Cortisol and insulin on keto

(Joe Ethier) #1

Hello all, I got some questions.

I’ve started keto 2 months ago and doing not bad. I’m doing this diet to reduce inflammation (acne) and repair my leaky gut. I’ve also went to a naturopath and she said my liver and my pancreas are not working well so I’m working on that too.

I saw great changes in the beginning but now it seems to have stabilized. My acne dissappeared completely in the first 2-3 weeks but it’s getting back a little bit. My mood started to change the day I began the diet… I’m really really energetic and happy now compared to before. I also saw changes in my digestion and few other things too.

However, lots of time I get really anxious/stressed for no reason. I don’t know why…it’s like my cortisol is to its max. I thought that because my pancreas isn’t working well, it can’t produce enough insulin to convert carbs properly so that’s what probably causes inflammation (acne). I’ve been doing some research online and I know there’s a relationship between cortisol and insulin but I can’t figure out what it is…

So my question is what’s the relationship between cortisol and insulin and why it affects both my acne and anxiety? Why is the keto diet affecting these elements?

Thank you :slight_smile:

Heart Rate Problem After Cardio, Time To Quit Keto?
#2

Unless you are a Type 1 diabetic (unable to produce insulin at all) - your “not working very well” pancreas and liver are in fact working too well - which is also not good. In a carb rich diet the pancreas works overtime and produces too much insulin (hyperinsulinemia) which causes inflammation - and hence, multiple health problems. The liver also is also overactivated in a hyperinsulinemic state. So it isn’t surprising at all, that after two months of keto diet which reduces insulin production - your acne/mood/digestion improved. However, stress/anxiety also affects cortisol levels, which in turn increases insulin. Where your stress sources that are making you feel anxious etc can be multifactoral - and may take some self examination to explore that and see if there are other ways, in addition to keto diet, that may help manage that. What I am suggesting is that is more likely that the anxiety is coming from outside the framework of keto diet.
For some further explanation:
https://idmprogram.com/closer-look-cortisol-hormonal-obesity-xxxx/
And

#3

Sorry, question… The naturopath said your pancreas and liver are not working very well based on what?

(Auden) #4

Thanks! Very helpful video. Dr. Berg is great. I’m going to watch the rest of his cortisol videos

(Alec) #5

LindsaySue
I had the same question.
Cheers
Alec