Fruits, vegetables, whole food and lean meats will help you avoid Metabolic Syndrome, which makes you more vulnerable to diabetes and heart problems.
Weight management and exercise also are recommended along with the nutritional interventions for Metabolic Syndrome, known as MetS by medical personnel.
MetS is a significant problem in New York City and nationwide. Authorities estimate that 25–35 percent of adults may have MetS.
Got MetS?
There are five accepted criteria to determine if you have MetS:
According to a scientific consensus, MetS can be diagnosed if the patient has any three of the following:
• Blood pressure: systolic greater than 130 and/or diastolic greater than 85 mmHg or drug treatment;
• Fasting glucose: greater than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or drug treatment;
• Triglycerides: more than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or drug treatment;
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol: less than 40 mg/dL (1 mmol/L) (male) or less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) (female) or drug treatment;
• Abdominal obesity: in the United States, it’s listed as a waist circumference of more than 35 inches for women and more than 40 inches for men. An increased waist circumference is the form of obesity most strongly tied to metabolic syndrome.
What to do
To avoid or escape MetS, you should minimize your intake of processed food. Instead, eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Also, beware of excessive sodium, trans fats and saturated fats.
With the proper diet and regular exercise a person can sharply reduce the danger of diabetes and heart problems.
For a look at specific diets and grades, see pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7600579.
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