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Shockingly, just 1 in 8 Americans is considered "metabolically healthy," according to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health.
In case you think you're in the clear, you should know that metabolic health refers to more than just an optimal weight or pant size. The study states that it also includes having ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and blood pressure — without the use of medications. For 88% of the population, these are areas for concern, which means they're at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
You might be tempted to blame it on genetics, environmental factors and other things beyond your control. But the real culprit is much more simple: It's your diet. You, like many Americans, may be consuming food that's ultimately making you heavier and sicker — and you don't even realize it.
Where the American diet started going wrong
This downward trend in health and upward trend in weight ironically got a big assist from the U.S. government, which had been on the search for a way to "fix" the nation's diet for some time. Backed by one dubious study, they eventually introduced the infamous "food pyramid" that drove a dramatic increase in the consumption of refined, unhealthy carbohydrates.
From the time that the U.S. government first set dietary guidelines in 1977, the food industry has completely shifted the types of foods they produce, mostly to the detriment of people's health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the weight of the average adult American has skyrocketed since that time—a weight increase of nearly 30 pounds.
Once the government started telling people what to eat, that started a domino effect that still harms your overall health today.
The modern plague of insulin resistance
The problem with a carb-heavy diet is that your body has constantly elevated levels of insulin, which is a hormone that tells your body what to do with energy. Its primary purpose is to regulate glucose levels in your blood. When there's too much insulin, you can develop insulin resistance.
According to WebMD, "Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don't respond well to insulin and can't use glucose from your blood for energy. To make up for it, your pancreas makes more insulin. Over time, your blood sugar levels go up."
If this continues, it can ultimately lead to prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular problems. In short, it's very bad for your overall health.
The insulin resistance quiz
Do you think you or a loved one might be insulin resistant? Answer the questions below:
- Do you have more fat around your belly than you'd like?
- Do you have a family history of heart disease?
- Do you have high blood pressure or does eating salt affect your blood pressure?
- Do you have high levels of blood triglycerides?
- Do you retain water easily?
- Do you have gout?
- Do you have patches of darker colored skin or little bumps of skin ("skin tags") at your neck, armpits, or other areas?
- Do you have a family member with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes?
- Do you have/had gestational diabetes or PCOS (for women) or have "low testosterone (for men)?
If you answered "yes" to any two questions (or more), you almost certainly have insulin resistance.

Food: The culprit and the cure
If you believe you have insulin resistance, you should consult your healthcare professional. However, there are definitive steps everyone can take to become more insulin sensitive.
Since food caused the initial problem, food can also fix it. That may mean saying goodbye to some of your favorite dishes and treats (e.g., bread, rice, sugary products and other refined carbs), but the long-term results will be well worth the sacrifice.
The fat secret
Limiting your carb intake is only part of the secret, however. Eating healthy fats is another important component of a healthy diet if you want to increase insulin sensitivity.
Vasanti Malik, a research scientist with the Department of Nutrition at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health says that people should know the facts about fat.
"Fat helps give your body energy, protects your organs, supports cell growth, keeps cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and helps your body absorb vital nutrients," says Malik. "When you focus too much on cutting out all fat, you can actually deprive your body of what it needs most."
However, it's important to choose the right kinds of fat for your diet. Processed seed oils from soy, corn and canola should be avoided as they are particularly harmful, while "fruit" fats (from olives, coconuts and avocados) and animal fats like butter or ghee are uniquely beneficial.
A study published in Nutrition and Metabolism also found a link between high-fat/low-carb diets and weight loss in obese adults. In the study, adults who consumed more fat and fewer carbs experienced a drop in insulin resistance as well as improved cholesterol levels.
Prioritizing protein
Don't forget about the other macronutrient: protein. Some people advocate for very little, others consume it to excess and others simply make poor protein choices. Obviously, a protein-packed snack will sustain you longer than refined carbohydrates or sugars.
And if you mainly rely on plant-based products for your protein intake, be careful. A study published on PubMed Central found that people who exclusively eat plant protein had higher cases of hypoproteinemia (lower levels of protein). That's because plant proteins lack many essential amino acids found in animal proteins.
It's also worth noting that plant proteins were found to contain unhealthy levels of heavy metals by the Clean Label Project in 2018. So, while plant proteins claim to be more heart-healthy, it's important to consider the impact they may be having on other aspects of your health.
What you want to look for are proteins with a high biological value, which means they're absorbed and used efficiently by the body. Because of their complete amino acid profile, animal sources typically have a higher biological value than plant sources. According to a study by the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, eggs and whey protein had the highest biological values.
The essential boost to your diet
It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you start your journey toward better health. Virtually no one has the time, knowledge, discipline or budget to plan, purchase and prepare perfectly healthy meals. As a result, people make hasty, convenient decisions about food — which can quickly torpedo their health goals.
HLTH Code Complete Meal offers a solution to this problem. When you're in a rush or lack the time and resources to eat a healthy meal, a HLTH Code shake can keep your diet from going off the rails. Each shake is carefully formulated and designed to promote healthy weight management, gut health, brain health, even hair, skin and nail health. HLTH Code Complete Meal features an optimized, science-backed blend of protein, collagen, healthy fats, apple cider vinegar, probiotics, fiber, vitamins and minerals—with no added sugar or any artificial ingredients.
And yes — it tastes great, too.

Keeping hunger at bay (the right way)
If you find that you're still hungry even after eating large meals, you probably aren't consuming the right type of calories — the ones that provide essential nutrition. The formulators of HLTH Code refer to this as "mis-nourishment" and they say it's ruining many people's health.
HLTH Code Complete Meal shakes are packed with optimized amounts of the essential nutrients you need to stay full and energized for hours. (And they cost less than that bag of fast food you bought for lunch.)
The shakes are also quick and easy to make: Just add two scoops of Creamy Vanilla or Chocolate Macadamia Complete Meal Powder to 8 oz. of cold water and shake or blend. For general wellness, replace one meal daily. To reset your health or for weight loss, replace up to two meals per day.
"I've been drinking this for 5 months to break my intermittent fast and I'm in my best shape and down 21 pounds. I can't recommend this enough!! Plus it has a great flavor!! What's not to love??" said one reviewer.
Another reviewer shared, "The results have been phenomenal! Thank you HLTH Code. The shakes are yummy but the weight loss results are miraculous."
Can HLTH Code help with insulin resistance?
The best health starts with the right blend of nutrition. Based on the best available studies on human metabolism, along with exercise, HLTH Code Complete Meal helps people lose weight without needing to count every calorie. And since it contains optimized levels of protein, healthy fats and other essential nutrients — without insulin-spiking, refined carbohydrates — HLTH Code is a good choice for people looking to boost their insulin sensitivity.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed
If you're nervous about trying something new and making changes to your nutrition plan, don't be. With HLTH Code Complete Meal, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Give it a try and the only thing you might lose is a few extra pounds.
Indeed, if you've been looking for improved wellness and healthy weight management, then HLTH Code Meal Replacement could well be your answer. For exclusive savings on your first order, visit getHLTH.com and enter the discount code KSL at checkout.
