LEVELS – Metabolic Insights

Improving insulin through diet: calories vs. carbs

March 28, 2021 04:37 - 10 minutes - 9.99 MB

In part three of Ben Bikman’s series, he looks at the effects of energy and hormones on insulin resistance and offers tips for building an insulin-friendly diet. Author: ⁠Ben Bikman, PhD⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/improving-insulin-through-diet-calories-vs-carbs Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

What are processed foods and why are they so bad for metabolic health?

March 28, 2021 04:31 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MB

Here’s what “processed” actually means, how these foods impact your metabolic health, and how to avoid the worst of them in the grocery aisles. Author: Kaitlin Sullivan Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/what-are-processed-foods-and-why-are-they-so-bad-for-metabolic-health Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Understanding weight loss: why tracking glucose with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be more insightful than tracking calories

March 28, 2021 04:29 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MB

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) looks deeper than simplistic calorie models and provides a window into the underlying physiology of weight gain and loss. Authors: ⁠Casey Means⁠, Josh Clemente⁠ and Arlo Crawford⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/glucose-weight-loss Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Esther Dyson thinks the future of health is self-awareness … and a society that makes good choices easy

March 28, 2021 04:26 - 7 minutes - 6.68 MB

Here's why the activist philanthropist believes more personalized data and better systems will help us all live healthier lives. Author: Jessica Migala⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/esther-dyson-thinks-the-future-of-health-is-self-awareness-and-a-society-that-makes-good-choices-easy Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

What causes insulin resistance?

March 28, 2021 04:25 - 10 minutes - 9.58 MB

Insulin resistance is a shockingly common condition spurred on by diet and lifestyle. Here are the processes in your body that lead to this dangerous state. Author: ⁠Ben Bikman, PhD⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/what-causes-insulin-resistance-glucose-levels Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Optimize your exercise performance by tracking glucose

March 28, 2021 04:23 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

Exercise, glucose, and metabolic flexibility: how monitoring glucose levels with CGM can help you improve fueling, endurance, performance, and recovery. Authors: ⁠Casey Means⁠, Josh Clemente and Arlo Crawford Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/glucose-and-exercise Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Is there such a thing as healthy candy?

March 28, 2021 04:21 - 6 minutes - 6.48 MB

A new crop of naturally sweetened and low-carb candies and chocolates may be better for your blood sugar, but that doesn't make them a health food. Author: Jessica Migala⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/healthy-candy-low-blood-sugar Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How do blood sugar levels affect body temperature?

March 28, 2021 04:19 - 3 minutes - 3.37 MB

Dr. Ben Bikman describes how glucose levels impact our body temperature, and how glucose spikes can lead to elevated temperature, which can impact sleep. Author: ⁠Ben Bikman, PhD⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/glucose-levels-body-temperature Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Why I want everyone, with or without diabetes, to have CGM access

March 28, 2021 04:17 - 7 minutes - 7.04 MB

Elias Eid is a med student who lives with Type 1 diabetes. He shares what CGM has meant for him and why he believes wider CGM use benefits everyone. Author: Elias Eid Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/why-i-want-everyone-with-or-without-diabetes-to-have-cgm-access Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How your gut microbiome affects your metabolic health

March 28, 2021 04:15 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

The organisms that make up your microbiome impact how your body processes food and your overall health. Here's how you can keep your microbiome healthy. Authors: Jeewon Garcia-So, Dr. Orville Kolterman, Fanny Perraudeau, Ph.D. Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-your-gut-microbiome-affects-your-metabolic-health Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and T...

What is resistant starch and how does it impact glucose?

March 28, 2021 04:13 - 10 minutes - 9.97 MB

This special kind of starch that “resists” digestion has several health benefits and can be part of a blood-sugar-friendly diet. Author: Ashley Welch Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/what-is-resistant-starch-and-how-does-it-impact-glucose Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Five metabolic-health myths—busted

March 28, 2021 04:08 - 7 minutes - 7.3 MB

We dispel some of the most common misconceptions about metabolism and blood sugar to help you make healthier diet and lifestyle decisions. Author: Rachel Nuwer Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/five-metabolic-health-myths-busted Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

The benefits of fasting for metabolic health

March 28, 2021 04:06 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MB

Here’s how shrinking the number of hours you spend eating can help stabilize glucose levels and improve your overall health. Author: Jessica Migala⁠ and Dominic D'Agostino, PhD Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-benefits-of-fasting-for-metabolic-health Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

What is insulin resistance?

March 28, 2021 04:05 - 4 minutes - 4.58 MB

Dr. Ben Bikman, author of Why We Get Sick, explains why we should care about insulin resistance, and how this condition can affect every cell in the body. Author: Ben Bikman, PhD Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-insulin-resistance-cgm Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How wearing a CGM changed Este Haim’s life

March 28, 2021 04:03 - 8 minutes - 8.02 MB

Being a rock star with Type 1 diabetes has never been easy, but seeing her glucose levels in real-time helped Este learn sometimes you just have to stop the show and have a candy bar. Author: Mike Haney Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-wearing-a-cgm-changed-este-haims-life Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How do artificial sweeteners affect my glucose levels?

March 28, 2021 04:01 - 6 minutes - 5.96 MB

Will artificial sweeteners spike your glucose levels or are they a metabolic health freebie? We break down the research and give you some sweetener advice. Author: Mike Haney Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/artificial-sweeteners-glucose-levels-metabolic-health-cgm INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Studies show high blood sugar increases COVID risk

March 28, 2021 03:59 - 10 minutes - 9.35 MB

Four recent papers present convincing evidence that elevated glucose—even without a diabetes diagnosis—can be dangerous for COVID patients. Author: The Levels Team⁠ Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/glucose-levels-covid-research INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How does sleep affect blood sugar?

March 28, 2021 03:58 - 8 minutes - 8.22 MB

Sleep quality and quantity have a profound effect on metabolic health. This article describes the mechanisms by which improving sleep hygiene can improve glucose control. Author: Alex Moskov Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-sleep-impacts-metabolic-health-glucose-levels-cgm INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How does stress affect my glucose levels?

March 28, 2021 03:56 - 4 minutes - 4.56 MB

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Several studies have linked a significant correlation between perceived work-related stress and increased levels of circulating glucose. Stress can push us to overeat, which raises our glucose levels, which leads to us to suffer from notable fatigue and low energy levels. Insulin resistance in the brain can lead to impairment of the negative feedback on the stress hormone pathways of the brain, which can lead to an abnormal stress response in the brain. Author: The Lev...

The Levels Theory of Behavior Change

March 28, 2021 03:49 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

The key to improving health is better behavior. Here we describe how continuous glucose monitoring and closed-loop systems inspire real behavior change. Authors: Casey Means, MD and Sam Corcos Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-levels-theory-of-behavior-change INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

The Secret Levels Master Plan (just between you and me)

March 28, 2021 03:46 - 6 minutes - 6.11 MB

Sam Corcos, CEO of Levels, shares his secret master plan for building the most affordable product to reverse metabolic dysfunction. Don't tell anyone. Author: Sam Corcos Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-secret-levels-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me-cgm-glucose INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

How a CGM can help you find your optimal diet and lower blood sugar

March 28, 2021 03:43 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

There’s no "ideal" diet for everyone, but a continuous glucose monitor gives you real-time feedback on the foods that work best for your metabolic health. Author: Josh Clemente Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/optimal-diet ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Viewing diet through the lens of glucose levels can be a powerful way to personalize food choices and optimize metabolic health. Post-meal spikes in glucose can be uniquely damaging to health and minimizing them should be a dietary pr...

How NHL player Jack Johnson stopped stressing about his diet

March 28, 2021 03:35 - 6 minutes - 6.44 MB

By tracking his glucose levels, the New York Ranger got leaner and found more energy, all while learning how to eat more of his favorite foods. Authors: Mike Haney and Josh Clemente Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/nhl-jack-johnson-levels-diet-cgm INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Tasty ideas for a low-carb breakfast

March 28, 2021 03:32 - 7 minutes - 7.29 MB

Don’t start your day with a blood-sugar spike and energy-draining crash. Try these delicious—and glucose-friendly—breakfast options instead. Author: Juno DeMelo Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/tasty-ideas-for-a-low-carb-breakfast INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

What should your glucose levels be? Here’s the ultimate guide to healthy blood sugar ranges

March 28, 2021 03:27 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

It's difficult to find information about what glucose levels to strive for. We scoured the research literature to determine "what's normal" for a nondiabetic individual wearing a continuous glucose monitor, and give further insights into what glucose levels might be optimal for good health. Authors: Casey Means, MD and Chimene Richa, MD Link to article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/what-should-my-glucose-levels-be-ultimate-guide INFO ABOUT LEVELS Become a Levels Member –https://leve...

Does cinnamon lower blood sugar?

March 25, 2021 03:39 - 8 minutes - 7.76 MB

Why would adding cinnamon to your meal affect your glucose levels? Here’s what the research shows and some tips for working cinnamon into your diet. Author: Ajai Rai Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/does-cinnamon-lower-blood-sugar Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

Are there natural sweeteners that won’t raise my blood sugar?

March 25, 2021 03:30 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MB

Natural sweetener alternatives like stevia, yacón syrup, monk fruit, and allulose are common in sugar-free foods, but are they healthy? Here's what we know. Author: Jessica Migala Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/natural-sweeteners-healthy-blood-sugar Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

12 glucose-lowering strategies to improve metabolic fitness

March 25, 2021 03:05 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MB

A review of 12 strategies that have been shown in research to improve glucose levels in the body. This article offers ideas to consider as you explore your personal data using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Author: ⁠Casey Means⁠ Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/12-glucose-lowering-strategies-to-improve-metabolic-fitness Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Insta...

11 Common questions about food choices, blood sugar and Levels

March 25, 2021 03:01 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MB

Quick answers to queries like why we measure glucose, how to avoid blood-sugar spikes, and when you can get Levels for yourself Author: The Levels Team Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/faq-food-choices-blood-sugar-levels Become a Levels Member – https://levels.link/insights Learn about Metabolic Health – levelshealth.com/blog Follow Levels on Social – @Levels on Instagram and Twitter

The ultimate guide to metabolic fitness

March 25, 2021 02:08 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MB

Metabolic dysfunction underlies most chronic diseases. Metabolic fitness can be improved by consistently making choices that keep glucose levels in a stable and healthy range, and minimize large glucose swings. Author: Casey Means Link to Blog: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-metabolic-fitness ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Metabolism is the set of cellular mechanisms that produce energy from our food and environment to power every process in the human body. Metabolic fitnes...