Syndrome X - Metabolic Disorder

The Hidden Dangers Lurking Beyond Your Ever Expanding Waistline

The other day I overheard a conversation between a very heavy, young man and his friend which started out like this:

I Just Don’t Get Why My Doctor Makes Such A Fuzz About My Belly Fat. Last Week He Brought It Up Again And I Said, "Doc I Paid Good Money For This."

His doctor replied, "Sam This Belly You’re So Proud Of Will Shorten Your Life, Making You A Sick Man."

It’s a fact. His doctor was warning Sam. Most Americans are porting an ever expanding waistline and Sam’s doctor was trying to warn him about the hidden dangers of mistaking his belly as a symbol of prosperity when in fact it was more like a symbol of serious disease in the making.

Here’s Why Sam’s On The Fast Track Towards A Short Life...

In the final report released by the Senate Diabetes & Childhood Obesity Study Committee, the take home message on America’s current state of health informed us that "...this may be the first generation of children who will NOT get to outlive their parents."

Obesity is now becoming a huge public menace that is getting worse with each passing year, and this is just not about cosmetics. Obesity presents only the tip of a lethal iceberg. Just as the unsinkable "Titanic" drifted quietly in the night towards a fated destiny, you will discover treachery within the depths of this morbid condition. ("But doctor, clearly you exaggerate!")

Let Me Explain What Your Belly Fat Is Saying

Belly fat is the marker pointing towards a far more serious condition known as Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X). This syndrome is a grouping of metabolic risk factors that ultimately leads to the development of atherosclerotic heart disease (clogged arteries) and diabetes.

How Did This Metabolic Syndrome Begin?

There is a constellation of conditions coming together to create this metabolic disaster, which includes:

Central (abdominal) fat,
Insulin Resistance,
Physical Inactivity, and
Hormone Imbalances

Together these create the many health risks and disease conditions that follow.

If I Am Obese, When Will My Doctor Make The Diagnosis?

There’s a general consensus (agreement) of criteria that your doctor will follow to make the diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X). Now certainly, the Metabolic Syndrome is a condition that comes on gradually over time; therefore, it’s safe to assume that youÕre heading TOWARDS a lethal iceberg even if you do NOT meet every condition listed below right at this moment.

Why wait until you have drifted so far out to sea that you despair you may never get back into shape ever again? Don’t ignore the early signs that include:

High fasting blood sugars over 100 to 110,
High blood pressure readings of 140/90 or greater (or if you are already taking blood pressure medications to control your hypertension),
Abnormal cholesterols, in particular elevated Triglycerides of 150 or greater and/or low levels of healthy cholesterols (HDL) of less than 40 in men and less than 50 in women, and
An ever expanding waistline of 40 inches or more in men, and 35 inches or more in women.

There’s a little variation depending on which college or association’s criteria you follow, but why split hairs over a few centimeters in the waist or 5-10 units of blood sugar in either direction. Look at your silhouette in the mirror and youÕll have an idea of where in the timeline you are at currently, then DO something about reversing it.

You have the Metabolic Syndrome if you have 3 or more of the above criteria. If you do not but you have the expanding waistline, then your ship has launched and it’s heading straight for the eye of this storm.

What Makes Metabolic Syndrome So Deadly?

This condition sets off an inflammatory state that courses all throughout your body and there are certain landmarks pointing towards knowing that this has already started to occur. For instance, your blood can be tested for the following inflammatory markers: Elevations in the C-Reactive Proteins levels, Increases in Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors (PAI-1) levels, and increases in Fibrinogen levels

All of these markers will tell you that you are becoming more ’coagulable’ and are prone to blood clots, strokes and/or heart attacks.

Additionally, the ’fat cells’ around your midline are VERY metabolic. Once they are created, they begin taking on on a life of their own and releasing cascades of inflammatory hormones called cytokines.

The fat cells also produce a number of other hormones that alter your hunger and satiety (full) signals to your brain. Therefore, your brain does not know when you are full. Incredibly, the fatter you become the less your body registers when you are properly nourished, and the slower your ’full’ signal to the brain is released; therefore, you end up eating way more calories than you actually need at each meal.

So Obesity May Actually Be Causing My Health Conditions?

Obesity, in particular central (belly) fat contributes to your high blood pressure, high bad cholesterols (LDL, TG), low healthy protective cholesterols (HDL) and your high blood sugar.

Your abdominal fat is constantly releasing products that worsen your condition and adds more risk factors for poor quality of life and early death.

Regarding Your Lipids: It increases the levels of nonesterified fatty acids which overload the liver and creates insulin resistance (I cover this condition in later newsletters). The high levels of C-Reactive Proteins (CRP) signify a cytokine excess in your body which signals inflammation is present. I’ll bet you didn’t even realize that the simple act of eating & processing foods could create an inflammatory conditions within your body.

Regarding Your Insulin Resistance: When your body no longer responds to normal levels of insulin it must make greater amounts of it to get the blood sugar into your cells where it is needed for energy production. This sets up a stage for glucose intolerance (the baby steps leading towards diabetes) and contributes to the elevations seen in your triglycerides. It also raises your blood pressure.

How Would I Know If I Had Insulin Resistance?

Your insulin resistance is certain if you have one of the following:

Type 2 Diabetes,
Impaired Fasting glucose levels in the blood,
Impaired 3 hour glucose tolerance test,
Impaired fasting insulin levels OR very high insulin levels anytime during your 3 hr glucose tolerance test. Your body may required VERY HIGH levels of insulin production by the pancreas just to keep your blood sugar levels below the 200 mark (which is an instant diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus).

Make sure to ask your doctor to check the insulin levels along with your blood sugars during the 3 hour glucose tolerance test (lots of doctors may not be doing these tests for markers of insulin resistance- yet).

Here’s a Few Tips & Medical Snippets To Get You Started

First Line of Therapy: You guessed it... EXERCISE!!

Throw out the remote, cancel cable and save your money for traveling! You simply need to move it! The formula is 30 minutes every day, and NOT just whenever you have ’the time’. You must MAKE TIME for this one.

You can do 15 minutes twice a day with a relaxed walk at first, and then pick up the pace as you get more fit. When do you pick up the pace? When you can walk and carry on a conversation at the same time without being winded or having chest discomfort... And for GOD SAKES, if you’re having chest discomfort don’t even THINK about seeing your doctor and getting a cardiac work up immediately. Remember, if you have Metabolic Disorder you ARE coagulable and at very high risk for a cardiac event. So get checked up and get a medical clearance from your doctor.

Natural Interventions: There’s plenty that you can do to get your insulin levels down and to protect yourself from injuries to your heart and blood vessels when in terms of nutrition and nutraceuticals.

I will offer you examples of products that I recommend my patients consider if they are reversing this condition with my assistance. I urge that you consider discussing your particular situation with your physician and to take good supplements in coordination with the proper medical care.

DHEA: This supplement is supported by a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2003. This study of 24 men (average age 54) without heart disease or diabetes but cholesterols of 220 or greater using DHEA 25 mg daily for 12 weeks, had the following results:

Improved blood vessel dilation & blood flow (flow mediated vasodilation),
Restored normal blood vessel lining functions & lower levels of PAI-1, reducing the chance of having tiny blood clots,
Reduced blood sugar levels by 26%, and Improved insulin sensitivity (reducing the insulin levels in the blood over time).

Testosterone: According to a study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2008, these were the conclusions reached:

Low levels of testosterone increase your incidence of Metabolic Syndrome,
These finding were same for everyone, regardless of your race or ethnicity,
There is a strong association between low levels and greater waist size,
There is a strong association between low levels & dyslipidemia (an abnormal ratio of unhealthy cholesterols to good cholesterols), and
There is a modest association between low levels and diabetes or abnormally elevated blood sugars.

Multivitamin/Multimineral and Phytonutrients (plant/fruit/herbal) Formulas:

I always include a whole nutrition approach with the essential ingredients to counteract the effects of high insulin, high sugar loads on the system to include:

Vitamin A (not recommended for smokers), Vitamins C, D, E, and B Complex (including higher doses of niacin & biotin), chromium picolinate, bitter melon, cinnulin/cinnamon extracts, gamma oryzanol, gymnema sylvestre, ginkgo biloba, grape seed extract, DMAE, arginine and taurine among others.

To find out more about the products that I recommend and about supplements that contains all of these essential necessary ingredients give us a call and make your appointment today.

Medications: Needless to say you will need a physician with an understanding of the complexities of this condition to check you out for the common problems seen in Metabolic Syndrome (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol., etc..) Only then can a proper course of therapy be laid out for you to start you on your path TOWARDS health, instead of away from it.

If you are suffering from less than optimal health or want help with choosing high quality nutraceutical grade formulas and detoxification programs to boost your weight loss program and get the most out of your nutrients & the foods you eat get in touch with us. Don’t suffer with less than optimal health or poor performance. There is a better way. Contact Us Today & Make An Appointment.

Recommended Reading:
The Youthful Aging Center Bookstore