Life's 2 Short

15/02/2026

Food choices and planning your nutrient intake:

So, you are serious about the beer belly, the handful of pills daily, the brain fog, the constant hunger, the fatigue?

Chapter 11 in the book “Life’s 2 Short – to face the perils” deals with “The Journey”. No, it is not your next trip to Kruger National Park – it is your journey out of the issues mentioned above.

A short extract from the chapter is given here to wet your appetite (pun intended). Appetite to learn more; not to eat more.

There are only two principles:
1. What you eat
2. When you eat

To add more detail:
1. What you eat:
a. Whole foods self-prepared from raw, natural ingredients
b. Reverse the dreaded food pyramid we all grew up with
c. Most importantly, what NOT to eat
2. When you eat:
a. Eat only when hungry (and no, it is NOT all the time)
b. Eat to satiety – every time
c. Absolutely NO snacking
It must be stressed that this journey is not a diet. At best, it is an “elimination diet”.

Eliminate:
1. Sugar in all forms
2. Starchy carbohydrates
3. All processed foods (it comes in boxes with barcodes)
4. All fast foods
4. Seed oils (or inaccurately named vegetable oils)

Timing:
Good to realize that the purpose and theme of the book is about one key point:

“Keep the levels of insulin in your body as low as possible for as long as possible.”

To fully understand the above statement, get hold of the book!

If the correct ratio is maintained as far as the three macronutrients, and there is no snacking, the need for constantly feeding your face will diminish and you will find that three meals a day is overrated and really not necessary.

Aim for a natural fast of 16-18 hours.
What?
Yes, you are already doing a fast overnight (maybe 8 hours between lights off and the morning bird chorus). Now skip breakfast and break the fast at 11-12am. See, you did a 16-18 hours fasting period with no food and NO snacking. Wow!
Well done, you are now entering the realm of intermittent fasting. A wonderful period of no insulin spikes.

What will the lower level of insulin do for you?
1. Weight loss
2. Possible remission of type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
3. Better lipid profile (blood fats or “cholesterol” as it is named)
4. Lower blood pressure
5. Better energy levels
6. Less hunger
7. Reduced inflammation
8. Better cardiac health
9. Etcetera…

Order your copy of the book now and take control of your own metabolic health!

27/01/2026

The Metabolic Significance of Muscle Tissue in the Human Body:

Understanding the Crucial Role of Muscle Mass, Especially in Older Adults and Those Experiencing Muscle Loss.

1. Introduction:
Muscle tissue is far more than just the engine for movement and strength; it is a metabolically active organ that plays a vital role in maintaining overall health. The significance of muscle mass becomes especially apparent in older adults and in individuals who have experienced muscle loss due to restrictive diets, excessive training, or illness. This post explores the metabolic importance of muscle tissue, how it impacts health and longevity, and why preserving muscle mass is crucial throughout life.

2. The Metabolic Role of Muscle Tissue:
Muscle tissue is the body's primary site for glucose uptake and storage, making it essential for blood sugar regulation. It is responsible for a significant portion of the body's resting energy expenditure, as muscle cells consume energy even when at rest. This means individuals with higher muscle mass have a greater basal metabolic rate (BMR), which helps in weight management and reduces the risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, muscle tissue acts as a reservoir for amino acids, which are necessary for the repair and regeneration of cells throughout the body. During times of stress, illness, or injury, the body relies on muscle-derived amino acids to support immune function and tissue healing.

3. Muscle Mass and Ageing:
As people age, there is a natural decline in muscle mass and strength, a condition known as sarcopenia. This loss of muscle mass is associated with reduced metabolic rate, increased fat accumulation, and a higher risk of insulin resistance. Sarcopenia also contributes to frailty, loss of mobility, and decreased independence in older adults.
Maintaining muscle mass in older age is crucial for metabolic health. Muscle tissue helps regulate blood sugar, supports cardiovascular health, and boosts immune function. Regular resistance training and adequate protein intake are proven strategies to preserve muscle and mitigate the metabolic consequences of ageing.

4. Consequences of Muscle Loss Due to Diet, Excessive Training, or Illness:
Muscle loss can occur rapidly in response to severe calorie restriction, excessive endurance training without proper recovery, or as a result of illness, especially conditions that cause inflammation or immobilization. When muscle mass is lost, the body experiences a decrease in metabolic rate, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight and increasing susceptibility to metabolic diseases.
In those recovering from illness or injury, muscle loss can slow down recovery, compromise immune function, and increase the risk of infections. In athletes or individuals who over-train, the loss of muscle can lead to performance decline and increased injury risk. For those who lose muscle due to restrictive diets, regaining metabolic health can be challenging, and it may take time to rebuild lost tissue.

5. Strategies to Preserve and Restore Muscle Mass:
• Resistance Training: Engaging in regular strength exercises is the most effective way to stimulate muscle growth and prevent age-related muscle loss.
• Adequate Protein Intake: Consuming sufficient dietary protein supports muscle maintenance and repair, especially important for older adults and those recovering from illness.
• Balanced Nutrition: Ensuring adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and overall calories helps support muscle tissue and metabolic health.
• Recovery and Rest: Allowing time for recovery is essential to prevent excessive muscle breakdown from overtraining.
• Medical Support: For those with underlying illnesses or conditions causing muscle loss, seeking medical advice and tailored rehabilitation is crucial.

6. Conclusion:
Muscle tissue is a cornerstone of metabolic health, influencing everything from energy expenditure and glucose regulation to immune function and recovery from illness. Its significance is heightened in older adults and anyone who has experienced muscle loss due to diet, excessive training, or illness. Preserving and restoring muscle mass through appropriate exercise, nutrition, and medical care is vital for maintaining health, independence, and quality of life.

17/08/2025

AUTOPHAGY
No, it is not about a new car dealer in town. It is the body’s Cellular Recycling Program. In the digital world, we would’ve called it “a reboot”.
On page 121 in the book “Life’s 2 Short” a brief mention is made of this vital process.
Autophagy, derived from the Greek words "autos" (self) and "phagomai" (eat), is a remarkable cellular process by which cells break down and recycle their own components. This self-cleaning mechanism is fundamental to maintaining cellular health, adapting to stress, and defending against disease.
What is Autophagy?
Autophagy is a tightly regulated process in which cells degrade and recycle damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and other cellular debris. In this process, unwanted materials are engulfed and then delivered to lysosomes (one of each cell’s many parts or organelles), where they are broken down and their components reused for energy or new cellular structures.
The Role of Autophagy in Health:
Autophagy is essential for cellular maintenance and survival. It helps cells adapt to changing environments, such as nutrient deprivation or infection. By removing faulty components and pathogens, autophagy protects cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, promotes longevity, and prevents the accumulation of toxic material that can lead to disease.
Autophagy in Everyday Life:
Research suggests that certain lifestyle choices can influence autophagy. Intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, exercise, and some medications have been shown to stimulate autophagy, potentially contributing to improved health and resilience against disease.

13/10/2024

"Why Fat Cells Matter: "
The overriding theme of the book “Life’s 2 Short” is about keeping insulin levels as low as possible, which changes the way energy is used and stored in the body. The aim is to use the body’s stored energy and not to add to the stores.
This manifests in smaller, healthier fat cells with a high turnover rate of energy in the form of glucose stored as fat after eating, and used when caloric intake is low. The cells (mainly in the liver) make glucose from fatty acids released from the fat cells. This makes the body metabolically flexible.
But if we keep feeding the fat cells with more fat because insulin is elevated, they become huge (up to 10 times their size) and to slow down the process they become resistant to the effects of insulin. They will also begin to release inflammatory molecules and some of these land in the general circulation which causes damage to the inner lining of blood vessels.
So, why do we have fat cells (adipose tissue)?
Many reasons, but the most pertinent are the following:
1. It acts as an energy reservoir during low food intake. It prevents starvation.
2. It acts as insulation against cold (the fat under the skin).
3. It acts as a shock absorber (the fat around organs like the liver).
4. Surprisingly, it also acts as an endocrine organ (dumping hormones into the blood). The most important of those is the hormone Leptin, which signals to the brain that there is enough energy stored and that we can stop eating (also called the “satiety hormone”).

Without fat cells, we cannot survive. But if we over-feed them, they become the enemy within.

Stop eating sugary starches, and avoid added sugar; this will keep insulin low, and your fat cells will thank you by improving your metabolic flexibility and overall health.

02/09/2024

You have a metabolic toggle switch!

A metabolic toggle switch refers to a regulatory mechanism in the body that controls metabolic processes. It acts like a switch that can turn on or off certain metabolic pathways, allowing the body to adapt to different conditions and energy demands. This toggle switch enables the body to utilise nutrients efficiently, regulate energy production, and maintain an overall metabolic balance.

Let us today look beyond the horrors of type 2 diabetes and shift our focus purely to weight.
We are (in South Africa), entering the much-awaited summer season. A time to swap the warm jacket for a T-shirt and shorts. What will the people see? What will you see?

The book “Life’s 2 Short” stresses the importance of taking control of your metabolic health. We rely too much on what drugs can do for our health!

So what is the switch referred to above?

It is the hormone insulin produced in the pancreas when blood sugar rises. This hormone has one principal aim, namely to store energy. It facilitates the movement of glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells, where cells use it as energy or store it as fat. Without insulin, this cannot happen.

Cells can use one of two major nutrients for energy; glucose or fat. But only one at a time. The process is exclusive, and someone needs to inform the cell about which of the two nutrients to use and when. Someone?

Yes, that someone is insulin. There will always be circulating glucose and fat, but only one can be used at any time. Glucose can come from either food ingested or from processes in the liver. The liver produces glucose from fat during times of low caloric intake or low carbohydrate intake. Fat in circulation is also from either food ingested or from fat cells, giving up some of the stored fat to fuel the processes in the liver.

Now back to the cell’s choice of which one to burn for energy. As mentioned, insulin controls this. When the insulin level is high (following a high carb meal or sugary snack), the cell can only burn glucose. When insulin is low (low or no carb intake or during a controlled fast), the cell will only be able to burn fat. This process will continue until the cell has used up all immediate fat, and then the fat cells will release more free fat into the circulation. The body transports it to the cells and burns it.

What just happened? By limiting carb intake, insulin remains low, the cells burn fat for energy, your fat cells give up more and more stored fat to be used and you have lost a few grams of stored fat. Do this for an extended period, and you will keep losing stored fat and the belly will start to shrink!

Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. High carb intake results in high insulin levels. This blocks the burning of fat (and the release of more fat from the stores).

Decide which way you want to flip the toggle switch. Insulin on, or insulin off. This will decide which source your cells will use for energy and if you are using or storing more fat.

Make the switch!

25/08/2024

Drawing inspiration from our ancestral lifestyles.
The book “Life’s 2 Short” mentions our fictional ancestral hero, Urka. Although physically developed as a strong man in his thirties, he couldn’t converse in any language except for some grunts, subtle hand movements and other gestures, which the members of his clan could follow and understand.

Today we made a transcript of a short discussion, many thousands of years ago, in front of their cave in the bitter-cold area of modern-day north-eastern Finland. It went something like this:

“Grunt, grunt, two hand gestures, grunt, three nasal sounds, hand movement, grunt.”

We translated as follows:

“This feast of mammoth meat filled everybody for many days.”

The rest of the story unfolded as Urka continued his ‘talk’.

“We haven’t had proper meat for ten rising suns. Everybody was starving and if it wasn’t for the roots of the ferns we found (Polypody), it would have been hard on you all. Then Rigbu found the trail of the mammoths and followed it to the plains of the horses, where we managed to kill three and only lost one man, Gailu. I am sorry for the members of his hearth.”

He adjusted the straps holding his chamois skin cover to create space for his full belly, and continued:

“All the spare meat must be salted and stored in our food cave under the ground, and covered with blocks of ice. [Digging into permafrost provided early people with conditions similar to our refrigerators.] If no Bison comes this way soon, we will need today’s leftover meat to feed ourselves. If the gods smile at us, Broud’s party might return in one moon with whale meat or Salmon from the north. That should keep us through the coming winter. If you do find some of those blueberries, pick enough for your hearth, but also for the rest of the clan. If you feel tired, ask our medicine woman for some of those dried purple flowers we were given at our last gathering of the western clans, it will make you fight the winter sickness. This winter will be long and hard. Thank you, my brave hunters!”

What did Urka tell us?
• They thrived on meat, fish, and fat.
• They ate little to no carbohydrates.
• They didn’t eat three or more meals a day, in fact, they ate very intermittently.
• During hard times they knew what to forage from their area:
o Blueberries are one of the best natural sources of vitamins and antioxidants.
o Echinacea (from Canada) boosted their immune system during the harsh winters.
• They had to walk or run vast distances to collect food.
• They had to carry heavy loads of meat when they had a good hunt.

What does this teach us?
• Your body can survive with very little if any, carbohydrates.
• Nutrient-dense foods from animal products are key to survival:
o Proteins and fat.
• Eat only when hungry and when food is available.
• Be prepared to go through periods of fasting, your body will provide its own energy from stored fat and via autophagy.
• Eat whole foods.
• Get exercise.
• Lift heavy things.

If we could follow Urka’s way of living, there would be no metabolic dysfunction. Obesity, diabetes and hypertension would be extremely rare.

BE LIKE URKA!

06/05/2024

For the price of a basic meal at an average restaurant (which may or may not be the type of food your body needs), you can buy the book “Life’s 2 Short”, and learn what type of food your body does, in fact, need. Or you can gift it to a friend who may already be on a roller coaster ride to metabolic disaster.
It is all there; what to eat (and what not), when to eat, how much to eat. These principles are explained in an easy-to-read format and it will change the way you look at your health and your future.
Medication may reduce some symptoms of metabolic dysfunction and manage your condition (be it diabetes, hypertension, reflux, uric acid, and more), but it cannot reverse any of the conditions.
Food can!

28/04/2024

A lovely review and testimony received via email:

Morning Pieter,

I purchased your book “Life’s 2 Short to Face the Perils” in February this year and was interested in it due to having Diabetes Type 2 and “ high cholesterol” as diagnosed by my GP. As a production pharmacist, I found the contents to be well-researched, very informative and well-written in an easy-reading format. I enjoyed the case studies, personal experience and humour.

After working through the contents twice, I decided to follow the principles of a ‘Low Carb, High Fat, Intermitted Fasting” lifestyle and started measuring Fasting Blood Glucose Levels (FBGL) daily with BMI and weight weekly. After just three days, my FBGL decreased from an average of 7.5 mMol/l to an average of 6 mMol/l and now many times around 5.5 mMol/l. This whilst still taking my medication as always. I trust that I will be in a position to soon start reducing the medication.

Over a period of eight weeks, my weight has reduced from 84kg to 79kg, my waist circumference with 4cm and my BMI from 24.3 to 22.9. I am feeling energetic and have adapted to the IF eating pattern easily. I am never hungry in between meals and do no snacking during the fasting period of 16 hours.

I have introduced your book and the concept to two friends with similar circumstances and they experienced the same results. You have made a huge contribution to improving my general health, for which I thank you.

Kind regards

Charles W Moolman

Wilderness, 6560

Western Cape, South Africa

Call now to connect with business.

18/03/2024

Life's 2 Short is now also available at Jasmyn Bookstore in Harties! You will find it in the Health section in the bookstore, and also in the Health shop (in the main farm products shop).

26/02/2024

Happy Read an Ebook Week! You can find my book, Life's 2 Short, available now at at a promotional price to help you celebrate. Find my book and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek from March 3 - March 9!

15/02/2024

Commonly used drugs that may disrupt glycemic control (blood sugar).
Many medications can have side effects beyond the disease state they are intended to address. The most common side effect is the disruptive effect on blood glucose control, HbA1c levels, and weight gain.
Here are just 5 commonly used drugs and their effect on insulin resistance and blood glucose levels:
1. Glucocorticoids
Without a doubt, this group of drugs, commonly referred to as “steroids”, or “cortisone”, are at the top of the list. It is well-known that they can cause “steroid-induced diabetes” and if you are already diabetic, you may notice a significant worsening of glycemic control. The effect is dependent on the dose and duration of steroid treatment. Be aware!
Prednisone, Hydrocortisone, Medrol.
2. Antipsychotic therapy
Between 15% and 70% of patients taking second-generation antipsychotics will experience a weight gain of at least 7% of body weight. The increased weight is not the only factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes. This group of drugs can cause downregulation of intracellular insulin signalling, leading to insulin resistance. In addition, some of these drugs can impair the pancreatic beta cells’ response to changes in blood glucose.
Clozapine: Cloment, Leponex.
Olanzapine: Zyprexa, Olexar.
Haloperidol.

3. Thiazide diuretics
These diuretics are commonly used for the management of hypertension and are associated with metabolic complications including hypokalemia (low potassium), higher triglycerides, and elevated blood glucose.
Hydrochlorothiazde: Ridaq, Hexazide, Dapamax, Natrilix.
4. Statin therapy
Statins, widely prescribed to lower cholesterol, may in some patients cause a decreased insulin sensitivity and impairment in insulin secretion. Between 9% and 12% of patients on statin therapy for four years or longer may develop new-onset diabetes.
Simvastatin, Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Pravastatin.
5. Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers are another commonly used group of medications for managing hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. Metoprolol and Atenolol are most likely to cause an increase in HbA1c, blood sugar, weight and triglycerides. For diabetic patients on insulin therapy or sulfonylurea drugs, some beta-blockers may mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia (tremors, irritability, or palpitations); resulting in possible episodes of dangerously low blood sugar.
Some of the newer blockers like carvedilol, nebivolol and labetalol may have a lower effect on glycemic control.
Take away:
Know the drugs you are prescribed, understand their possible interference with metabolic processes, and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
OR: Take control of your metabolic health by following a lifestyle that will ensure better glycemic control. YOU should be in control, not the drugs prescribed! They can only manage your conditions – never cure it. Following a lifestyle with no carbohydrates, sugars and seed oils, coupled with intermittent fasting can reverse certain metabolic imbalances.
Order the book that can (and will) change your life and your health at biologico.co.za