SYNDROME X
Syndrome X probably affects
about a third of all North Americans and increasing
numbers of other people following a typical western diet.
What is
Syndrome X?
It’s a group of metabolic disorders, which includes the
following:
-
Resistance to insulin, the hormone that enables your body
to use the energy from food.
-
Excess body fat, especially in the waist and abdominal
areas.
-
Diabetes
-
High cholesterol
-
High blood pressure
-
High triglycerides (blood fats)
If you have two or more of these, including the first two
mentioned, then you very likely have Syndrome X.
How does it
affect you?
It causes premature ageing, making us look and feel older
than we should.
It significantly increases risk of obesity, heart disease,
high blood pressure, diabetes, and it reduces our physical
and mental energy. It can leave you feeling depressed or
experience frequent mood swings.
What causes
Syndrome X?
Too much carbohydrate food such as pasta, bread, sugar,
puddings, chocolate, white rice and even fruit and fruit
juice, create an excess of glucose in the blood. Excess
glucose is dangerous to the body, and the natural and
proper reaction is the release of insulin to take that
glucose into the cells. However, the assault on the system
of excess carbohydrate (which is all broken down to simple
sugars), eventually makes the cells less receptive to
insulin, and the pancreas begins to release more and more,
with less effect. Exactly how this then manifests in the
health problems mentioned above is explained very clearly
in The X Factor Diet and also Dr Atkins New Diet
Revolution.
How do you know whether you might have Syndrome X?
If you have excess weight around the middle, are tired
often, and have raised blood pressure and cholesterol it
is very likely. If you have excess weight around the
middle but the blood pressure and cholesterol are normal,
you may still be on the way to developing Syndrome X.
Nutrition
Facts & Diet Advice for Syndrome X
Consider the following nutrition
guidelines:
-
Buy the books mentioned
above for full details and plenty of recipe ideas.
Meanwhile, cut right back on carbohydrates,
including all baked products whether wholemeal or
not (i.e. bread, cake, biscuit, etc.), all fruit and
fruit juices, sugar, pasta, potatoes, etc.
-
Don’t be misled by
food manufacturers. ‘Low-fat’ foods are always
higher in carbohydrates, which for people with
Syndrome X is more harmful. (If you’re concerned
that eating fat will raise your cholesterol even
more, reading the two books mentioned above will
re-assure you.)
-
Ensure sufficient
top-class protein intake, e.g. fish, organic and
lean meat, tofu, eggs, micro-filtered whey
protein (Whey to Go).
-
Ensure sufficient
essential fatty acids, in the form of oily
fish and flaxseed, walnuts and pumpkin seeds.
-
Ensure you drink
at least 1½ litres of clean water every day.
-
Ensure you
exercise regularly (check with your
medical practitioner). Full details of
appropriate exercise in the
X Factor Diet
Health Supplements and Syndrome X
Often, a combination of
supplements may help in alleviating this condition. You
may wish to consult a nutritional therapist for personal
advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating
symptoms are shown below:
(please
also read this important notice concerning supplement
medical claims)
also consider:
Recommended
Books
health book - Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution
health book - Dr. Atkins Vita-nutrient Solution
health book - The Paleo Diet
health book - The X factor Diet
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