A new kid on the block called Metabolic Syndrome is on the rise, especially among adults that have gained fat around their midsections and are much less physically active compared to their teen years.
About two thirds of us are overweight and exercise deficient, and up to 40 percent of adults have this condition and the worst part is many of them don’t even know it.
Sometimes called Syndrome X this condition describes a cluster of symptoms that can put you at high risk for major disease. Early signs of this condition are you may be carrying extra body fat and your waist size measures greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women.
But having a big belly isn’t just somewhere you store this extra weight. From your body’s standpoint, fat around your waistline is a very different kind of fat than, say, fat on your thighs or backside. It is much easier for this kind of fat to get into the bloodstream, where it can wreak havoc causing accelerating aging and increasing the dangers of diseases like the ‘big three’ heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
The reason for this if that one of the hallmark signs of Metabolic Syndrome – insulin resistance – causes fat to be stored in dangerous areas, such as deep in the abdomen or around major organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys etc. And the more sugar and highly processed foods you eat, the higher your risk for this nasty villain to invade your body.
Having this condition can explain why you frequently feel fatigued and sluggish both physically and mentally especially after eating a meal. Are you slowly but steadily gaining weight – and having difficulty losing it? Is your health deteriorating and you don’t know why? Do you feel you are aging at a faster rate than you should be?
These are some of the symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome which can set the stage for catastrophic health problems later on down the road.
This process develops over a course of years or decades, sometimes 40 or more years. It often goes unnoticed until symptoms of ill health appear, and then it is often too late.
Diets that are high in calories and saturated fat and low in fiber along with a lack of regular physical activity contribute to the risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome. After all it is the body’s way of resisting excessive sugar and carbohydrate levels from highly refined and processed foods. These foods are things like baked goods, packaged cereals and sugary drinks etc.
The Good News
The good news is that when a serious exercise program is initiated, one that contains at least 60% strength training exercise the first type of fat to go is this dangerous type of fat. Muscle tissue needs to be used and if it isn’t used enough through vigorous work or exercise muscle cells become even more resistant to insulin which further contributes to the risk of this condition.
This starts a downward spiral as if muscle tissue is not used on a regular basis it is broken down and discarded. With less muscle tissue the metabolism (the body’s engine) is less efficient and body fat levels are likely to increase causing further resistance to insulin worsening the condition.
Regular strength training exercise primes your cells for activity. To get the energy you need for exercise, your body uses insulin to move sugar and fat into muscle cells where they are burned as fuel and harmlessly dissipated. Rebuilding lost muscle tissue is important as more muscle tissue means more insulin receptors, which helps reverse insulin resistance.
This allows the muscle tissue, in essence, to work away and reduce excess body fat improving overall health in general.
This simple cure of proper exercise is a potent tool to reduce your risk of this modern day health destroyer.
Get your health on track and give your body what it takes to stay strong. You can boost your metabolism and overall heal by taking command of your life now by keeping your muscles in tip-top condition…strong and toned at all times. Proper exercise along with healthy proper eating are the critical players. If you want to be strong, active and well beyond your eighties, you cannot ignore what’s going on with your body now.
“Reclaim Your Longevity” can help you do just that…
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