Metabolic Syndrome is Preventable

Today’s Re-Powering Information - Yesterday Jamie shared information about metabolic syndrome with her ladies and I wanted to pass it on to you. I have mentioned it before and you may have heard of it. It’s sweeping out nation and while it may not effect you, it may be silently jeopardizing someone you love. Even having one of the symptoms is a risk factor for disease and combined it’s life shortening and quality of life is low.

Yesterday I was running some errands and as I was parking and running in and out of stores I couldn’t help but notice how many more handicap spaces there are in the new malls being built. I remember one or two and now it seems like ½ of the Highland Village Town Center is handicap. I say this not b/c I want the close spot, but when I observe the people who are using the handicap spaces, they are almost always overweight. Which came first being over weight and then unable to walk or unable to walk and then overweight. I am taking an educated guess that many people become over weight, stress their bodies, loose function and become handicapped b/c their muscles and joints are not strong enough to lift them in and out of a car or to walk more than a few steps to the front door of a store. I would guess that with weight loss and conditioning, a lot (certainly not all) of those who are unable to ambulate (or not for any distance) could function fully again.

If we are our bodies own worst enemies and then begin accepting our weaknesses, all of which are lifestyle related, we have surrendered. Metabolic Syndrome is a lifestyle syndrome. Every one of the 5 factors that are killing Americans are COMPLETELY preventable with a healthy lifestyle. Instead of making better choices, we are choosing medicine, a reduced quality of life and handicapped parking spots. I know it’s not anyone in camp, but maybe it’s someone you love who you have influence over. And what kind of a message are we sending to our children. Okay I’ll stop ranting. Here’s Jamie’s e-mail from yesterday and I am going to cover Fat Burners tomorrow.

Also read below for a fantastic pancake with egg white recipe.

I briefly mentioned in one of last camp's emails a very serious condition called the "Metabolic Syndrome" or "Syndrome X." It is a cluster of metabolic disorders that include obesity, dislipidemia, high blood pressure, and more (see details below). Medical professionals, are not sure what the root cause is of this dangerous conglomeration of diseases, but the most common factors is Insulin Resistance, and obesity.

I would like to add that High Cholesterol has gotten a lot of press as being the most dangerous risk of heart disease. I would suggest to you that it is High Blood Pressure! Why? High Blood Pressure causes
(obviously) pressure in the arteries of the heart, that cause little breaks, fractures or tears in the artery. It is then that the High Cholesterol comes a "plugs up" those little tears in the artery with plaque. When enough plaques build up in the arteries, that is what causes the "narrowing" of the artery, and so on. The result is not enough blood getting to the heart...and HEART ATTACK. So, take note of the blood pressure recommendations and make sure that you know your blood pressure. I have a blood pressure cuff that I will be more than happy to take yours before camp starts (resting). I don't keep it in my car, so you would have to let me know ahead of time.

Why do I inform you of this? Because, so many, if not all, of these conditions can be prevented/improved with life-style intervention.
That would consist of a healthy diet and regular, structured exercise!!!

See the article from the American Heart Association re: the Metabolic Syndrome and go to their website for more information.

See yall tomorrow! jamie


Metabolic Syndrome

What is the metabolic syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include:

* Abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
* Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
* Elevated blood pressure
* Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can't properly use insulin or blood sugar)
* Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor–1 in the blood)
* Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood)

People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 diabetes. The metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States. It's estimated that over 50 million Americans have it.

The dominant underlying risk factors for this syndrome appear to be abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a generalized metabolic disorder, in which the body can't use insulin efficiently. This is why the metabolic syndrome is also called the insulin resistance syndrome.

Other conditions associated with the syndrome include physical inactivity, aging, hormonal imbalance and genetic predisposition.

Some people are genetically predisposed to insulin resistance.
Acquired factors, such as excess body fat and physical inactivity, can elicit insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in these people.
Most people with insulin resistance have abdominal obesity. The biologic mechanisms at the molecular level between insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors aren't fully understood and appear to be complex.

How is the metabolic syndrome diagnosed?
There are no well-accepted criteria for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. The criteria proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), with minor modifications, are currently recommended and widely used.

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that the metabolic syndrome be identified as the presence of three or more of these components:

* Elevated waist circumference:
Men — Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
Women — Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm)
*
Elevated triglycerides:
Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL
* Reduced HDL ("good") cholesterol:
Men — Less than 40 mg/dL
Women — Less than 50 mg/dL
* Elevated blood pressure:
Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg
* Elevated fasting glucose:
Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL

AHA Recommendation for Managing the Metabolic Syndrome:
The primary goal of clinical management of the metabolic syndrome is to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Then, the first-line therapy is to reduce the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease: stop smoking and reduce LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels to the recommended levels.

For managing both long- and short-term risk, lifestyle therapies are the first-line interventions to reduce the metabolic risk factors.
These lifestyle interventions include:

* Weight loss to achieve a desirable weight (BMI less than 25 kg/m2)
* Increased physical activity, with a goal of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week
* Healthy eating habits that include reduced intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol



Tomm Voss's Oatmeal Egg-White Pancakes



6 egg whites
2 whole eggs
1 cup quick oats
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped fresh or dried fruit (strawberries, blueberries or raisins work well)
3 packets Splenda or other sweetener
Nonstick cooking spray


Directions


Combine all ingredients except cooking spray in a blender. Spray a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. When the pan is hot, pour in half the batter. Cook on one side until the edges look done and batter bubbles in the middle, approximately three minutes. Then flip pancake and cook until no longer runny inside. Cook remaining batter the same way. Eat hot or at room temperature. Store in refrigerator in large resealable plastic bags or plastic wrap.
End

Have an athletic day!