Obesity, High Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
There is a health phenomenon sweeping this country. Unfortunately, more than half of us will suffer from it. It leads to high cholesterol, high triglycerides, weight gain with difficulty losing weight, and often leads to late-onset or Type II diabetes later in life. Fortunately it is preventable. It is also reversible. It is called "Syndrome X" and it can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements.
Who develops this syndrome? People that consume a high level of carbohydrates in their diets. What are carbohydrates? Breads, white rice, pasta, pastries, sugars, alcohol, fruit juices, sodas, sweets, potatoes, and corn. These foods are a cultural norm for us, but they aren't good for our health. The more of these carbohydrates that a person eats, the more insulin the pancreas has to release into the blood stream. The more insulin that the insulin receptors are exposed to over a life-time, the more resistant to it they become. This process is known as "insulin resistance." The more resistant the receptor sites become, the more insulin the pancreas must produce. It is a vicious cycle. Eventually the pancreas becomes exhausted and is unable to keep up with the over-demand for insulin. This state of health is known as Type II diabetes.
Normal levels of insulin vary according to different labs and experts. Most of them allow upper limits that are far beyond ideal. Simply having your insulin blood test come back "normal" doesn't insure that your blood sugar/insulin balance is ideal. Normal upper-limit values on laboratory reports range from 24-90 mcIU/ml. Aiming for a value between 5 and 10 mcIU/ml might place an individual in a more ideal preventative state of health.
Nutritional supplementation for supporting healthy insulin receptor function, pancreatic function and blood sugar management includes herbal remedies such as: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Gymnema sylvestre, Tigonella foenum graecum seed powder, Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, Salybum marianum, Vaccinium myrtilus, and Momordica charantia; Vitamin and minerals such as alpha lipoic acid, chromium, vanadyl sulfate, pyridoxal 5' phosphate and magnesium. Omega 3 and omega 9 fatty acids are the types of fats that best support a person facing these health challenges.
Dietary changes should include: avoiding the carbohydrates listed above, fried fats, omega 6 fats and partially hydrogenated oils, processed foods and increase protein to include it at every meal or snack such as free-range and organic meats, dairy, butter in moderation and eggs, omega 3 rich foods such as free-range eggs, extra virgin olive oil, non-starchy vegetables and including as many whole, natural and organic foods as possible.