What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is cluster of metabolic health risk factors that can significantly raises your risk of several health issued that is affecting millions of people worldwide. This health issues includes heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, neuro-cognitive disorders like dementia, and even cancer. These all are in the top 10 leading cause of death in the world.
Three million new cases of metabolic syndrome are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. 32% of American have the condition, yet most of the people who have it do not even know it. Nearly 50% of people in the US over the age of 60 have metabolic syndrome.
THE BIG FIVE WARNING SIGNS FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME:
1. Abdominal Fat: Waist circumference of over 40-inches (102 cm) for men, and over 35- inches (88 cm) for women.
2. High Blood Pressure: Over 130/80.
3. Low (HDL) cholesterol: Under 40 mg/dl for men and over 50 mg/dl for women.
4. High Fasting Blood Sugar: Over 100 mg/dl and Hb A1C over 5.7
5. High Triglycerides: Over 150 mg/dl (fasting).
Abdominal Fat: Abdominal obesity is a sign of poor metabolic health. Also referred to as Visceral fat (the dangerous fat that wraps around your internal organs). This is measured just about the level of your belly button. This kind of fat is bad news because its produces inflammatory compound that increase insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure. It also increases the glucose intolerance that leads to diabetes. It’s important to remember that although obesity is one of the markers of poor metabolic health, being skinny does not mean you are metabolically healthy. We all know the TOFI (Thin outside, Fat Inside), who are metabolically unhealthy. The foods we eat affect our cells and blood.
High Blood Pressure: Elevated blood pressure is in itself a health risk and a sign of metabolic syndrome or Insulin resistance. One in three adults in the US have this ticking time bomb. Elevated blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke, and most times without a warning. The ideal Systolic blood pressure should be under 120, and Diastolic should be under 80.
High Blood Sugar/ High Hb A1c: Knowing your blood sugar levels is one of the most important components of optimal health. High Blood Sugar is a sign of impaired sugar metabolism and insulin resistance. Once the fasting glucose is over 100 mg/dl, metabolic syndrome is in full force. HB A1C represent a longer-term estimate of average blood sugar levels over a few months. The range considered “normal” criteria is under 5.7 percent, but the optimal range is 5.0-5.4 percent. Optimal range for fasting blood sugar is 70-85 mg/dl
High Triglycerides: When we consume more sugar and carbohydrates than our liver can handle, the excess glucose is converted into triglycerides. High triglycerides are a sign that the cells are not able to handle the amount of glucose and carbohydrates that are coming in. The triglyceride range that is considered “normal” the conventional standard is below 150 mg/dl, but the optimal level is under 88 mg/dl.
Low HDL cholesterol: HDL is often referred to as the “good” cholesterol. This is because it helps remove cholesterol from the blood vessels and carries it back to the liver for processing and elimination from the body.
Range considered “normal” by conventional standard criteria is over 40 mg/dl for men, and over 50 mg/dl for women.
WHY IS INSULIN RESISTANCE SO IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS:
Because it’s a lifestyle disease that affect millions of people. It directly contributes to the development of several diseases that people are struggling with every day. These diseases are:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Alzheimer’s and Dementias
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in Women and Erectile Dysfunction in Men
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
- Some Forms of Cancers
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5866840/
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