What Is Your Waistline Telling You?

• High blood triglycerides.
  If your blood triglyceride levels are elevated that might indicate metabolic syndrome. If you eat more calories than you need for immediate use your body converts the excess into triglycerides which can be stored in fat cells for later use. Generally, in our modern world we seldom need to use the stored fats because we are constantly eating more calories than we need. So we are more likely to continue to stock the storage cells than actually ever empty them out!
• Blood cholesterol imbalance.
  We have two major types of cholesterol circulating in our blood: The good sort is also called HDL (high-density lipoprotein) while the bad sort is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein).

HDL is the desired options because it transports cholesterol directly to your liver for removal from the blood stream.
If it remains in your blood, as in the case of LDL, the cholesterol builds up in your arteries, becomes oxidised and sticky and forms plaque, a condition known as atherosclerosis. If some of these plaque deposits break loose and lodge elsewhere in your blood stream you are potentially in big trouble:  thrombosis (blood clots) can develop and even a stroke (if the blockage occurs in your brain). Partially blocked arteries reduce the supply of oxygen to the organs downstream from the clot and if the blockage is complete the organs go into failure.

• Blood pressure issues.
  Blood pressure (BP) measures the flow of blood through your blood vessels and how difficult is for an easy flow to occur. A high BP reading indicates that the flow is compromised in some way, and that your heart has to work extra hard to get blood and vital oxygen to all the organs of the body.
  A major cause of high BP is the narrowing of the arteries – caused by the deposits of plaque that interfere with flow. As your arteries narrow the resistance to the easy flow of blood increases and heart disease is sure to follow. But the damage is actually far more wide reaching: your brain, kidneys and eyes are also particularly vulnerable to damage, but no organs are actually exempt.
• Blood sugar issues.
  Raised blood sugar levels are frankly dangerous to our health – that is why the body has are such stringent checks and balances in place to maintain them within a very controlled range of between 72 and 140 mg per DL depending on how recently you have eaten. Values below 100 mg per DL when you are in a fasting state are indicators of normal healthy blood sugar management.
  Chronically elevated blood sugar levels can damage the pancreas, leading to diabetes, cause hardening of the arteries (which affects blood pressure as noted previously), and eventually lead to kidney disease, strokes, heart disease and a whole lot more.

If those are the traits, what are the symptoms?

As you might expect, the traits are directly responsible for the symptoms that you might experience.

• High blood pressure could give rise to:
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
• Overweight and obesity can cause:
  • Fatigue
  • Snoring
  • Other sleep difficulties
• Uncontrolled sugar levels and diabetes can result in:
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Unquenchable or increased thirstiness

The good news is that Metabolic Syndrome is very much due to lifestyle choices. That means that it is well within our control to manage things better and consequently reverse many if not all of the symptoms. If we do that in good time we can save ourselves from pretty awful chronic conditions in the future.

The bad news is that the ball is squarely in our own court so we need to take personal responsibility for our health and not put the blame or the burden on anyone else!

What are the common risk factors for developing Metabolic Syndrome?

The choices and behaviours that are directly under our control include the following:

• A diet loaded with calories and high in carbohydrate
• Too little exercise
• Tobacco smoking
• Too little sleep
• Overweight and obesity

You’ve heard these before I am pretty certain. And you already know what the recommendations are to tackle these issues.

But here are some reminders:

• Consider your diet – and control your weight better
  • Eat fresh vegetables, fruit, fatty fish, lean meats and whole grains
  • Stop eating processed and sugary foods
  • Ensure that you eat foods that supply adequate fiber
  • Keep tabs on you portions sizes. Eat variety but in smaller amounts.
  • Avoid sugary drinks and foods, processed foods, saturated and trans fats, and drink alcohol in moderation.
• Find physical activities that you enjoy and can do regularly and consistently
  • Walking, hiking, cycling, dancing, swimming, gardening, going to the gym … the list is a long one.
  • Find a buddy – it’s more fun to exercise with a companion, and it holds you accountable!
• Create a peaceful space in your bedroom so that sleep becomes easier.
  • Set a routine – plan reasonable lights-out and waking up times
  • Keep it a zone free from electronic appliances, cell phones, computers, TVs and the like
  • Keep it clutter free
  • Make time to meditate and be at peace.
  • Add stress-management activities to your life: yoga, mindfulness, deep breathing. Again, find something that works for you.
  • Keep the room dark when you are asleep.
  • Get out into the sunshine during the day

What about insulin resistance?

Actually, the term insulin resistance has tended to fall away as it is a subset of Metabolic Syndrome. But let’s take a brief look at the condition anyway.

As mentioned earlier, blood sugar levels must be kept within a fairly narrow band.

When the body is functioning normally the following sequence of events takes place when you eat foods that raise your blood sugar (glucose) levels:

• The raised sugar levels stimulate release of insulin from the pancreas
• Every cell of the body has insulin receptors in the cell membrane. Insulin docks with these receptors to send the message that channels need to be opened for sugar to be taken up from the blood into the cells where it can be used for energy production.
• When blood sugar levels return to normal, insulin is no longer released and the channels shut off again.

When you suffer from insulin resistance this mechanism fails to function normally:

• The signaling mechanism doesn’t respond properly to insulin that is released in response to high bloods sugar levels
• Very little sugar gains entry into the cells
• The sugar levels in the blood remain dangerously high
• Insulin continues to be secreted because the blood sugar is high, and blood insulin levels rise.

Weight loss and Metabolic Syndrome

There is a very direct link between abdominal obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, so it is important to manage your weight in such a way that you do not accumulate fat around your midriff, even if you are fairly normal on the rest of your body.

Finding an effective fully balanced regime that supports the process of normalising your body fat ratios is an essential part of bringing Metabolic Syndrome under control, and preventing it from recurring or happening in the first place.

Contact me if you would like to chat further.

084 506 3643

andre.positiveoptions@gmail.com