Raw honey…honey…honey…. honey. It’s great mixed through pot set Greek yoghurt, added by the tablespoon in fruit smoothies and is always awesome with a glass of milk and gelatin before bed.
I include honey in my diet to not only improve my metabolism, help with fat burning but also to decrease cortisol and help support sleep.
BOOSTING METABOLISM AND FAT BURNING.
Honey is a mix of free fructose and free glucose, and is therefore both beneficial and Pro-Metabolic. It’s easily digested as honey contains mostly short chain carbohydrates.
“Fructose inhibits the stimulation of insulin by glucose, so this means that eating fruit or honey in place of starches such as bread, pasta, potato, oats and will reduce the tendency to store fat.” Ray Peat PHD.
Fructose can enter the cell without the assistance of insulin and can be used as energy. Fructose therefore has very little effect on increasing blood sugar and insulin levels.
Raw honey and natural sugars are amazingly nourishing to the metabolism. If the liver does not have a constant supply of glycogen (which it gets from sugar), it will not convert thyroid hormone T4 to T3. It is the T3 hormone that fuels metabolism. Sugar is essential for thyroid hormone production – a faster metabolism means faster, easier fat loss.
Sugar is the preferred energy source for the body and is essential to increase metabolism. It also plays a vital role in thyroid hormone conversion.
“Fructose limits insulin secretion, but intensifies metabolism, burning Calories faster” Dr Ray Peat PHD.
Starch is the only carbohydrate that contains no fructose; hence, the reason fructose is favourable for thyroid hormone conversion, digestion and fat burning.
IMMUNITY AND DIGESTIVE HEALTH.
Raw honey is high in bioactive compounds such as bee defensin and various polyphenols. Bee defensin exists in two forms…bee defensin-1 and bee defensin-2…is a natural part of the bee’s immune system. This peptide is a known antibacterial agent and consumption of it helps promote digestive and immune system health.
PREVENT SUGAR CRAVINGS.
Working with hundreds of clients over the years, it is evident time and time again that whenever sugar stores are low, we will crave sugar. Cravings disappear as soon as the body is fed and sugar stores are replenished. Avoiding sugar will make cravings stronger.
REDUCING STRESS HORMONES.
Honey or natural sugars have amazing anti-stress properties and help in lowering adrenalin and suppressing cortisol…. the fat storing hormone.
“A daily diet that includes milk and orange juice provides fructose and other sugars for general resistance to stress, but larger amounts of fruit juice, honey and other (appropriate) sugars can protect against increased stress and can reverse some of the established degenerative conditions” Ray Peat PHD
“It is only in the face of excess PUFA estrogen, serotonin, cortisol and adrenaline that sugar is misused by the body” Danny Roddy.
IMPROVE SLEEP.
Raw honey improves sleep by reducing excess adrenaline and cortisol. Insomnia is a symptom of high cortisol. High cortisol results in slower fat burning.
Blood sugar levels fall at night and the body utilises stored glucose in the liver for energy. Without enough glucose, cortisol and adrenaline continue to rise, resulting in slower fat burning, night waking and a reduction in metabolic rate.
Therefore, simple sugars at night actually help with fat burning.
HONEY AND LIVER GLYCOGEN.
Honey is ideal for refueling the liver because it contains a ration of 1:1 glucose to fructose that is optimal for glucose metabolism.
The key point here is that without adequate liver glycogen, stress hormones are released. This can be catabolic as cortisol and adrenalin convert muscle protein to glucose for fuel. This, in turn, can slow fat burning and impact sleep.
MUSCLE GAINS.
What about this thought…sugars such as honey and fruit have been found to be far more effective than protein in preventing protein degradation in the muscle. Sugar spares protein and protects muscles and glands.
NOT ALL SUGARS ARE CREATED EQUIAL!!!!
Honey and other natural sugars such as ripe fruit and juice won’t make you fat but will improve your metabolism to help you to burn fat.
PRO-METABOLIC MEAL PLANS – 12-WEEK BOOST AND SHRED.
The meal plan programs have been designed to increase metabolic rate and balance hormones.
These plans are based on the research of endocrinologists Dr Ray Peat using unique pro-thyroid nutrients. Each week calories are gradually increased to assist with upregulating metabolic rate and improving health which will help increase fat burning – because fat loss favours a healthy body with a fast metabolism.
PERSONALISED CUSTOM NUTRITION
I also offer one-on-one individual consultations where I can prepare a customized plan.
RAW HONEY.
ProComp recommends unrefined RAW honey, not natural or pure as sold in the grocery stores. Raw honey is the only honey not heat-treated. The processing of honey removes many of the phytonutrients. Honey has over 200 nutrients and is the gold standard for liver replenishment.
The research……
“Honey has been used therapeutically for thousands of years, and recently there has been some research documenting a variety of uses, including treatment of ulcers and colitis, and other inflammatory conditions.
“It is our conclusion that consumption of natural honey reduces cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in subjects with elevated risk factors, and it does not increase body weight in overweight or obese subjects.”
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