Q: My doctor says that I have metabolic syndrome. He put me on high blood pressure medication, a statin for cholesterol and says I need to lose weight. What's this got to do with metabolic syndrome? - Andre P., Scottsdale, Arizona
A: Metabolic syndrome means that you have three or more of the following:
-A waist circumference over 40 inches (for women it's 35).
-Blood triglyceride levels of 150 mg/dL or more.
-Good HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level of 40 mg/dL or less (gals, it's 50 or less).
-Blood pressure of 130/85 mm/Hg or more, or you're taking antihypertensive meds.
-A fasting glucose level of 107 mg/dL or more, or you're taking diabetes meds.
It also means that you're likely to develop bodywide inflammation and cardiovascular problems, including stroke. Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common condition. New data show that almost 35 percent of American men and 37 percent of women over age 20 have metabolic syndrome. And fully HALF of seniors do.
Recent reports do say that rates have stabilized. But, as the president of the American College of Cardiology recently pointed out, this is an epidemic that will get worse unless we change things right now.
What's the solution? A healthier living environment. For starters, we'd like to see:
-The EPA enforce clean water and air programs and help reduce your exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals such as BPA that promote obesity and pesticides containing glyphosate.
-A reduction of antibiotics in the food supply. Eighty percent of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are fed to livestock.
-Making outdoor activities accessible to everyone.
And you, Andre, and anyone with metabolic syndrome, need to make your daily habits healthier by eliminating from your diet all trans fats and most saturated fat, added sugars and syrups, and grain that isn't 100 percent whole. Plus, get a minimum 30 minutes of physical activity, five days a week. You're fortunate that your doctor alerted you to your health needs. So, upgrade your nutrition and increase your physical activity - you'll see a brighter tomorrow.
Q: Fast-food places and packaged foods seem to be getting on the healthy train. Do you think it's OK to eat convenience foods now? - Erin H., Dunedin, Florida
A: That's a great question. It seems every chain and packaged-food producer is declaring itself "healthy" and some of the changes have been good. Chipotle, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are committed to providing or labeling GMO-free foods. Some drive-thru places are now offer healthier choices. And there's Kraft saying good-bye to synthetic colors in their original macaroni and cheese; no artificial colors or flavors in Nestle chocolate; and even the candy company Mars says it wants folks to reduce their sugar intake and that it supports labeling changes that would identify added sugar in products. But too often these announcements deliver bad old news with the slightly better new news, and it makes you aware of just how little you know about what these chains actually do to your food.
For instance, Taco Bell is eliminating all artificial colors and flavors (OK) and giving up ARTIFICIAL BLACK PEPPER for the real thing. Did you know there was such thing as artificial black pepper - and what is it made of, anyway? (They won't say). Clearly, there's a lot to be skeptical about.
We're glad that businesses are getting the message that you and your family want to know what's in your food and are fed up with hidden and excess fats and sugars that raise your lousy LDL cholesterol and fuel everything from obesity to diabetes and depression. But it's still smartest to opt for fresh food and produce and lean protein like skinless chicken (best without antibiotics) and broiled or poached fish (never fried). So whenever you can, eat breakfast at home (whole grains, walnuts and fresh berries), pack your lunch for school or work, and make dinnertime a family project that gets kids involved in choosing and cooking healthy meals.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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