Metabolic health is having ideal levels of blood sugar, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and waist circumference without the use of medications. Taking care of your metabolic health benefits everyday life and may help with reducing risks from heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Signs of poor metabolic health include low energy, trouble losing weight, brain fog and mood changes. The causes of having poor metabolic health may be due to lifestyle choices such as not getting enough sleep, poor diet or not enough exercise. Other health factors like having a chronic disease may also be the cause of poor metabolic health.
How to Increase Your Metabolic Health?
To increase your metabolic health is to make healthy lifestyle choices. Healthy lifestyle choices can be:
- Eating plenty of protein
- Drinking plenty of water
- Regular exercise or being active
- Having a good night’s sleep
- Healthy levels of vitamins and minerals, and supplementing if required
- High blood sugar – High blood sugar levels may indicate prediabetes.
What is Metabolic Syndrome and what are the Signs?
Metabolic syndrome is the name given for a group of conditions that occur simultaneously, increasing one’s risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and diabetes. It is known for being one of the strongest contributors to heart disease. It is important to know and understand the symptoms of metabolic syndrome so it can be treated.
Signs of Metabolic Syndrome
- Too much fat at the waist – Excess belly fat is the most troublesome kind of fat. For men it is defined as being more than 40 inches around the waist and for women it is more than 35 inches. Speak to a doctor about your measurements if you are concerned.
- High blood pressure – If your blood pressure is too high it can be considered as a risk.
- High triglyceride levels – Triglyceride is a type of fat found in the blood and can be considered as a risk factor if it is high.
- Low HDL cholesterol – HDL cholesterol or “good” cholesterol helps by clearing damaged cholesterol from your arteries. Having low HDL cholesterol may be a risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
How is Metabolic Syndrome Treated?
The goal of treating metabolic syndrome is to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by taking control of the problematic health conditions. To take control of your metabolic health, follow a healthier lifestyle that includes:
- Having a healthy BMI Range
- Eating a healthier diet
- Exercising
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Quitting smoking
Living with Metabolic Syndrome
If you are living with metabolic syndrome it is important to know all the risks and how you can address your metabolic health. These risks may include polycystic ovarian syndrome, gallstones, asthma, sleep disturbances and liver disease.
To address metabolic syndrome is to focus on your whole lifestyle and realise there are no quick fixes to the syndrome. You will need to change your lifestyle by making healthier lifestyle choices that include diet, exercise and overall well-being. Aim for slow but steady improvements and avoid crash diets, liquid diets and fad diets. Including lifestyle changes that are sustainable long-term is key.
If you consider your metabolic health to be at risk, speak to your GP.
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