Syndrome X: The elusive health-destructor

Syndrome X (also known Metabolic Syndrome) is the name given to the collection of symptoms associated with insulin resistance and poor carbohydrate metabolism. This causes a type of glucose poisoning which is normally caused by a diet high in sugar and other carbohydrates (particularly high G.I carbohydrates). Researchers estimate that 1 in 5 people (12 million alone in the UK and 60 million in the USA) have the type of body that elevates the health risk of this sort of diet, making them susceptible to a range of serious ailments such as obesity, heart disease, kidney damage, liver problems, eye damage and blood vessel degeneration.

Causes of Syndrome-X As already mentioned in the nutrition chapter; all carbohydrates convert to glucose when they are digested. Carbohydrates foods that cause the blood to have rapidly high glucose content are said to have a high glycemic index or are “high g.i.”These foods trigger the pancreas to produce a large release of insulin in one hit. Insulin is known as the body’s “storage hormone” because it tells the body to store nutrients into cells. In this instance insulin take the glucose and shifts it into the various storage compartments in the body. The priority storage compartments are muscle and liver cells, where that excess glucose is converted into quick release glycogen. Once these “quick-release” energy reserves are topped up, glucose is converted into fat in our fat cells for longer-term storage.

Excessively high carbohydrates in the diet (often accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle) leads to your body’s storage compartments becoming so full that fat cells become bloated with glucose to the point that they cannot soak up any more glucose. Hence the name “insulin resistant” – cells become so full that they ignore message from insulin which tells them to store the glucose. Insulin resistance means that the excess glucose starts to circulate in the blood, where it can potentially damage blood vessels, kidney function, the retina and cause hypertension, high blood pressure, unhealthy blood-fat profiles and Type II diabetes alongside general metabolic efficiency.

Foods high in saturated, hydrogenated and trans fats will also cause insulin resistance, especially in combination with high sugar/ high g.i. carbohydrate intake.

**Research figures suggest that as many as 1 in 5 people have a metabolism which cannot cope with this chronic exposure to high insulin levels caused by this excess glucose in the blood.

Insulin Resistance is Stressful Insulin resistance is also compounded by stress, which naturally signals the body to release even more glucose and fatty acids into the bloodstream so that we are ready for action. It also causes the brain to release stress hormones (such as cortisol) which causes the fat storage cells to be even less insulin-sensitive.

Insulin Resistance Causes the Body To Produce New Fat Cells

Once fat cells become unnaturally bloated and enlarged the body starts to manufacturing new fat cells which means you inevitably become fatter and fatter and fatter with very notable fat gain to the mid-section. A high percentage of mid-section body fat distribution pattern (also referred to as central obesity) gives a visual clue an individual is likely to have some level of insulin resistance and stress usually accompanied with other symptoms such as fatigue (tiredness), mental fuzziness, skin tags and a craving for sweet things and stimulants (for an instant “pick-me-up” energy boost). It’s proven that women whose body fat is notably higher than 26% could well be at the beginning stages of syndrome X.

1. Excess body fat - often distributed around the mid-section as well as the neck and the face.

2. Tiredness after meals containing even small amounts of grains or high GI carbohydrates.

3. Bloating after eating.

4. Chronic fatigue and general lethargy.

5. Irritable and/ or shaky when hungry.

6. Craving for high g.i food and drinks such as white bread, potatoes and white rice, baked products, sweets, sodas.

7. High blood pressure or hypertension

8. Rapid mood swings, sleeping problems and poor concentration

9. Skin tags in the neck, groin or armpit area.

10. Dry and flaky skin, splitting nails and dull hair (and other general symptoms of malnourishment)

11. Excessive sweating

12. Stubborn body fat which does not seem to shift no matter how restrictive you are with your diet

The Syndrome X Solution

The following are some of the best ways and straight-forward, non-medical ways of countering and reversing Syndrome X.

1. Severely restrict foods and drinks which have a high glycemic index.

2. Restrict foods high in fat (with particular emphasis on processed fats) as these foods can also cause insulin resistance, especially in combination with high sugar/ high carbohydrate intake.

3. Favour high fibre, high nutrient low glycemic foods that are filling and are blood sugar and fat loss friendly.

4. Providing high protein and healthy fat based foods

5. Exercise!

Create a caloric deficit by eating less calories than your body burns per day so to lose excess body fat.