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Reverse Syndrome X, Slow Down Carbohydrate Absorption and Lose Weight Naturally!
Eat less, exercise, lose weight. It sounds so simple. Yet, obesity among US adults has reached epidemic proportions. According to a new report in the June 18th issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, 61% of adults are either overweight or obese. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention, an astounding 45 million adults are obese! Moreover, the epidemic is not limited to adults. The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than doubled in the last 20 years. From 10% to 15% of Americans aged 6-17 years—about 8 million young people—are considered overweight.
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Is being overweight really so terrible?
Senators on Capitol Hill are mulling a "fat tax" on junk food, with proceeds earmarked to help obese people get thin. And many months after outgoing US Surgeon General David Satcher issued a "call to action" in the war on obesity, the battle rages on. But the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is fighting back and saying that being overweight is not unhealthy, in spite of the countless studies to the contrary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been saying for years that being overweight is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disabilities, and some cancers. And a recently published study reiterated that finding. Obesity is a risk factor for four of the six most frequent causes of death in the US—heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.1
So to answer the question "Is being overweight really so terrible?" —YES, it definitely is!
But more than just a physical problem, being overweight affects your energy levels, how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you. It can affect your relationships, your career, and your happiness. Attaining a healthy weight can have an enormously positive impact on your health and your life in general. So, if you or someone you know would like to shed those extra pounds, keep reading … and we'll tell you how to lose weight naturally, quickly and effectively, without making major lifestyle changes.
Why are we so fat?
Obesity is a complex issue. Weight problems can be the result of eating the wrong foods, not exercising, glandular malfunction, malnutrition, stress, boredom, and simply eating too much. Centuries ago obesity wasn't the problem it is today. Our ancestors got lots of physical exercise and ate unprocessed, nutritious food. Junk food didn't exist, and neither did television or garage door openers. Sitting on the couch with a bag of chips and driving into your garage without getting out and opening the door are just two modern lifestyle hazards that have contributed to excess calories which turn into fat.
Even though few people require more than 2,000 calories a day, the typical United States diet produces enough food for people to consume 3,700 calories every day. (The New York Times Magazine, March 10, 1996)
But it was only recently that Syndrome X, a nutritional disease caused by eating the wrong types of food, was shown to be a contributor to obesity.
Syndrome X: A major cause of overweight
What is Syndrome X?
Syndrome X is not some rare, mysterious disease. It is a term coined in 1988 by Stanford University endocrinologist Dr. Gerald Reaven, that describes a group of symptoms including high blood pressure, abdominal obesity (a "spare tire around the middle"), insulin resistance, high levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL or "good" lipoproteins. 23 In the past 13 years, low levels of antioxidant vitamins and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), high cortisol levels, and depression have been added to the list. 4
Some experts estimate that as many as two-thirds of Americans may be suffering from Syndrome X. It can remain effectively hidden for years, masquerading as symptoms of other conditions including abdominal (apple-shaped) obesity, fatigue, poor mental concentration, edema (fluid retention), nerve damage and an intense craving for sweets.
And since Syndrome X is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, it makes perfect sense that, since the overweight problem of Americans has skyrocketed in the past 20 years, according to studies, the number of people with type 2 diabetes—a disease that can result from excess weight—also increased by one-third during the 1990s. Children as young as 10 are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes because it affected people in their 40s and older.
How do you develop Syndrome X?
Syndrome X develops over time, mainly from a diet high in refined carbohydrates such as breads, starches and sweets. These foods trigger a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, and the body responds by raising levels of insulin. The more carbohydrates you eat the more your body pumps out insulin to deal with all the extra blood sugar. Eventually, your body becomes overwhelmed by the amount of insulin, sluggish in response to it—and you've developed insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance and Syndrome X can go undetected for up to 40 years, or until serious complications begin to surface and the pancreas just can't keep up with the demand for insulin. Some people produce two, three or four times the normal amount of insulin. Yet, because the cells have lost their sensitivity to the hormone, they require even more of it to maintain normal glucose levels.
When blood sugar and insulin levels go up, Syndrome X and weight gain result. In advanced stages of Syndrome X, when the pancreas can no longer keep up, adult onset diabetes II may develop. Syndrome X also generates high levels of cell-damaging free radicals and causes premature aging. Some researchers believe it can also increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and some types of cancer.5
Fortunately, by understanding the mechanism of Syndrome X, we can now stop it in its tracks and even reverse it, leading to improved health, longer life, greater mental clarity and … yes … rapid and permanent weight loss.
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This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
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