The Explainer Archives

The Explainer

Mental Health

Can sugar cause headaches?

Sweet snacks and carb-heavy meals can spike your blood sugar. Here’s what that means for whether sugar can cause headaches.

The Levels Team

April 24, 2022

7 min read

Dr. Ami Kapadia

7 min read

Women's Health

The Explainer

Six ways metabolic health impacts women’s health

Here's how obesity, skin health, and other issues are fundamentally rooted in blood sugar dysfunction and insulin resistance.

Ashley Welch

November 15, 2021

11 min read

Dr. Molly Maloof

11 min read

The science on sugar cravings and how to beat them

Nutrition

The Explainer

The science on sugar cravings and how to beat them

Physical, psychological, and societal factors make us eat more sugar than ever. Learn how to beat sugar cravings with these 5 strategies.

Barbara Brody

November 7, 2021

6 min read

Austin Perlmutter, MD

6 min read

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

What is the metabolic health crisis?

Metabolic health is getting worse for a growing number of people. Here is a look at the scale of the crisis and why we need to address it now.

The Levels Team

October 19, 2021

10 min read

Dr. Ami Kapadia

10 min read

Walking after a meal: the simplest habit for stable blood sugar

Exercise

The Explainer

Walking after a meal: the simplest habit for stable blood sugar

Taking a post-meal walk can help stabilize blood sugar and give you more energy. New research explores when and how to walk for best results.

Jennifer Chesak

September 20, 2021

7 min read

Four skin conditions directly related to insulin resistance

Skin Health

The Explainer

Four skin conditions directly related to insulin resistance

In this excerpt from Why We Get Sick, Ben Bikman explains how changes in insulin control can spur acne and other common skin problems

Ben Bikman, PhD

August 28, 2021

3 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

How to reverse prediabetes

Prediabetes is not just a warning diagnosis—it’s a severe metabolic disorder. Fortunately, you can reverse prediabetes with lifestyle and diet changes.

Jessica Migala

August 19, 2021

13 min read

Sara Gottfried, MD

13 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

Six ways metabolic health affects longevity

Here are six mechanisms in our body that help us live longer, healthier lives—and that function best when we have stable blood sugar

Casey Means, MD

August 13, 2021

13 min read

Dr. Ami Kapadia

13 min read

Why too many focus on glucose, but not insulin

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

Why too many focus on glucose, but not insulin

In an excerpt from “Why We Get Sick,” Ben Bikman explains why metabolic health often focuses on glucose when insulin may be the main character

Ben Bikman, PhD

July 23, 2021

7 min read

What is glycemic variability and why does it matter?

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

What is glycemic variability and why does it matter?

Glycemic variability is the amount your blood sugar changes throughout the day. Here's why we want to keep it low for optimal health.

The Levels Team

June 15, 2021

2 min read

How glucose and insulin affect our digestive system

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

How glucose and insulin affect our digestive system

In an excerpt from “Why We Get Sick,” Ben Bikman explains how glucose and insulin drive acid reflux, gallstones and other GI disorders.

Ben Bikman, PhD

June 8, 2021

8 min read

Nutrition

The Explainer

What is sucrose?

Sucrose is a type of sugar formed by one glucose and one fructose molecule bonded together. Sucrose is most commonly known as table sugar.

Jessica Migala

June 1, 2021

5 min read

Rich Joseph, MD

5 min read

Nutrition

The Explainer

Does coffee raise blood sugar?

Caffeine can have a short-term impact on blood sugar, but other compounds in coffee and tea may help metabolic health in the long term.

Ajai Raj

May 15, 2021

7 min read

Mental Health

The Explainer

Can sugar cause headaches?

Sweet snacks and carb-heavy meals can spike your blood sugar. Here’s what that means for whether sugar can cause headaches.

The Levels Team

April 24, 2022

7 min read

Dr. Ami Kapadia

7 min read

Women's Health

The Explainer

Six ways metabolic health impacts women’s health

Here's how obesity, skin health, and other issues are fundamentally rooted in blood sugar dysfunction and insulin resistance.

Ashley Welch

November 15, 2021

11 min read

Dr. Molly Maloof

11 min read

Nutrition

The Explainer

The science on sugar cravings and how to beat them

Physical, psychological, and societal factors make us eat more sugar than ever. Learn how to beat sugar cravings with these 5 strategies.

Barbara Brody

November 7, 2021

6 min read

Austin Perlmutter, MD

6 min read

Metabolic Basics

The Explainer

What is the metabolic health crisis?

Metabolic health is getting worse for a growing number of people. Here is a look at the scale of the crisis and why we need to address it now.

The Levels Team

October 19, 2021

10 min read

Dr. Ami Kapadia

10 min read

Exercise

The Explainer

Walking after a meal: the simplest habit for stable blood sugar

Taking a post-meal walk can help stabilize blood sugar and give you more energy. New research explores when and how to walk for best results.

Jennifer Chesak

September 20, 2021

7 min read

Skin Health

The Explainer

Four skin conditions directly related to insulin resistance

In this excerpt from Why We Get Sick, Ben Bikman explains how changes in insulin control can spur acne and other common skin problems

Ben Bikman, PhD

August 28, 2021

3 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer

How to reverse prediabetes

Prediabetes is not just a warning diagnosis—it’s a severe metabolic disorder. Fortunately, you can reverse prediabetes with lifestyle and diet changes.

Jessica Migala

August 19, 2021

13 min read

Sara Gottfried, MD

13 min read

Metabolic Health

The Explainer