Metabolic Syndrome And Insulin Resistance: Causes And Treatments

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Metabolic Syndrome And Insulin Resistance: Causes And Treatments
The treatment of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
involves weight loss, exercise and dietary modifications.
Adding spices such as cinnamon, caper, coriander,
fenugreek, garlic and ginger to the diet can help to
minimize the effects of this disease.

Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X or Insulin
Resistance Syndrome is not only considered a disease in its
own right, but is also a precursor to Type II diabetes and
increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
It is thought to affect up to 25% of the USA population
most of whom are unaware that they have the condition.

American Heart Association criteria for the diagnosis of
metabolic syndrome are:

? Elevated waist circumference: Men over 42 inches, women
over 35 inches

? 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

? Blood pressure over 130/85 mm Hg or use of medication for
hypertension

? Fasting blood glucose over100 mg/dL or use of medication
for hyperglycemia

One of the features of metabolic syndrome is insulin
resistance which is also the main pathology underlying Type
II diabetes.

Before a cell will allow glucose through its protective
membrane, its insulin receptor must be "turned on" by
insulin or a chemical mimic. Insulin resistance occurs when
the receptor develops a weakened response to insulin
resulting in the cell's failure to absorb sufficient
quantities of glucose from the blood. This results in
energy deprivation for the cells and raised blood glucose
levels.

The primary cause of this weakened insulin receptor
response is the chronic over-production of insulin. Not
only does too much insulin lead to receptor failure, but
wide fluctuations in insulin levels are also known to be an
important cause of this condition. A useful analogy is that
of forcing an oversized key (high insulin levels) into a
lock (insulin receptor). After a while, the excessive wear
and tear caused by the large key results in damage to the
lock making it increasingly harder to turn. If this
continues for long enough, the lock wears out and fails to
work. These oscillating insulin levels are closely
associated with central obesity and a diet high in refined
carbohydrate foods.

The primary treatment of metabolic syndrome is that of
lifestyle changes. It is vital for those with this disease
to lose weight by eating correctly and exercising more.
High glycemic index foods should be eliminated altogether
as these are the main culprits when it comes to weight gain
and insulin resistance.

Another invaluable dietary tool for preventing and managing
metabolic syndrome are the spices. These foods counter
disease processes in several ways and can be tremendously
helpful in countering both metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

? Cinnamon, for example, is a potent inducer of insulin
sensitivity and the addition of as little as one gram a day
to the diet can reduce abnormal blood glucose levels by a
staggering 30 percent. It does this by enhancing the
enzymes that increase insulin receptor sensitivity and
inhibiting those enzymes with the opposite action. Cinnamon
has the added benefit of lowering the abnormal lipid levels
commonly found in metabolic syndrome and reducing the
oxidative stress caused by lipid oxidation in these
patients.

? Fenugreek is also highly effective at modulating glucose
metabolism and can lower blood glucose by up to 45 percent.
This spice both increases insulin receptor sensitivity and
normalizes the imbalanced blood lipid levels of diabetics.
The fiber contained in fenugreek also lowers the glycemic
index of a meal, thus modulating the post-prandial blood
glucose levels by slowing the absorption of high glycemic
index foods.

? Ginger and caper counter insulin resistance by increasing
sensitivity to insulin.

? Capers, coriander and garlic mimic the effects of insulin
on the cell receptors while coriander enhances insulin
secretion by the pancreas.

? Metabolic syndrome is associated with oxidative stress
therefore most spices can, with their rich array of
antioxidants, help reduce the impact of free radical damage
by reducing the oxidation of fats in these patients.

Spices possess an amazing potency and range of weapons in
the fight against metabolic syndrome. In conjunction with
vital lifestyle changes they can help to reverse the
progress of this disease and its associated conditions.

----------------------------------------------------
Dr Keith Scott is a medical doctor who has a special
interest in nutrition and has written several books
including the ground breaking, "Medicinal Seasonings, The
Healing Power of Spices" and "Natural Home Pharmacy".
Download a free pdf copy of "Medicinal Seasonings" and find
out more about the medicinal properties of spices at:
http://www.medspice.com

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