I’d like to talk about a hidden threat to your health that’s routinely overlooked by most mainstream doctors—metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of underlying health disorders that increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. As the name suggests, metabolic syndrome is tied to the body’s metabolism and to a condition called insulin resistance. Also formerly known as “syndrome x,” “insulin resistance syndrome” or a “pre-diabetic condition,” metabolic syndrome is characterized by one or more of the following conditions:

• Abdominal obesity, also called visceral adipose tissue (VAT)—This type of obesity is seen in men and women with an “apple body shape” which means that body fat is stored around your middle section—abdomen, chest and surrounding internal organs, such as the heart.
• Physical inactivity—Not getting enough exercise contributes to many health issues including metabolic syndrome.
• Hormonal imbalance—According to a Diabetes Care article, when the testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin is measured in men, the men whose levels fall in the lower fourth have a greatly increased rate of metabolic syndrome.
• Cholesterol problems—High triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol (”good” cholesterol) and high LDL cholesterol (”bad” cholesterol).
• Hypertension—An arterial disease in which abnormally high blood pressure is the primary symptom.
• Insulin resistance—Determined by measuring high insulin levels in the blood.
• Glucose intolerance—High blood sugar measured after meals but not constantly high.
• Pro-thrombotic state—High fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the blood, and a tendency for deep vein blood clots.
• Pro-inflammatory state—Measured as elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) blood levels.

It is estimated that as many as one in four American adults over age 30 have metabolic syndrome, and the biggest majority DON’T EVEN KNOW IT! Having one symptom of metabolic syndrome means you’re more likely to have others. And the more components you have, the greater the risks to your health!

The dominant underlying risk factors for metabolic syndrome appear to be abdominal obesity and insulin resistance—both of which are characteristics of Type 2 diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), more than six million people in the United States have Type 2 diabetes and DON’T EVEN KNOW IT!

In order to prevent this deadly disease from wreaking havoc on your life, there are facts you must know. Be sure to read NEXT WEEK’s article, where I will focus in on the major risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes. You won’t want to miss it…