The Metabolic Syndrome:  An Unsuspected Killer

The metabolic syndrome has become one of the most important causes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease).  The metabolic syndrome is a constellation, or cluster, of certain risk factors for heart disease.  If you have three or more of five risk factors, you probably have the syndrome, click to view a Check List.  About 60 to 75 million Americans have this syndrome and most do not know it.  The metabolic syndrome is the number 1 predictor of heart disease.  That is why we call it an “unsuspected killer.” 

Most people who have the Metabolic Syndrome are not aware of it.  This is because they only have “slight elevations” of the risk factors, such as blood pressure and blood glucose.  You do not have to have very high elevations to be at increased risk for heart disease

The metabolic syndrome may be new to you.  It is only in the past few years that scientists have recognized the syndrome and the risks it poses.  Other names that have been used for the syndrome include “syndrome X” and “insulin resistance syndrome.”  Diagnosis and management of the syndrome are part of the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines published in May 2001.  The Diet to Control the Metabolic Syndrome in the Member Section of this website is consistent with the NCEP guidelines. 

Controlling the metabolic syndrome includes, overall risk reduction by:

• Decreasing LDL-cholesterol.  A desirable level is 100 mg/dL or less.
• Losing weight, if your BMI is 25 or higher. Click to calculate your BMI
• Increasing regular physical activity
• Lowering triglycerides.  A desirable level is 150 mg/dl or less.
• Controlling blood glucose.  A desirable level is 110 mg/dL or less.
• Decreasing blood pressure.  Click to see Classifications of Blood Pressure.

The Diet to Control the Metabolic Syndrome has a controlled amount of calories and is low in saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol.  It will help lower triglycerides, blood glucose, and blood pressure.  The Diet will be available to you at the calorie level you need when you register as a Member.

For a good start on Diet to Control the Metabolic Syndrome, you will need a few tools.  Please visit the Living Heart Store where you will find items such as these:

Lean Mean Grilling Machine for cooking meat and vegetables so they are low in saturated fat and calories.	Food Scale to help you control the amount of food in a serving and know how much to enter in the Nutrient Analyzer.	Digital Bath Scale for weighting yourself each day.	Portion Pro for easily controlling the amount of oil used in cooking and on salads.