Metabolic Health 101: Warning Signs, Symptoms and Turning the Tide in Your Favor

Metabolism is a hot topic among millions of people. 

A healthy metabolism helps to burn fat even while we’re in a resting state. It also can help prevent serious disease conditions like metabolic syndrome. 

Despite our collective focus on metabolism, our society’s metabolic health is in peril. 

In November 2018, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a study of 8,721 people between 2009 and 2016 to determine their levels of metabolic health. 

According to its conclusion, the university found that only 12 percent of Americans qualified as metabolically healthy, an “alarmingly low” number.

In other words, about 1 in 8 Americans are metabolically healthy. 

Since then, COVID-related stress, inflation, high gas prices and higher food prices are among conditions that have made things more difficult. 

Metabolic health problems are a constant threat in today’s society, but there are clinically proven ways to support your body through synergistic nutrition that can improve metabolism, even in a resting state. 

What is Metabolic Syndrome? 

Metabolic syndrome is a term that first entered medical textbooks back in 1998 and has since become fairly common because of the aforementioned health concerns. 

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease but a grouping of risk factors that includes high blood sugar levels, abdominal fat, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. 

A 35-inch waist for women and a 40-inch waist for men are among the possible indicators that metabolic syndrome could be knocking at your door. 

If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you are even more at risk. 

A person who has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome may soon find themselves with increasing health difficulties that could become serious. 

Metabolic syndrome can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. 

This is a condition many people have seen in video clips showing arteries that have become clogged with fats, cholesterol, and other substances. They stick to the sides of the arteries, slowing down blood flow and causing them to become brittle over time. 

A heart attack may not be far off when your artery walls become damaged. Blood clots may also result in these cases, and patients may find themselves at greater risk for a stroke. 

Treatment for Metabolic Syndrome 

The most commonly recommended treatments for metabolic syndrome include diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations. 

Consistent physical activity is one of the best ways to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, health experts recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, with walking the simplest and most effective for most people. Finding ways to add more physical activity to your daily routine can make a dramatically positive difference.

Walking or riding your bike to work and taking the stairs instead of the elevator are two ways to increase exercise. Going for a walk in the morning is a great way to improve your circulation. Weight training can improve your resting metabolism. 

Losing weight is a goal a physician may set for someone with this condition. A typical goal would be to lose a few percentage points of body fat, up to 7% or more for some people. 

Healthy eating plans based on the Mediterranean diet rich in whole food vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and high fiber grains may also be recommended. Avoiding sugar, alcohol, and too much salt, sugar, and fat are ways to improve your metabolic health. 

Reducing stress through meditation, yoga, and physical activity may also be recommended. 

If a person with metabolic syndrome smokes, it is recommended for them to stop. If diet, lifestyle and natural options are exhausted sometimes drugs are prescribed. 

Finding Your Metabolic Type 

Your metabolic type is based on your body type and how it reacts to different nutrition and stressors. 

Metabolism itself is the process by which our bodies convert what we eat and drink into energy. 

The three metabolic types are: 

Ectomorph- Typically slender with a narrow frame and fast metabolism. For these people, getting enough protein is key, and weight training is recommended. 

Mesomorph- They typically have a medium build and gain both muscle and fat easily. Mesomorphs need a mix of strength training and cardio, and should avoid too many carbs.  

Endomorph- Characterized by a round body shape and a tendency to store extra fat. 

A health professional may help you find your metabolic type and prescribe a diet or exercise routine based on which of these characteristics you possess. 

A Natural Approach to Improving Metabolic Syndrome 

According to a May 2, 2022 study posted to StatPearls, a comprehensive and consistently updated medical database for physicians and other health professionals, dietary modification is one of the main recommended ways to heal metabolic syndrome from the roots up. 

Eating a healthy diet and incorporating the right foods can help to improve cholesterol, insulin resistance, and blood pressure, even when weight stays the same. 

By focusing on the diet, energy levels can rebound quickly, and markers for metabolic syndrome may be improved. 

A healthier diet with the right foods, including lean protein, whole foods, and foods with whole foods based ingredients, and plenty of high-quality water for hydration, can improve energy levels in a patient with metabolic syndrome, increasing their ability to exercise and incorporate consistent movement into their daily routine. 

Once markers for metabolic syndrome begin to improve, a snowball effect may occur that can lead to lasting health and the reversal of metabolic syndrome.

The right nutrition can help to positively impact health markers for metabolic syndrome without additional diet or lifestyle changes. 

Clinical studies have shown that Healright Daily Micronutrient Bars positively impact metabolic health markers, including heart health, inflammation, insulin and glucose, and obesity. 

Changes took place over eight weeks, with improvements measured in weight loss, increased HDL (“good” cholesterol for a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke), and more. 

For more information or to start your metabolic healing journey with research-backed Healright Micronutrient Bars, visit our shop here, which includes detailed charts and testimonials from those who have experienced the benefits first-hand. 

Get Your Metabolic Health Score in 60 Seconds

According to the NIH, 34% of Americans are affected by Metabolic Syndrome. The good news is you can find out where you stand in just 60 seconds by taking Healright’s Quiz - Learn your Metabolic Health Score - See Question 1 now.

Healright nutrition bars offer a natural, food-as-medicine approach to fighting all five risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome: cholesterol in the normal range, low inflammation, gut health, weight management, and healthy blood sugar.