Metabolic flexibility is an important factor in maintaining overall health, as it helps regulate blood sugar levels while providing sustained energy throughout the day. Recently, this concept has been popularized by Dr. Steven Gundry in his groundbreaking book The Plant Paradox. In the book, he argues that our modern diets high in sugar and processed foods can lead to metabolic inflexibility, which can have far-reaching implications for our health. So how does metabolic flexibility relate to Dr. Gundry’s Plant Paradox?
At the core of The Plant Paradox is the idea that many of the staple plants we consider healthy—such as beans, legumes, grains and nightshades—are actually detrimental to our health due to their lectins content. Lectins are proteins found in plants that can cause inflammation in the body when consumed in large amounts over time. This inflammation can impair metabolic flexibility by influencing hormones like insulin, slowing down metabolism and preventing your body from efficiently burning fat or using stored glucose for energy.
In order to improve metabolic flexibility, Dr. Gundry recommends focusing on a diet low in lectins called the “lectin avoidance diet” which consists of whole foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds as well as healthy fats like olive oil or avocados and certain grass-fed or wild-caught animal proteins such as wild salmon or free-range chicken. Additionally he suggests avoiding sugars and processed foods; limiting intake of legumes, grains and nightshades; supplementing with probiotics if needed; exercising regularly; managing stress levels; and getting enough sleep each night.
The bottom line is that metabolic flexibility is an integral component of good health and should not be overlooked when trying to achieve optimal wellbeing. Following Dr. Gundry’s approach to eating may help improve your metabolic flexibility by reducing inflammation in the body which could have positive impacts on your overall health!
- https://gundrymd.com/what-is-the-plant-paradox/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5240211/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/metabolic-flexibility
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