Rebooting or resetting your metabolism a great way to start the journey towards greater health and happiness, and extend quality of life.
In this article, I will clearly define metabolic syndrome, what causes this imbalance, the dangers of leaving it unresolved, and what you can do about it naturally.
Whether is Cholesterol, Blood pressure, Blood sugar, or Weight Gain that’s the problem, a metabolic reset is just the thing. First, let’s outline exactly what metabolic syndrome is.
(1) (International Diabetes Federation[43] IDF) consensus PDF https://www.idf.org/our-activities/advocacy-awareness/resources-and-tools/60:idfconsensus-worldwide-definitionof-the-metabolic-syndrome.html
(2) Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among US adults: findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Pubmed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11790215
(3) Anti-inflammatory properties of culinary herbs and spices that ameliorate the effects of metabolic syndrome. Pubmed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22226987
(4) Low-grade systemic inflammation connects aging, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
Pubmed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25341516
(5) Insulin resistance in obesity as the underlying cause of metabolic syndrome. PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20960553
(6) Changing definitions of metabolic syndrome. PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263200/
(7) Insulin and Insulin Resistance. PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1204764/
(8) Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies. PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452247/
(9) Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity and Sex in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–2012. CDC https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2017/16_0287.htm
(10) The Global Epidemic of the Metabolic Syndrome. PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5866840/
(11) Metabolic syndrome and clinical outcomes in patients infected with COVID‐19: Does age, sex, and race of the patient with metabolic syndrome matter? PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8013372/
The Hidden Epidemic
When you think of worldwide epidemics things like SARS, Corona Virus, HIV, Malaria, Bird flu, or Ebola comes to mind. In-fact these infectious and contagious diseases come and go on regular cycles and have been around for a long time. The epidemic we are talking about today is completely different and much more modern.
It’s insidious and emerges from our society and lifestyle rather than some external pathogen or infection.
Up to 70% of the population die from one of these.
You probably know somebody in your own family who has suffered from diabetes, a heart attack, a stroke, or even cancer. That’s because these are the biggest killers globally and they are definitely on the rise in recent decades.
For Cancer in 2012 alone, there were 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths worldwide. The most commonly diagnosed cancers were lung (1.82 million), breast (1.67 million), and colorectal (1.36 million).
The most common causes of cancer death were lung cancer (1.6 million deaths), liver cancer (745,000 deaths), and stomach cancer (723,000 deaths). (1)
Apart from these cancers, the top 10 leading causes of death in 2012 globally can be seen in the chart above.
One Quarter Of The World’s Adults Have Metabolic Syndrome
These top killers in the image above, represent the result of our biggest epidemic in history, but they are not actually the epidemic in themselves. In other words, the real epidemic is not listed as a cause of death.
The real epidemic is not widely spoken about and is not addressed by the governments or public health systems. It is swept under the carpet and ignored because it’s just too hard to deal with.
The real epidemic is something much more difficult to quantify accurately and more difficult to manage in a public health scenario. The real epidemic is called Metabolic Syndrome, also known as metabolic disease.
With the successful conquest of many of the old infectious diseases in the world, non-communicable diseases have become the major cause of morbidity and mortality not only in the developed world but also in underdeveloped countries. Among all these metabolic syndrome has been the real scourge globally. (10)
Metabolism refers to the complex network of chemical reactions in the body that convert food into energy and other building blocks necessary for life, as well as the elimination of wastes. These biochemical processes are essential for maintaining the balanced living state of cells and organisms.
Metabolic syndrome is an imbalance of metabolism and comprises the most critical risk factors for cancer, heart attacks, and stroke, including diabetes and prediabetes, abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Metabolic Syndrome – a definition
Metabolic syndrome (MeTS) is a disorder of energy utilization and storage, diagnosed by a co-occurrence of three out of five of the following medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol levels. (6)
The International Diabetes Federation worldwide definition of the metabolic syndrome (2006) is Central obesity AND any two of the following:
- Raised triglycerides: > 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L), or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality
- Reduced HDL cholesterol: < 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) in males, < 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) in females, or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality
- Raised blood pressure (BP): systolic BP > 130 or diastolic BP >85 mm Hg, or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension
- Raised fasting plasma glucose (FPG): >100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes (1) Some studies have shown the prevalence in the USA to be an estimated 34% of the adult population, and the prevalence increases with age. (2) MeTS is also known as metabolic syndrome X, cardiometabolic syndrome, syndrome X, and insulin resistance syndrome.
Health & Economic Burden
Over one-third of adults in the U.S. are affected by metabolic syndrome (9). Individuals with this condition are twice as likely to die and three times more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those without it.
Moreover, those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome have a fivefold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Remarkably, up to 80% of the 200 million people worldwide with diabetes will succumb to cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death. This positions metabolic syndrome and diabetes well above infectious diseases in terms of morbidity and mortality rates (1).
Into the Trillions
The overall cost of this condition, including healthcare expenses and lost economic potential, reaches into the trillions. The current trajectory is unsustainable without the discovery of an unlikely miraculous cure or through robust global, governmental, and societal interventions aimed at modifying the lifestyle behaviors that contribute to its prevalence (10).
The Toxicity Link To Metabolic Syndrome
The impact of metabolic toxins—ranging from processed sugars and fats to chemical food additives and environmental pollutants—on metabolic processes is profound and multi-faceted. These substances can disrupt normal metabolic functions on a biochemical level, contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome over time.
See how the process of toxin-related metabolic syndrome unfolds in stages below.
Insulin Resistance
- Processed Sugars: High intake of processed sugars (e.g., high-fructose corn syrup) can lead to a spike in blood sugar and insulin levels. Over time, the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a key factor in metabolic syndrome and paves the way for type 2 diabetes.
- Fructose: mainly metabolized by the liver, places a significant metabolic load on this organ. Commonly disguised as high fructose corn syrup, fructose is prevalent in many products labeled as “healthy,” such as fruit juices, snack bars, and cereals, available on supermarket shelves. These foods contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- Fats and Additives: Certain fats, particularly trans fats, and additives can also exacerbate insulin resistance. These substances can interfere with cell membrane function, which in turn affects insulin receptors on the surface of cells, hindering their ability to function properly.
Chronic Inflammation
- Chemical Additives: Many food additives and environmental toxins can trigger chronic inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a biological response to toxic substances and can lead to chronic stress on cellular structures, further impairing metabolic functions.
- Environmental Toxins: Pollutants like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can induce oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation and damages cells, including those involved in metabolic regulation.
Hormonal Disruption
- Endocrine Disruptors: Certain environmental toxins act as endocrine disruptors, mimicking or blocking hormones and interfering with the body’s normal hormone functions. This disruption can affect metabolic processes like glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism, crucial elements in the development of metabolic syndrome.
Liver Overload
- Toxin Metabolism: The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying harmful substances. However, excessive exposure to toxins can overwhelm this system, leading to fatty liver disease, which is often associated with metabolic syndrome. An overloaded liver struggles to metabolize fats and sugars effectively, exacerbating metabolic dysfunctions.
- Metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease: particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are closely related conditions that often occur together due to overlapping risk factors and biological pathways. the combination of insulin resistance, excess abdominal fat, hyperlipidemia, and a chronic inflammatory state not only supports the initial development of NAFLD.
Metabolic Syndrome Signs and Symptoms
Over time, these disruptions contribute cumulatively to the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. The persistent imbalance and stress on the body’s metabolic functions not only pave the way for metabolic syndrome but also increase the risk of other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Currently accepted signs and symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome:
- Low-Grade Inflammation – People have constant, low-grade inflammation throughout the body. Researchers don’t know whether this causes metabolic syndrome or worsens it. (6) You can ask for a CRP blood test for this.
- Fatty Liver or High blood triglycerides – High-fat levels in the blood and Liver are an accepted risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome. (6)
- Unhealthy Gut Microbiome – Healthy microbiome prevents many cardiovascular diseases as well as Metabolic syndrome. (10) Constipation, indigestion, bloating, or gas indicate this is an issue.
- Obesity – A waist measurement of 35 inches (87cm) or more for women or 40 inches (90cm) or more for men is a known metabolic risk factor. (6) Too much fat and sugar in the body can cause obesity and lead to insulin resistance over time. (7)
- Type 2 Diabetes or Insulin resistance – Many factors contribute to metabolic syndrome, including decreased physical activity, genetic predisposition, chronic inflammation, free fatty acids, but insulin resistance appears to be the common link between the two elements, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. (5)
- Genetic factors – This is one area we have little control over, although it is known that our genes can switch on and off in response to our thoughts.
Keto Diet and Metabolic Syndrome
Three meta-analyses about the effect of Keto Diets on cardiovascular risk factors were published recently. Their conclusions are unanimous about general positive effects (8) Studies showed that a Keto diet in humans decreased all the indicators of metabolic syndrome including blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, and blood pressure. See the picture below.
Controlling Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance with Herbs
Most culinary herbs and spices exert anti-inflammatory activities. They also activate insulin-sensitive cell receptors and enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory agents in the body. Spices can play essential roles as anti-inflammatory agents in our diet, improving insulin sensitivity, enhancing circulation, and counteracting weight gain.
The effects of chronic inflammation caused by obesity are counteracted and, consequently, the progression of diseases associated with chronic inflammation slowed. (3) Aging is associated with immune dysfunction and accompanied by a chronic inflammatory state, which contributes to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular consequences. Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes overlap, leading to the hypothesis that both share an inflammatory basis.
Obesity is increased in the elderly population, and adipose tissue induces a state of systemic inflammation These changes predispose aged individuals to CVDs. CVDs and vascular dysfunction are characterized by a chronic alteration of inflammatory function and markers of inflammation and the innate immune response, including C-reactive protein, and linked to the occurrence of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke in healthy elderly populations and patients (4)
Herbal Treatment Protocol – Detox Diets
Our program consists of taking herbal supplements along with a whole-food diet plan which fits perfectly with the Keto diet. The program comes with a recipe book and everything you need to reboot and reset your metabolism. With over 100,000 people having completed Brett Elliott’s Herbal detox and slim programs, reports come in continuously of weight management, lower cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.
This is no surprise considering the detox diet consists of fruits and vegetables and a combination of up to 40 medicinal herbs. By completing a herbal detox program annually and including culinary herbs and spices in your diet regularly you can not only improve your general health but greatly reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. To curb the global trend of these escalating health epidemics a change in habits is needed. By following a program like our herbal detox, new habits are formed. It takes many years for the body to become overwhelmed to the point of heart attack, stroke, or diabetic atrophy, by which time it is often too late to recover to full health. If you’re looking for a reset, then follow the link below.
Find out how Brett Elliott’s Herbal Detox program works here
In the same way, it takes years of regular healthy habits to promote a long-term state of good health. The earlier the habits begin, the more likely it is that a long healthy life can be achieved. This article is a very brief look at metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance and is by no means a comprehensive study. Please follow some of the references below if you want to know more. If you are interested in starting a program to improve your life and your health status then it might be worth investigating what people are saying about their experiences with a herbal detox below.
Brett Elliott ®
