Syndrome X
The Complete Nutritional Program to Prevent and Reverse Insulin Resistance by J. Challem, B. Berkson, M.D., M. Smith
IF YOU'RE aging prematurely, getting fatter, feeling sluggish, and watching your blood pressure and cholesterol sneak upwards, you may have Syndrome X, claim the authors, who say that up to 60 million North Americans have it. "Syndrome X is primarily a nutritional disease caused by eating the wrong foods," they write. The mysterious-sounding Syndrome X refers to a group of health problems including insulin resistance ("the inability to properly deal with dietary carbohydrates such as sugars"), plus at least one additional problem.
These include: abnormal blood fats (elevated cholesterol or triglycerides), overweight, and/or high blood pressure. Insulin resistance is "a diet-caused hormonal logjam that interferes with your body's ability to efficiently burn the food you eat." According to the authors, you probably have this problem, and if you do, eating processed carbohydrates are the root of it. Pastries, pastas, breakfast cereals, soft drinks--these refined carbos are the enemy.
Defined by a resistance to insulin, combined with high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure or too much body fat, Syndrome X has been linked to the widespread prevalence of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. This book introduces a three-step program-including easy-to-follow diets, light physical activity and readily available vitamins and nutritional supplements-guaranteed to safeguard you against Syndrome X or reverse it if you already have it.
