Carbohydrate intolerance/insulin resistance is a term used to signify that the body's cells have become resistant to the insulin produced by the pancreas due to too much stress. In a normal person, about 40% of consumed carbohydrates are converted to fat. In a person with CI, that number increases to 50-60%. The excess insulin can cause blood sugar to drop too quickly, and then the adrenal glands must kick in to get the blood sugar back up. Not only will this cause more stress on the adrenal glands, but usually too much glucose is released, further causing the pancreas to produce more insulin. Around and around it goes. Eventually, the body must produce more and insulin to metabolize the same amount of glucose. CI is caused by a number of factors; some of the more common reasons are increased stress hormones, a diet containing hydrogenated fats, a food allergy (milk is the most common as it has been shown to attack the beta cells of the pancreas - this is why children under 1 year old are advised not to consume dairy), too high of a carbohydrate intake, and caffeine. Insulin resistance can cause the following:

• BLOCK MAJOR HORMONES INCLUDING DHEA AND THE CONVERSION OF T4 TO T3 (THYROID HORMONES) AS WELL AS LOWERED GROWTH HORMONE
• ELEVATE BLOOD PRESSURE
• ELEVATE TRIGLYCERIDES AND LDL, THE "BAD" CHOLESTEROL
• CAUSE AN INCREASED TENDENCY TO GAIN FAT IN THE UPPER BODY
• CAUSE PMS AND POLYCYSTIC OVARIES IN WOMEN
• DECREASE ENERGY OUTPUT, ESPECIALLY AFTER EATING
• GIVE A CRAVING FOR SUGAR - A "SWEET TOOTH"
• CAUSE THE HANDS TO GO NUMB AND "FALL ASLEEP" AT NIGHT, OR INDUCE A "PINS & NEEDLES" FEELING DOWN THE HANDS, ESPECIALLY DURING EXERCISE
• CAUSE IRRITABILITY

STEPS TO IMPROVE CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM:

• FOLLOW THE "TWO-WEEK TEST" TO SEE YOUR CARBOHYDRATE TOLERANCE LEVEL
• EAT FOODS LOW ON THE GLYCEMIC INDEX. THE MAJORITY OF CARBOHYDRATES SHOULD BE WHOLE GRAIN, HIGH FIBER FOODS.
• DON'T GO FOR EXTENDED PERIODS WITHOUT EATING.
• EVALUATE NEED FOR NUTRIENTS: CHROMIUM, VANADIUM, ZINC, AND SESAME SEED OIL.
• EXERCISE AEROBICALLY!