As a movement specialist, nutrition expert, and master herbalist, I see the body as a network of systems that are designed to work with nature—not against it. One of the clearest examples is how movement regulates blood sugar.
Beyond Insulin: The Muscle Shortcut
Most people learn that insulin is the key that unlocks cells so glucose (sugar) can get inside. That’s true—but it’s only half the story.
When your muscles contract, they activate GLUT4 transporters—tiny “doors” that don’t require insulin. These doors open with movement alone, pulling glucose directly from your blood into the muscle. Research shows that contractions can increase glucose uptake by up to 50 times compared to rest.
This means you don’t need to depend only on insulin to manage blood sugar. Movement provides a completely separate pathway.
Nature and Body-Weight: Your Built-In Gym
You don’t need a membership or machines to use this system.
Walking in nature: A 10–20 minute walk after meals can flatten blood sugar spikes.
Body-weight strength: Squats, lunges, push-ups, or planks all trigger GLUT4 activation. More muscle mass also expands your body’s glucose “storage tank,” giving you long-term balance.
Short bursts: Climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or doing a set of air squats in your living room all help regulate blood sugar in real time.
The Herbal Lens
Herbalists often talk about moving stagnation—whether it’s sluggish digestion, lymph flow, or circulation. Glucose is no different. When it sits stagnant in the blood, it creates imbalance and inflammation. Movement is the body’s natural way of keeping this river flowing, and herbs that support circulation and metabolism can complement this, but they can’t replace it.
The Takeaway
Your muscles are the body’s largest glucose sink. Movement wrings them out, creating room for more and keeping your blood sugar balanced. You don’t need weights or treadmills—you just need to move, with the body you already have, in the world you already live in.
To get glucose out of the body, you need to move.
Sign up for an online private consultation here:
https://www.herbalarchitect.com/work-with-me
Love & Sunshine, Tricia
