The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute estimates that 47 million Americans have Syndrome X, also known as Metabolic Syndrome, a condition characterized by the presence of three or more of the following: a waist size of more than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women; triglyceride levels of 150; HDL cholesterol levels under 40 for men or 50 for women; consistent blood pressure above 135/85; and blood sugar levels of 110 or higher. Proper diet and regular exercise can address the causes of Syndrome X and reduce its side effects.
Carb Control
The Syndrome X Association, an Ohio-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people overcome challenges related to the condition, recommends a diet low in net carbohydrates. Net carbohydrates are calculated by subtracted the dietary fiber and sugar alcohol contents from the food's total carbohydrates. A healthy diet is one with less than 100 net carbs per day. Complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables, whole grain cereals and breads, are good sources of net carbs. Any food with white flour or refined sugar--white bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, to name a few--is off limits.
Mediterranean Diet
Obesity and metabolic conditions are rare among natives of Mediterranean nations, and much of the credit has been given to the traditional diet of that region. According to a metareview of diet and metabolic syndrome published in "The Review of Diabetic Studies," olive oil, olives, wheat, vegetables, fruits, legumes and foods low in saturated fat are hallmarks of the diet. A number of peer-reviewed studies have shown that adopting a Mediterranean-style diet can address the issues related to Syndrome X. For example, an Italian study published in "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research" showed a 25 percent reduction in the syndrome based on lifestyle changes and the adaptation of the Mediterranean Diet.
Optifast Meal Replacement
Doctors may suggest an aggressive weight-loss program for people classified as morbidly obese, or those with a body mass index of 40 or more. For people in this category, Syndrome X is likely to be an issue. Dr. Wendy Scinta, a bariatric physician based in Syracuse, New York, is one of more than 400 outlets in the United States that offer the Nestle Optifast program of medically engineered meal replacements. The program consists of shakes, snack bars and soups that are medically engineered to provide sufficient nutrition with an aggressive calorie reduction. Patients on Optifast typically consume 800 to 1,200 calories daily. According to Nestle, the average participant in a 22-week program loses 52 lbs., and reduces cholesterol by 15 percent and blood sugar by 29 percent.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is Metabolic Syndrome?
- Syndrome X Association: Treatment
- "Public Health Nutrition"; Mediterranean diet and the metabolic syndrome: the evidence; Babio N, Bulló M, Salas-Salvadó J.; September 2009
- "Review of Diabetic Studies"; Diet, Exercise and the Metabolic Syndrome; Christos Pitsavos, et al.; November 2006
- Medical Weight Loss of New York: OPTIFAST Full Meal Replacement Program
Member Comments