Syndrome X
AKA...Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome
The Insulin Resistance Epidemic
Syndrome X, AKA Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance, is an epidemic that is sweeping across the nation. 88% of adults have some degree of Metabolic Syndrome. 33% of adults has Metabolic Syndrome. 1/3 of those with Metabolic Syndrome are not overweight!! Ever wonder why Type 2 Diabetes is a growing problem? Are you concerned about getting Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s Disease? Did you know that Alzheimer’s Disease is now referred to as Type 3 Diabetes?
If you’ve read my website, you know that I had a blood clotting issue. Did I have Syndrome X? Yes. Do I still have Metabolic Syndrome? Yes. But, my clots are gone. I’m losing weight. I’m eating right. I follow the Lion Diet. I recommend it for anyone (check with your doctor). I intermittent fast. I take daily vitamins. I drink hydrogen water. I won’t have Insulin Resistance much longer. I have been on this path for 6 months now. I’d like to think that I am in the 55% with some degree of Metabolic Syndrome at this point.
First of all, this is a syndrome. The definition of a syndrome is a group of symptoms that seem to exist together without a clear cause, course or treatment. Here are the 5 symptoms:
- High Triglycerides
- High Blood Pressure
- Low HDL Cholesterol
- Central Adiposity
- High Blood Sugar
Long video, but real talk about Insulin Resistance (Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome X)
Syndrome X and Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is made in the pancreas. Insulin regulates the blood sugar level by promoting the absorption of Glucose from the blood into the Liver, Fat and Skeletal Muscles. Muscles convert Glucose to Glycogen. Fat makes Glucose into Triglycerides and the Liver makes both Glycogen and Triglycerides. High Insulin levels greatly inhibit the Liver from Glucose Production and Secretion. One major sign of a resistance to insulin is having a high insulin level while fasted. This is a problem.
Syndrome X and Fructose
Fructose is the sugar found in many Fruits, Processed Foods, Candy and High-Fructose Corn Syrup. Fructose was thought to be healthy because it is in fruit. However, all other sugars, like glucose, can be used by the entire body. Fructose, on the other hand, can only be used by the liver. The liver could convert it to Glycogen, but usually we are saturated with sugar and there is no need, so the liver stores it. This has resulted in a general population with Fatty Liver. When the liver is inundated with Fat, it becomes inflamed and sick. The liver performs over 500 vital functions for our bodies. This is a problem.
Foods High In Fructose
- Fruits: Sweet Apples, Grapes, Mango, Pineapple, Banana
- Honey
- Fruit Juices: Fruit juice concentrates can have more fructose than High-Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sodas
- Flavored Yogurt
- Refined Carbs: Bread and Crackers
- Baked Goods
- Candy
What is the Problem with an Insulin Resistance Epidemic?
The results of chronic Metabolic Syndrome are quite severe. 1/3 of Adults are on this track. 88% aren’t far off. For me it was sleep apnea and blood clots. I was lucky enough to have a son into Human Biology. But, my doctor was treating the clots and sleep apnea. While under treatment, I was getting more clots. A blessing in disguise. If her treatment would have worked, I just would have done what she said and not even started trying to figure out “Why”. So, now I am getting this information out so you can reverse the course before you experience this list:
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Fatty Liver
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- Sleep Apnea
- Systemic Inflammation
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Decreased Quality of Life
How Do We Reverse Metabolic Syndrome?
It’s not quit smoking. But you should. It’s not lose weight. But you should. It’s a food problem. Unfortunately, it’s what we are doing to the food that is the problem. We’ve had the answer for 100’s of years….Hypocrates said, “Food is Medicine.” and “Are you willing to give up the things that are causing the problem.” Profound and incredibly applicable to this situation. The problem is 2 fold.
1. We have eaten so many Carbohydrates with very short breaks in eating that our cell’s insulin receptors aren’t working. Think of it like if you eat pizza 5 days in a row. The first day you inhaled that pizza and loved it. By day 6, you were pizza’d out and ate very little. You need a break from pizza so you will crave it again. Unfortunately, our body’s response to inefficient absorption of Glucose from the blood is to release more Insulin. This keeps you in “Fat Storage” mode longer than you should be. Some people with Metabolic Syndrome are over weight. This is a reason.
2. Our livers get fatty and sick from high sugar diets. Our livers cannot function right. This effects skinny and over weight people. This can cause a thin person to have Type 2 Diabetes, for example.
The solution is also two-fold. Eat real food. Eat less often. This is how the Lion Diet was born. Its a program of fasting and low glycemic index foods. Your body will get sensitive to insulin again if your insulin levels stay low. By fasting 16+ hours and eating lots of Fats, Meats, Legumes, Veggies you will keep your insulin levels very low.
My blood clots cleared out in mere weeks once I started this diet. Bad Nutrition got me into this mess. Good Nutrition was the only way out of the mess. Our bodies will stabilize if everything is working correctly.
Pro Tip: If you must eat carbs, have as much fiber as possible beforehand. In nature, most carbs come with fiber. Examples are Vegetables, Nuts, Legumes.
Conclusion
We are all about prevention with the Alpha Swoletauri Plan. Our bodies are very strong and intelligent and can survive a long time with major problems. We adapt well. Unfortunately, these underlying issue do eventually surface. It is often a big problem by then. We may have experienced things like Bone Weakness, Bleeding, Bruising, Swollen Leg (My real life example). But, we don’t get concerned until those symptoms become Blindness, Heart Disease, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Vascular Calcification.
Most of us don’t run to the doctor for something minor. Something minor probably doesn’t warrant a full blood analysis. So, we figure it out when something major happens, The Stroke. Let’s be smart and beat it to the punch!! Intermittent fast. Get into high level Autophagy. Enjoy eating a whole foods diet (Paleo, Lion Diet). It’s just as delicious. You just can’t get it at a drive thru. You can’t get it out of a box in the freezer section.
Take the Multivitamin. Get in the Sauna. Resistance Train. Walk. Cold Plunge. Eat the Lion Diet. Water fast. I am a foodie that weighed 305lbs. But, nothing tastes as good as not having blood clots (3) in my leg. Use yours…Nothing tastes as good as not having ___________.
98% of us are difficient in Vitamins. Find out why....
Fat-Soluble Vitamins:
Vitamin A
The Alpha Swoletauri System prioritizes multivitamins as part of the Lion Diet. As I’ve mentioned before even when eating a healthy diet, we can be micronutrient deficient. My personal experience led me to having high blood pressure and 3 blood clots in my leg. As I investigated root causes for my conditions, I found that many nutritional deficiencies could effect the circulatory system. These nutrient deficiencies cause a ripple effect in the body and are very hard to pinpoint….Read More…
“Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in many foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. People are also exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet light from the sun.
The body also needs vitamin E to boost its immune system so that it can fight off invading bacteria and viruses. It helps to widen blood vessels and keep blood from clotting within them. In addition, cells use vitamin E to interact with each other and to carry out many important functions.“
Vitamin D Roles in the Human Body:
- Bone Health: Enhances the absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus from the gut.
- Bone Growth: Unstable molecules that can damage cell membranes, proteins, DNA. They potentially lead to chronic diseases like Cancer.
- Immune System: Regulates the immune system.
- Cell Differentiation: Promotes cell differentiation and inhibits Cell Proliferation. This is a cancer prevention role.
- Insulin Regulation: Plays a role in insulin production and glucose metabolism.
Vitamin K Roles in the Human Body:
- Blood Clotting: Essential for synthesizing proteins required for blood coagulation and activates clotting factors to prevent excessive bleeding.
- Bone Health: Regulated the binding of Calcium in Bones and activates a protein critical for bone formation and mineralization.
- Cardiovascular Health: Regulates the calcium levels in blood vessels
- Cell Metabolism: Helps cell’s Mitochondria make ATP for energy.
Water-Soluble Vitamins:
Vitamin B
Vitamin B Roles in the Human Body:
- B1: Helps convert Carbohydrates to energy, supports nerve function, and plays a role in muscle contraction.
- B2: Aids in energy production, supports cellular function, growth and development and helps maintain healthy skin and eyes.
- B3: Supports the metabolism by helping to convert nutrients to energy. Essential for DNA repair and the production of stress and sex hormones.
- B5: Crucial for the synthesis of coenzyme A, which is important for fatty acid metabolism and the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters.
- B6: Involved in Amino Acid metabolism, red blood cell production and the creation of neurotransmitters…….
Vitamin C
Vitamin C Roles in the Human Body:
- Antioxidant: Powerful Antioxidant that helps protect Cells from damage by free radicals. This reduces the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
- Collagen Synthesis: Essential for the biosynthesis of collagen. Collagen is a protein involved in clotting and maintaining the structure of skin, blood vessels, bones and connective tissue.
- Immune Function: boosts the immune system by stimulating the production and function of white blood cells. It enhances the skin’s defense system and helps wounds heal faster.
- Absorption of Iron: It improves the absorption of iron.
- Cardiovascular Health: Associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Eye Health: Reduces the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.