Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease--and How to Fight It

this book is all the new science in 1 book to get or stay healthy.. a]where every single statement is foot-noted with an appendix in the back showing each peer-reviewed published medical journal study which backs up the statement made. Written by a teaching scientist who knows how to distill the jargon down so his own students could understand .. just like you and I

This book is amazing! While I had a fair understanding of insulin's purpose in the body, this book reshaped how I think of insulin as a hormone that can alter biological processes causing illness. Dr. Bikman's cites many studies in his book and while it is technical information, it is written to where it is easily understood. Dr. Bikman's studies refute the western diet, shifting the importance of how we feed our bodies. All of the US bureaucracies filling the citizenry wrong information that low fat, calorie restricting, and high carbs is the healthy lifestyle has been flipped upside down with the important studies and real science revealed in this book. I started incorporating the information into a new lifestyle and for the first time in decades I have been able to drop some weight and get healthier. My life is on a new trajectory now and I hope that other people will be able to benefit from this information too.

I watched Ben Bikman on YouTube when I was learning about insulin resistance. Insulin is what brings glucose to every cell in your body. When you are insulin resistant, that important ability does not work as well - the cells have difficulty letting the glucose in, so it increases glucose levels in the blood instead of it going to cells where it is needed and used. Type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistance. Pre-diabetes is insulin resistance. Even before you get to those conditions, you could be having glucose spikes due to insulin resistance which causes inflammation and damage to your body leading to health problems. This book has such a wealth of knowledge to help you understand your own health conditions, why you have them, and even more importantly, how to prevent others from developing. I gave this book to two of my nieces and my doctor (to use as a reference for others), since I wish I had this knowledge in my 20's before I had any health problems. This book lists a whole host of diseases and problems and explains how insulin resistance causes them, from high cholesterol, cardiovascular, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) disease, gallstones, dementia, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), erectile dysfunction, obesity, cancer, skin problems, muscle loss, fibromyalgia, bone health, kidneys, and more. It could be a little depressing reading all the stuff that you could get when you have realized you (and 50 - 88% of Americans) are insulin resistant, but just read about the stuff that pertains to you than skim the rest. Ben does devote half the book to give you actionable advice and tips on diet and exercise to help reduce the glucose spikes. To simplify for me, it is eat protein and vegetables, limit starchy vegetables. Ben says any exercise is better than no exercise, and any movement does help your body burn off that glucose that is looking for a place to go. Walking, even better running. I have an desk version of an elliptical that I use after dinner and while watching TV (Sunny Health & Fitness Sitting Under Desk Elliptical Exerciser, Portable Pedal Training Machine for Senior Exercise, Peddler for Home Workout) and I use hand weights when I tired of pedaling. Muscles will help reduce your insulin resistance. We had gotten a Dexcom Stelo continuous glucose monitor (CGM), available without a prescription. and it was life changing. It alerted me that something was wrong when my glucose levels spiked after eating but my husband's were a lot lower. With the data, I was able to show my doctor and able to get a prescription for the Dexcom G7 CGM. Being able to see the glucose readings near real time (Stelo is 15 minutes), makes it easier to take control and move a little to try and bring down those glucose levels.

This is an easy read! While I have never been overweight, I have found my joints to be aching more and more as I age (I'm a fit 55). After reading this book, I was reminded of the role insulin has in the body and specifically for me, inflammation. I now look at ANY carbohydrate as a direct contributor of my pain and have a choice to make when presented foods (cakes, pasta, chips) that in the short term, are OMG delicious and soothing, but I pay for it for days. Indeed, when I eat more carnivore than paleo, I feel better. It's not just a little better either. It's significant. If you want to explore how insulin resistance works and is related to weight, dementia, inflammation this book is for you.

Good information. A must read, even if you don't think you have insulin issues. The author does harp a bit, but over all a very worthy topic well delivered.

This is a must read for everyone who wants to understand what really makes us sick and how to avoid it. Absolutely amazing work, Dr. Bickman. Thank you so much!!!

At 55- I arrived late at the caring about health party. Ive read and YouTubed my way through a lot on insulin resistance and related subjects. This book is fantastic (builds great detail on YouTube interviews with author (Benjamin Bikman) , if you prefer to first check that format). The facts, the pace, the layout, the science blended with the accessibility of well explained information. It documents what any mature (I still reserve the right to be immature) observer has seen play out in their own and the life of others around them. The health issues we see and lose people to - even better with options, that are simple (they may or may not be easy - but contrasted with early death, are good to understand) . Many books I now "read" on audible, some books are great in that format - This book isn't IMO suitable for that, it needs the ability to go fast or slow and pause for clarity. I don't mean its a hard scientific read, but nor is it a book at bedtime. But at the end of the read - well I suspect you can add years on a life, not many books can claim that. Not only that, if need be you can hold your own against any medical professional or sceptical friend, who doubts your emerging belief that ownership is the real key to health. I've started to give it as a present to family members (usually over 30), some may think "why is this mad uncle giving me this irrelevant book" - I say "well give it a skim read, drop it in your awareness - and if its not for you, please pass it to a parent - preferably one I get to hang out with as I age, so they can be around" (hopefully with a bit of madness, in terms of ideas and taking chances on our ability, not Alzheimer's ). Its the best value £15.57, Ive ever spent (lets not count those mad nights long ago - ) I suspect, the extra gifted copies will pay off like no other investment I've made, but I doubt my review will be updated then :). Well done the author Benjamin Bickman (No he isn't in my family) - for making really important latest science discoveries accessible, to those of us who are interested in, but are not scientists - that is a skill possessed by very few.

An amazing book! Filled with great knowledge and ideas. Ben Bikman did an outstanding job! I recommend it. Take a look at his lectures on youtube!

Touts les personnes dans les soins au malades ,devraient lire ce livre et appliquer les méthodes décrites car d'une simplicité et d'une logique implacables. Soyons simples ,pratiques et retournons au fondamentaux..

Comprehensive and detailed, but easy and fun to read. A tour de force of what causes most modern chronic illness, and how to avoid these illnesses. It should be compulsory reading for every medical practitioner, dietitian, nutritionist and public health official. Anyone interested in health should read this book. It shows how diet (what we eat, and when we eat it) and exercise influence insulin resistance, and how insulin resistance is a major factor in dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, obesity, hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy, salt and water retention, heart disease, diabetes type 2, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, alzheimer’s disease, breast / prostate / colorectal cancers, parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, acanthosis nigricans, acne, skin tags, psoriasis, sarcopenia (muscle loss), fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, gout, reflux esophagitis, gastroparesis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, gallstones, kidney stones, kidney failure, etc. Obviously these problems are influenced by genetics and other environmental factors, but Bikman concentrates on what we can do about them. A rare book suitable both for health professionals and lay people. While concepts are explained simply, the references let the professional go into as much detail as they need to. Well referenced, reference numbers often expand into several very pertinent references. Unfortunately in the first few chapters a few of the reference numbers are out of order or missing references – a little editing is needed – Kindle Edition - Claire Schulz?