Insulin Resistance
When we think of insulin, we think of diabetes. Insulin is needed Metabolic Syndrome (also known as MetSyn or Syndrome X) is the polite name given to the signs of an over-indulgent lifestyle. These cluster of signs include:
High blood pressure
Low HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol)
High triglycerides & LDL cholesterol (the not-so-good cholesterol)
High blood glucose
Overweight or obese
MetSyn is basically the precursor to our most common chronic diseases: diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Unless you’re having yearly blood tests, it may be tricky to catch yourself sliding into the MetSyn category… although, having said that, being overweight is a giveaway. You definitely can’t miss the physical symptoms that accompany MetSyn: fatigue, depression, constant hunger, erectile dysfunction, chronic inflammation, extra abdominal fat.
The classic indicator is, indeed, the beer belly. A simple way to check your likelihood of developing Metabolic Syndrome is to check your waist measurement:
Women: >80 cm high risk
Men: > 94cm high risk
The causes of Metabolic Syndrome are primarily related to a lifestyle of over-consumption. A high-carbohydrate, high-calorie diet; sedentary lifestyle and the constant bombardment of stress are all factors known to contribute to the development of Metabolic Syndrome. However, it is Insulin Resistance that is the driver of Metabolic Syndrome. Insulin is released in response to any sugar or carbohydrate in our food (think: bread, cereal, pasta, biscuits, crackers, chips, etc.) Insulin’s job is to move sugar from the blood stream into the cells where it can be burnt for fuel. The more carbs we eat, the more insulin is released. We humans, though, are simply not designed for this continual influx of carbohydrate. In fact, insulin, in an evolutionary sense, helped the body store fat from a short-lived carbohydrate feast, to be used in times of famine. After a time of continued carb-rich eating, our cells no longer respond to the presence of insulin. We are officially Insulin Resistant.
So, what’s the big deal? Insulin level stays high- this literally primes the body to store fat- regardless of what we may eat. We are all likely to know (or be) an overweight person who actually eats very little. This is Insulin Resistance, right there.
Treating Metabolic Syndrome necessarily revolves around dietary change. All dietary carbs must be avoided. Meals should be based on protein (meats, eggs, fish, chicken), vegetables and good fats (raw olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, butter). Exercise, too, is paramount in resensitising the cells to insulin. Herbal medicines, such as Cinnamon, Coleus, Gymnema and Panax Ginseng can greatly improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, as do the nutrients chromium, magnesium and zinc.