Sugar consumption and insulin resistance go beyond the obvious problems of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. Sugar is also linked to fatigue, high blood pressure, fatty liver, atherosclerosis, yeast overgrowth, magnesium loss, acidic pH, calcium/phosphorus imbalance, polycystic ovary disease, endocrine problems, a systemic inflammatory state, impaired fibrinolysis and pro coagulation, and an environment that favors neoplastic (cancer) growth.
The average American consumes nearly 200 pounds of refined sugar each year, and we get half of our calories from refined carbohydrates. This creates vitamin deficiency and insulin insensitivity. Other factors that contribute to the Metabolic Syndrome (also known as Syndrome X) include stress, poor sleep habits, lack of exercise, and exposure to toxins.
Our blood sugar is controlled by insulin and glucagon. The excessive consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates causes the body to become less sensitive to insulin—a condition that will lead to the metabolic syndrome or syndrome X. It can eventually lead to type-2 diabetes.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Metabolic Syndrome is present if these three things are present:
- Waist measurement greater than 40 inches in men or 35 inches in women
- Triglycerides greater than 150 mg/dl
- HDL less than 40 mg/dl in men or less than 50 mg/dl in women
- Blood pressure that is 135/85 or greater
- Fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dl or greater
25% of all Americans have Metabolic Syndrome
