Anyone been to New Zealand before? I've always wanted to explore New Zealand, a great place to visit, beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sceneries. The Maori, an ingenious tribe in New Zealand, was originally migrated from other parts of Polynesia, and settled in this country. For centuries, the Maori were lean, athletic population, who ate diets consisting largely of fishes, sweet potatoes and fern roots. Then, in the 19th century, European settlers began to arrive in New Zealand, and intermarriage between the Maori and the colonists became common.
Many of the Maori people adopted a western style diets, consisting large quantities of food, that was not previously and important part of their culinary heritage, SUGAR. Within a short period of time, the Maori became one of the most obese people in the world. Sad, but true. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes once virtually non existence in this population, soared. The problem has only worsen over time. The Maori, especially guys, have one of the most highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world.
In the United States, they are basically ranked 47 in overall health charts, compared to the rest of the countries in the world. This statistic was obtained a few years back, and I doubt the ranking will improve? United States is the most powerful country on this planet, they have the most advanced tools and weapons known to human. They have one of the most advanced security systems, but what happen to health departments? The people in this country spent the most money comparing to other nations in this world, when it comes to health, but the rates of most diseases increases rapidly. Why? Diet, their way of eating, day in day out. Infertility diet, western style diet, American diet. Whatever name you want to call it, it's basically a very unhealthy diet.
Malaysians are adopting similar western style diets for years now, and we are seeing a consistent increase in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc. More and more people have extended waistline and disease prone, we have increased numbers of people going to clinics and hospitals regularly, people falling sicker and fatter, quality of live, health and wellness decrease, and food, chemical and pharmaceutical companies are getting richer and more powerful. What's even better, is society don't even really care about what's happening to their health and wellness, and their generations of families, the reproduction quality, the fertility factor of what will determine the continued existence of human beings. Our species are dying, we are having infertility problems all over the world, but most people do not acknowledge this fact, and we human, are on the path of extinction.
Rising rates of diabetes have been detected in South America, India, and southern Asia, all parts of the world where sugar consumption has risen in recent years. Along with diabetes, high blood pressure is another potential devastating medical condition that made the transition from rare to rampant during the 20th century. Also called hypertension, high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and heart failure, and it raises the risk of heart attack and kidney disease as well.
Like obesity, hypertension is becoming a worldwide threat. Increases in diabetes and hypertension have also contributed to a striking rise in kidney disease. You many be wondering, what do sugar and other sources of fructose have to do with cardiovascular disease? After all, doesn't eating high-fat foods cause heart attacks?
Because of certain population studies, many cardiologists consider fat as nutrition number one enemy. Meanwhile, most heart doctors pay far less attention to sugar.
Right, now, let's talk about something a bit more fascinating. Metabolic syndrome. How come I say 'fascinating'? Well, do you know there are a lot of people walking on this planet who don't even know they have metabolic syndrome? Yes, you are one them. Overweight or obese, high insulin levels in the body, etc. I know it might sound like a movie title, but let me tell you, it is a very real health menace.
Metabolic syndrome is not a disease, rather, it's a constellation of five 'signs', which is a term doctors use for phenomena that they observe in patients. For example, having metabolic syndrome doubles your odds of suffering from heart attack and increases five folds your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Clearly, it is in your own interest to avoid developing metabolic syndrome, and your smartest step towards that goal, is to consume less sugar, particularly fructose.
Today, sweet foods and beverages are one of the staples of American diet, and my own country is also not far behind. As sugar intake grew, waistlines expanded, and once rare conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 Diabetes became the leading causes of death and disability.
Though metabolic syndrome has become a hot topic in medicine in recent years, the concept is hardly new. Obese people, it became clear, tend to develop diabetes and other disorders and die prematurely. The view that excess body fat was a serious risk factor for disease gathered steam over the years. Obese people often have insulin resistance, elevated blood fats, and certain other conditions that increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease. This is also known as Syndrome X, and also known as metabolic syndrome.
Now, you must be asking yourself, do you have metabolic syndrome? Well, if u score at least three points from the guidelines below, then you have metabolic syndrome. Give yourself one point for each of the following five clinical features that you fulfill.
Abdominal obesity
Being overweight is unhealthy, it doesn't matter where you carry your excess flab. But fat tissue in and around the abdomen, better known as beer belly or spare tire, is especially bad for your health. You have abdominal obesity, if your waist meets circumference meets these criteria.
Men : 40 inches or larger
Women : 35 inches or larger
To measure your waist circumference, wrap a tape measurement around your bare abdomen just above the hipbone. The tape should not be so tight that it squeezes your skin. Take a deep breath, exhale, and measure your waist.
Elevated triglycerides
Most of the fat in food, comes in the form of triglycerides. When you eat more calories than you burn through physical activity, your liver converts the excess fuel into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. If you keep eat too much or don't get enough exercise, fat cells keep filling up with triglycerides, and you turn flabby. Doctors measure triglycerides after you fasted overnight or for at least 8 hours. Add one point if :
or
Blood pressure refers to the amount of force that blood exerts against the wall of your blood vessels, as it circulates throughout your body. Blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Add one point, if you meet the following criteria.
or
Elevated blood glucose
Carbohydrates in food break down into glucose or other sugars before reaching the blood stream, providing the body with its main source of fuel. In a condition called insulin resistance, which precedes type 2 diabetes, cells aren't able to absorb glucose from the blood. Chronically, elevated blood glucose is a sign of insulin resistance and lead to diabetes complications, such as blindness and nerve damage. Doctors measure levels of glucose in the blood after you have fasted overnight or for at least 8 hours. Add one point if you meet the following criteria.
or
Metabolic syndrome does not have a single cause. Likewise, the individual components of metabolic syndrome can be induced by a variety of factors, including genetics, physical activity and alcohol consumption. People with metabolic syndrome, often have 'sticky blood' which forms clots easily. This can results with heart attack and circulatory problems. This is not open to debate, as consumption of sugar, can trigger all of the conditions that make up for metabolic syndrome. Period.
Because of certain population studies, many cardiologists consider fat as nutrition number one enemy. Meanwhile, most heart doctors pay far less attention to sugar.
Right, now, let's talk about something a bit more fascinating. Metabolic syndrome. How come I say 'fascinating'? Well, do you know there are a lot of people walking on this planet who don't even know they have metabolic syndrome? Yes, you are one them. Overweight or obese, high insulin levels in the body, etc. I know it might sound like a movie title, but let me tell you, it is a very real health menace.
Metabolic syndrome is not a disease, rather, it's a constellation of five 'signs', which is a term doctors use for phenomena that they observe in patients. For example, having metabolic syndrome doubles your odds of suffering from heart attack and increases five folds your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Clearly, it is in your own interest to avoid developing metabolic syndrome, and your smartest step towards that goal, is to consume less sugar, particularly fructose.
Today, sweet foods and beverages are one of the staples of American diet, and my own country is also not far behind. As sugar intake grew, waistlines expanded, and once rare conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 Diabetes became the leading causes of death and disability.
Though metabolic syndrome has become a hot topic in medicine in recent years, the concept is hardly new. Obese people, it became clear, tend to develop diabetes and other disorders and die prematurely. The view that excess body fat was a serious risk factor for disease gathered steam over the years. Obese people often have insulin resistance, elevated blood fats, and certain other conditions that increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease. This is also known as Syndrome X, and also known as metabolic syndrome.
Now, you must be asking yourself, do you have metabolic syndrome? Well, if u score at least three points from the guidelines below, then you have metabolic syndrome. Give yourself one point for each of the following five clinical features that you fulfill.
Abdominal obesity
Being overweight is unhealthy, it doesn't matter where you carry your excess flab. But fat tissue in and around the abdomen, better known as beer belly or spare tire, is especially bad for your health. You have abdominal obesity, if your waist meets circumference meets these criteria.
Men : 40 inches or larger
Women : 35 inches or larger
To measure your waist circumference, wrap a tape measurement around your bare abdomen just above the hipbone. The tape should not be so tight that it squeezes your skin. Take a deep breath, exhale, and measure your waist.
Elevated triglycerides
Most of the fat in food, comes in the form of triglycerides. When you eat more calories than you burn through physical activity, your liver converts the excess fuel into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. If you keep eat too much or don't get enough exercise, fat cells keep filling up with triglycerides, and you turn flabby. Doctors measure triglycerides after you fasted overnight or for at least 8 hours. Add one point if :
- Your fasting blood triglycerides are 150 mg/dl or higher
or
- You take medication to lower elevated triglycerides
Low HDL level
Interestingly, people with metabolic syndrome often have normal levels of total cholesterol and LDL, but below-normal levels of HDL. High levels of HDL, protects against cardiovascular disease, and low levels encourage atherosclerosis. Add one point, if you meet the following criteria.
- Men: Your HDL is lower then 40mg/dl
- Women: Your HDL is lower then 50mg/dl
or
- You take medication to increase your HDL level.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure refers to the amount of force that blood exerts against the wall of your blood vessels, as it circulates throughout your body. Blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Add one point, if you meet the following criteria.
- Your systolic pressure (the top number) is 130mm Hg or greater.
- Your diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is 85mm Hg or greater.
or
- You take medication to treat high blood pressure.
Elevated blood glucose
Carbohydrates in food break down into glucose or other sugars before reaching the blood stream, providing the body with its main source of fuel. In a condition called insulin resistance, which precedes type 2 diabetes, cells aren't able to absorb glucose from the blood. Chronically, elevated blood glucose is a sign of insulin resistance and lead to diabetes complications, such as blindness and nerve damage. Doctors measure levels of glucose in the blood after you have fasted overnight or for at least 8 hours. Add one point if you meet the following criteria.
- Your fasting blood glucose is 100mg/dl or higher
or
- You take medication to lower blood glucose
Metabolic syndrome does not have a single cause. Likewise, the individual components of metabolic syndrome can be induced by a variety of factors, including genetics, physical activity and alcohol consumption. People with metabolic syndrome, often have 'sticky blood' which forms clots easily. This can results with heart attack and circulatory problems. This is not open to debate, as consumption of sugar, can trigger all of the conditions that make up for metabolic syndrome. Period.
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