DO YOU HAVE METABOLIC SYNDROME?
One out of four Americans does. If you have at least 3 of the following 5, you may have it:
- Waist Size: Women waist > 25" Men > 35"
- LDL Level: Women < 50 Men < 40
- Blood Sugar > 110
- Triglycerides > 150
- Blood Pressure: systolic 130 or higher; diastolic 85 or higher
Again, if you have at least 3 of 5 of these symptoms, you may have a metabolic syndrome-a malfunction that affects your health now with symptoms such as cravings, low energy, sleep disturbances, difficulty losing weight, and low immunity. And it can mean you are predisposed to develop even more serious disorders such as adult onset diabetes or heart disease. WHAT TO DO?
The really good news is that metabolic syndrome CAN be reversed through diet and exercise. All these markers listed above DO respond to lifestyle changes. But-and it's a big but- the changes necessary in both diet and exercise, while very simple, must be sustained day by day and over time. This syndrome did not come on suddenly and it doesn't go away overnight.
You must understand what is going on in your individual metabolism, and you must meet that imbalance with the types of food, and the timing of your food, as well as with the types of exercise, and the timing of that exercise, that will enable your body: 1) to burn bodyfat for energy-particularly abdominal fat; 2) to regulate your insulin 3) to spare your muscle as an energy source, and; 4) to normalize your stress-handling hormones.
You can get started by measuring your waist. Come in with a cloth tape measure just above the level of your hipbones on each side. If your numbers are higher than 25 inches for women and 35 for men, your metabolic health may be out of balance. Keep a week's diet diary for yourself. This will begin to point you towards where and how your nutritional intake can be better balanced. And keep an exercise journal to track your consistency.
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