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