Syndrome X Diets
Although it might sound like something out of a comic book movie, syndrome X is not so entertaining. As a disease combining high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, obesity and insulin resistance, syndrome X is the closest thing to a cardiac death sentence for countless individuals throughout the world. Fortunately, however, syndrome X can be brought under control with a simple dietary reprogramming. Although making dietary changes can be difficult, they are necessary to save your life.
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About Syndrome X
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Syndrome X is fairly common throughout the United States. According to current data, it is theorized that one in every four individuals is currently suffering from it. In addition to increasing risk of cardiac disease, syndrome X actually increases your risk of death from all causes, in addition to signaling the possibility of reproductive problems, liver disease and cancer.
Combating Syndrome X With Diet
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When viewed as a single condition, the threat of syndrome X can seem insurmountable. However, when viewed as a combination of separate conditions, you will quickly see that adherence to nutritional standards can provide the key that unlocks the mystery of syndrome X. Diet has been shown to help obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, with a low-carb diet solving all of these problems in a single take.
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Implementing a Low-Carb Diet
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To implement a low-carb diet to combat syndrome X, it is best to begin with the most restrictive approach possible to ensure optimal results on health. Thus, you should begin your low-carb diet with the goal of entering ketosis, a state in which your body burns fat for fuel. To do this, you will need to eat less than 20g of carbs daily for at least two weeks. During this time, the only carbs you can eat are green, fibrous veggies like broccoli, cucumber, spinach, and lettuce--everything else is forbidden. Round out your diet with plenty of lean protein and strive to consume mostly healthy fats--poly and monounsaturates like fish oil, olive oil and almonds.
Post-Ketosis
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After the initial two-week period of extremely low-carb eating, your body will be primed to burn fat. Now you may increase your daily carb limit upwards to 30 to 40g, making sure that all of your carbs are coming from fruits and vegetables, with no more than 10g of carbs in any one meal. Keep the remainder of your diet the same, being especially careful to minimize consumption of saturates, as your predisposition to cardiac disease makes it imperative that you regulate intake.
Considerations
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While on a low-carb diet to help combat syndrome X, make sure that you consume adequate amounts of water. Aim for at least eight to ten 8oz glasses per day, as low-carb diets are diuretic in nature--meaning that they naturally dehydrate the body. Additionally, as you will have to restrict fruit and vegetable intake, consider adding a daily multivitamin into your diet as well to ensure that your body has sufficient levels of essential vitamins and nutrients. Finally, fish oil has been shown to accelerate fat loss, so consider picking up an over-the-counter supplement and taking five to 10 grams daily.
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