Click to listen to the audio…
Improve your sugar levels using plant hormones
Insulin is not the only way to get glucose gates up in fat cells, turns out, a common plant hormone, abscisic acid, can do the job too, exploit this….
Your body can’t quite get it together to handle sugar…..
It’s not a case of there is no insulin, there is plenty, but because of insulin resistance, cells are not as responsive as they should be.
Eish !
Insulin is not the lone ranger
Most of the time, the focus is on INSULIN – because insulin’s biology is malfunctioning. And he is a bit of a bully.
But, insulin doesn’t work alone.
It turns out, he gets help from abscisic acid.
Abscisic acid helps insulin
Here is the deal……….
When sugar levels begin to rise, this creates excitement in the beta cells of the pancreas, motivating them to crank out insulin.
AND abscisic acid.
So as insulin zoots around the body, putting away the groceries, abscisic acid accompanies him.
Sort of.
They’re not joined at the hip or anything. Both are doing the rounds.
Moving sugar gates
Insulin is looking for insulin “doors” (receptors) to knock on and spark a little action. The action he wants, is for glucose gates to be installed, so he can make the necessary sugar deliveries. The enzyme who actually does the work, is a little guy known as Akt.
Insulin is a boss, not a worker.
Abscisic acid is not really a boss, he is a panicker.
The abscisic panic attack
Abscisic acid is a very ancient chemical, he’s been around for more than 600 million years, screaming to all who would listen, that there is impending danger.
He does it in plants, in sponges and ….. in humans.
His role in humans is NOT big.
In plants, he is a player…………
Close the stomata
In fact, he is one of the chief hormones in plants. When a plant gets stressed, by adverse environmental conditions, such as heat, he jumps up and down to make sure to ………..
CLOSE THE STOMATA
These are the little holes, that control how much “water” escapes from the leaves. By closing the holes, the plant manages to maintain it’s tugor i.e. it doesn’t fall over in the heat.
Now humans don’t have stomata, so this is not what abscisic acid is doing in humans.
Looking for LANCL2
In response to high levels of glucose, which is interpreted as an environmental crisis. Abscisic acid is running around looking for an entity with a frightful name, the lanthionine synthetase-C like protein, abbreviated LANCL.
Lots of cells have this protein – including FAT CELLS.
When abscisic acid starts jiggling on LANCL, it attracts the attention of Akt.
Akt cuts the cord
Remember this is the guy that actually, cuts the cord and sends the glucose gates, to the cell surface. Once they’re there, the cell can accept the glucose delivery.
Akt responds to abscisic acid’s panicked screams.
This is most helpful………particularly when fat cells are not listening to insulin.
Abscisic acid saves the day
Of course there is a catch…………
Unfortunately, the beta cells in the pancreas are the official source of abscisic acid, when sugar levels rise.
Mmmmm. Bet you can see where this is going.
When you’ve got sugar troubles, beta cells are not working optimally.
This is the problem.
They aren’t able to produce enough insulin to deal with the sugar delivery. And, they’re also not producing enough abscisic acid…………. TO SAVE THE DAY !
Eish !
So why did I tell you all this ?
Use dietary abscisic acid
Well, the plan is to use you own abscisic acid, along with insulin, to help get glucose gates up and glucose moving into fat cells.
But, you don’t HAVE to use your own abscisic acid.
You can use, SOMEONE else’s.
It’s a plant hormone
Which means, every plant has some.
Granted some have more than others, but if you are munching on something herbivores, you’re getting a dose of abscisic acid.
Not much……
But enough to make a difference.
Improved glycemic prolife
There is a growing body of scientific evidence showing low dose abscisic acid improves insulin sensitivity, without increasing insulin levels.
This is precisely what you are looking for if you are insulin resistant……
So, if you’re battling to keep your sugar levels in check, because your beta cells are on the blink.
Steal some abscisic from an avocado, orange or fig !
Try to include plant based foods in every meal, plants are more than just anti-oxidants and fiber.
Further reading
Turn your sugar gremlin green, so it loses its appetite for sugar
Eating green leafy vegetables causes sugar gremlins to turn a little GREEN. And when your sugar gremlin turns green, it is not in the mood for MORE SUGAR.
Thinking like a cabbage is good for you
Watch how you store your veggies – a dark cold fridge will not make your cabbage think it is under attack, something you want your
Clean up your water glass with a sprig of cilantro
Adding a sprig of cilantro to the jug of water on the table, will ensure you clean up the heavy metals, at your next social event.