What Is Insulin Doing?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels. It plays a crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. When insulin is released into the bloodstream, it facilitates the uptake of glucose (sugar) from the blood into various cells of the body, where it can be used as a source of energy or stored for later use.
If there is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream beyond immediate energy needs, insulin promotes its conversion into fat for storage. This process occurs primarily in adipose (fat) tissue through a series of physiological steps:
- Glucose Uptake: Insulin binds to receptors on the surface of fat cells, promoting the transport of glucose into these cells.
- Glycolysis: Once inside the fat cells, glucose undergoes a process called glycolysis. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into smaller molecules called pyruvate, which can be further converted into acetyl-CoA.
- Acetyl-CoA Formation: Acetyl-CoA is a key molecule in the production of fatty acids. It is formed from the breakdown of glucose or other energy sources such as fatty acids or amino acids.
- Fatty Acid Synthesis: Acetyl-CoA is used as a building block for fatty acids. Several enzymatic reactions occur, converting acetyl-CoA into fatty acids.
- Triglyceride Formation: Fatty acids are then combined with glycerol to form triglycerides. Triglycerides are the main storage form of fat in the body.
- Storage in Adipose Tissue: The newly synthesized triglycerides are packaged into lipid droplets within the fat cells and stored as energy reserves. When energy is needed, these stored triglycerides can be broken down through a process called lipolysis and released back into the bloodstream as fatty acids for energy production.
It’s important to note that insulin also inhibits the breakdown of stored fat (lipolysis) when blood sugar levels are elevated. This prevents the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream and promotes the storage of excess energy as fat.
Overall, insulin acts as a key regulator in the conversion of glucose into fat by stimulating glucose uptake, glycolysis, acetyl-CoA formation, fatty acid synthesis, and triglyceride storage within adipose tissue. So if PIR can reactivate your insulin receptors then the glucose in your blood can more easily make it into your cells and not be converted as ready to fat storagthis with increase your cellular energy and help your body repair itself and heal.