How Ancestral Eating Can Help Maintain Healthy Insulin Levels

There’s a reason our prehistoric (or preindustrial, depending on who you ask) ancestors were so big and strong. Aside from having consistent exercise without having a gym membership like modern-day Vacaville residents, they had a diet that didn’t involve processed foods. They lived off of land, enjoying meat, fish, eggs, veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds – all in their original, unrefined form. 

Unlike the ancestral way of life, modern eating habits increasingly consist of highly processed food that leads to a variety of health issues, with insulin resistance being one of the most widespread. For this reason, more people are reverting to traditional diets in order to control insulin levels and bring their health back in balance. But, how does ancestral diet help with insulin control? Keep reading, because we’re about to break it down!

Why is it important to control insulin?

High insulin levels lead to a variety of health problems, on top of being the main culprit of Type 2 Diabetes. It’s the driving force behind weight gain, inflammation, and even heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and hormonal imbalances. As Dr Mindy Pelz notes, the first sign of insulin resistance and metabolic inflexibility is the inability to go without food for more than 12 hours. 

As Dr. Benjamin Bikman explains, “only 12% of Americans are metabolically fit, meaning that 88% are showing at least one sign of metabolic dysfunction. Considering the dangers that high insulin levels bring, the statistics are rather alarming. 

How to keep insulin levels in check?

With some natural methods to balance insulin levels, such as ancestral dieting and lifestyle adjustments, you can significantly reduce the risk of chronic illness, improve energy, and balance metabolic health. Some of the key methods to keep insulin levels in check naturally are:

Consider a healthy eating routine

Insulin sensitivity improves when the body has a chance to rest from constant food intake. Consider skipping breakfast or dinner so that you may burn fat naturally and keep insulin levels low throughout the day. Keep a consistent eating schedule with 2-3 nutrient-rich meals rather than constant snacking.

Go for real food over processed products

Choose whole foods over processed products whenever possible. Heavily processed products contain added sugar, unhealthy fats, sodium, and artificial ingredients that can disrupt metabolic balance. Instead of relying on processed foods:

• Go for natural animal protein sources, such as grass-fed beef, eggs, wild-caught fish, and organ meats. 
• Adopt cooking with ghee, butter, or tallow instead of industrial seed oils. 
• Opt for nutrient-dense, non-toxic plants such as squash, olives, avocados, and berries.
• Soak, cook, or ferment plants high in oxalates or lectins, such as beans and certain grains. 

Animal proteins provide complete amino acids that support muscle growth, natural fats keep insulin levels stable, and traditional meal prep will reduce anti-nutrients and improve digestion.

Go easy on the carbs

High-carb meals often result in your body experiencing fatigue, especially if you have high insulin levels. When you consume a meal rich in carbohydrates, your blood sugar spikes rapidly. To combat that, your body releases insulin to transform that sugar into energy. However, this surge is often followed by a sudden drop in blood glucose, leaving you tired and sluggish.

Ancestral lifestyle

Diet is just one part of the solution. The other half consists of living the way our ancestors did. While there are plenty of dietary regimes to choose from, few are as effective as a return to the traditional way of life that sustained us for most of our history. On top of mindful eating habits, consider daily physical activity, restful and high-quality sleep, and exposure to natural daylight.

Try mindful fasting

Without restaurants and grocery stores, people naturally went through periods of fasting because sourcing and preparing food was an endeavor that took time. Even when food was plentiful, various cultures across the globe still practiced fasting throughout the year. Adopting this way of life is simply reintroducing a tried and true method that kept human bodies balanced and strong throughout the ages. Some of the main benefits of fasting include:

• Insulin & blood sugar stabilization: Reduces constant insulin spikes and encourages efficient fat burning.
• Cellular renewal (Autophagy): Supports longevity and reduces the risk of chronic illness by promoting the removal of damaged cells and proteins.
• Improved cognitive performance: Improves focus, sharpens mental clarity, and raises alertness by increasing ketone production.
• Hormonal balance & healthy weight: Reduces fat, improves hormonal balance, and promotes sustainable weight management.

Looking to boost your ancestral diet with a gym membership in Vacaville?

That’s a combination you could definitely benefit from – and Maximum Fitness is here to help you make the most of it. Our gym has proudly been serving residents of Vacaville and the area for nearly 25 years, helping them become the best version of themselves. 

No matter if you’re anywhere close to Peña Adobe Park or further away, our team is ready to welcome you and assist you on the journey to better well-being. Plus, our methods consist of proven systems that will help you increase your strength, stamina, endurance, and flexibility. Get in touch with us today, and let us help you lead a better life!