should get extra points for that).
But it's easier if I don't get too hungry. After a while animal brain kicks in and I can't control myself. I'm like a peanut butter cup vampire at that point.
... I mentioned peanut butter cups more often in this post than any other time in this journal's history. WELL THEN.
Well, I'm convinced. But then, I can see that a low glycemic index diet is the only way I've ever managed to lose weight - and as I've said before, it's managed to completely eradicate the heartburn that plagued me. It remains to be seen what effect this has on the long-term health conditions I'm attempting to treat with diet, such as PCOS (which I may or may not have) or high cholesterol. I guess we'll find out at my next physical.
This seems a good segue into a post that's been kicking around on my computer for a while, in which I discuss the upshot of my attempt to diagnosis PCOS.
FACT: I do in fact have multiple cysts on my ovaries consistent with unreleased follicles.
FACT: a glucose tolerance test shows normal levels of glucose at all intervals, but elevated insulin levels. My NP told me the level was "93," but I have no idea what unit of measurement that is or what the lab's relative range is, so that's meaningless to me. I do know that normal glucose levels with elevated insulin typically implies insulin resistance, however.
My NP told me that, given all this, I probably have PCOS, but the usual treatment--metformin--doesn't make sense because it mostly addresses elevated glucose levels, which I don't yet have. I'm also not worried about fertility, so she says the big concern right now is just having periods often enough to prevent endometrial hyperplasia--and they can prescribe me drugs to make me bleed if I go too long without having one.
My weight is the other concern. Not by itself, because I'm not convinced carrying excess pounds by itself is the problem. No, it's because it's a sign I've still got all this excess fat hanging off my liver that's causing the insulin resistance problem. I've been less strict about my diet lately, so I think it might be time to go back to phase one. Once Palindrome is over, at least >.<
And, btw, just because I buy Taubes' argument doesn't mean I find avoiding sugar and other tasty carbs easy. Quite the contrary! It's difficult every. freaking. day. It's difficult when I go to the Reese's conference room and everyone around me is having peanut butter cups. It's difficult when someone in my office makes a cake to celebrate Network World's 25th anniversary, and leaves giant slices of it in the kitchen. It's difficult when I go out to breakfast and the restaurant refuses to substitute bacon for the carb explosion that usually accompanies their omelets. It's difficult when I go to Elsinore and some well-meaning soul has made homemade peanut butter cups and left them sitting in front of me for two freaking hours. (I resisted. That was an epic feat of willpower. I feel like the nun-ja should get extra points for that).
But it's easier if I don't get too hungry. After a while animal brain kicks in and I can't control myself. I'm like a peanut butter cup vampire at that point.
... I mentioned peanut butter cups more often in this post than any other time in this journal's history. WELL THEN.