Metabolic syndrome is a combination of health problems that occur at the same time. They increase your risk of death by heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. Excess insulin, high LDL cholesterol, and visceral (abdominal) fat accumulation alone increase your risk of metabolic syndrome twenty fold.
Metabolic syndrome exhibits itself in a variety of ways. People with any of these symptoms or conditions are at a dramatically increased risk for metabolic syndrome, heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes; high cholesterol (low HDL cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, high triglyceride levels), inflammatory components in the blood, high blood pressure, large waist circumference, or elevated fasting glucose levels.
Three or more of these conditions can lead to a grim diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. If you do not have metabolic syndrome, but you do have an increased waist circumference combined with a body mass index that is not considered to be in the healthy range, then you are almost guaranteed to develop metabolic syndrome if you do nothing to reduce your abdominal fat. By making a few changes in your life, you can avoid a plethora of life-threatening, disabling diseases.
The first step is to get your cholesterol levels in check. Triglyceride levels are most important and can be controlled through DHA and EPA Omega-3 supplementation. Fish oils and other supplements that get triglyceride levels under control can actually make your cholesterol readings more accurate and help turn harmful triglycerides into less harmful LDL.
LDL cholesterol proteins can harden and stick to arterial walls in your heart and arteries, making damage harder to reverse. Vitamin C actually prevents your LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and becoming “sticky”. Vitamin C combined with soluble fiber helps your liver to function properly and dispose of excess LDL cholesterol. Niacin can help raise HDL cholesterol levels and get them back to where they should be. Vitamins C and E help the cells to use sugar while helping the body properly respond to insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is totally preventable and almost always curable. However, it remains in our nation’s top 10 killer conditions list securely at number 6. This is only measuring deaths caused by Type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t take into account all of the amputations, anxiety, nerve damage, blindness, kidney disease, impotence and infections that it causes. Type 2 diabetes used to be known as “adult onset diabetes” until our children started getting it, too. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the overconsumption of carbohydrates combined with a lack of exercise. Exercise combined with a healthier diet makes blood sugar manageable. There is no way around it, diet and exercise is the only way to get blood sugar levels in check.
If you have metabolic syndrome, cells become damaged and resistant to insulin. Blood sugar gets out of control and the body is depleted of minerals every time you have a soda or eat refined flours or sugars. You must replace the minerals lost to start losing weight and healing your body. Small, high protein meals, six times per day are recommended.
All diabetics and people at risk for metabolic syndrome will constantly flush vitamins and minerals from their bodies. Chromium is the main mineral lost that is needed to regulate blood sugar. Your daily requirement for vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is greatly increased, especially if frequent urination is one of your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about safely managing your metabolic risk factors with vitamins and supplements before you buy supplements.
About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health. For more information about C-Salts, otherwise known as the best Vitamin C, or about other Vitamin C powder products, visit http://www.nutri.com where you can buy Vitamins and Supplements of the highest quality.
