Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome is the name given to a group of conditions that occur together and are considered to increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes in an individual. The conditions include increased blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes or “pre-diabetes”), excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. It is estimated that 1 in 3 adults aged 50 or over in the UK have metabolic syndrome.
This umbrella term for these conditions is useful because when they occur together it is an indicator of increased risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes occurring, but also because there is a shared underlying cause for all of them, raised insulin levels in the blood (hyperinsulinaemia). This view is held by advocates of low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diets but is not necessarily accepted by all in the medical profession.
The LCHF view is that insulin and blood sugar act as inflammatory agents, leading to the damage to the arteries that ultimately causes strokes and heart disease, high blood pressure and the damaging symptoms of diabetes including eye disease, vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves in the skin, arms and legs).
By reducing the intake of sugars and starches, blood insulin levels are reduced and the typical blood vessel and nerve damage associated with diabetes, high blood pressure and raised blood lipids are avoided.
Many people are unaware of the high sugar content of foods they think are healthy. Most fruits are a little more than sugar, with 120g of apple containing the equivalent of 2.3 teaspoons, a banana 5.7 teaspoons and raisins 10.3 teaspoons of sugar. Of particular concern for causing inflamation are the high levels of modified fructose and other sugars found in ultra-processed foods. A prime example of these is High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) which has no nutritional value and causes large blood sugar spikes, inflammation and cravings.
Further Reading:
Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916
NHS Website
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/metabolic-syndrome/
Levels - Metabolic Basics | Metabolic Markers
https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/what-is-metabolic-syndrome
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