08/25/2026
The science is becoming increasingly clear that metabolic health and brain health are closely connected. Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in the brain, and this continues to be a major area of research.
Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, making it harder for glucose to move from the bloodstream into cells. Over time, insulin resistance can contribute to chronically elevated blood sugar and place additional stress on the pancreas.
Muscles to the rescue!
Skeletal muscle can burn up a lot more glucose than other tissues such as body fat. Physical activity, especially resistance training, can improve insulin sensitivity and help muscles take up glucose from the bloodstream.
So, here are 4 things you can start TODAY to support better metabolic health:
1. Build muscle! Muscle is a major site of glucose uptake, and resistance training can improve insulin sensitivity. Aim for muscle-strengthening activity 3 days per week.
2. Get serious about nutrition. A whole-food diet provides a lot of the vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and other nutrients your body needs for metabolic health. Common deficiencies in certain nutrients can exacerbate insulin resistance. Most people still need to supplement with vitamins!
3. Consider the quality and quantity of your carbohydrates. Focus on minimally processed carb sources such as vegetables, fruits, and legumes while limiting added sugars and highly refined carbohydrates. Less is definitely more here!
4. Prioritize good sleep! Poor sleep or lack of sleep can negatively affect insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. Most adults should aim for at least 8.5 hours of time in bed per night, although it varies by person. Often, we need more than we think!
This is just one piece to a big puzzle that is better solved with a private consultation.
