What is Metabolic Syndrome?⁠

Metabolic Syndrome is not a disease per se. This diagnosis describes a cluster of conditions including high cholesterol, high blood sugar (diabetes or pre-diabetes), high blood pressure, fatty liver and extra fat around the waist.⁠

Metabolic Syndrome may not pose any immediate complications or risks, but letting these issues fester and grow, will set you up for that heart attack or stroke in your 50’s or 60’s. While every individual is different in terms of health and genetics and the effects of poor diet and lifestyle habits, research shows that long term the effects of untreated Metabolic Syndrome lead to common complications such as Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Attacks and Strokes and even some Cancers. Nowadays, nutrition related diseases are the main causes of poor life quality and increased mortality rates. These Metabolic conditions are greatly affected by diet and lifestyle, that’s why it’s so important to make changes toward an improved diet and healthier lifestyle.

 

What are the Signs of Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome doesn’t have any direct and overt symptoms. The danger lies in their silence and letting conditions of Metabolic Syndrome worsen without any intervention can significantly deteriorate your levels of energy, focus, vitality and ultimately life quality. There are several conditions that contribute to Metabolic Syndrome:

• Hypertension
• High Cholesterol
• High Triglycerides
• Low HDL (good) Cholesterol
• Abdominal Obesity
• Pre-Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes

In order to be diagnosed with Metabolic syndrome, you would have 3 or more of these conditions. Since these conditions are Metabolic disorders, some accompanying symptoms can possibly include chronic fatigue, poor digestion, irregular bowel movements,  inflammation, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, and low energy. Though these symptoms and the experience of Metabolic Syndrome varies between individuals as we are all unique. 

 

How Can You Treat Metabolic Syndrome?

It doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated and you don’t have to do it alone either!⁠ Because Metabolic Syndrome is the result of multiple conditions, it’s beneficial to seek professional care from a qualified nutritionist. This way you can get an individualized diet plan that is right for you in treating specific metabolic conditions. Depending on the severity of metabolic conditions diagnosed, your medical provider may prescribe medication treatment to improve your health measures. Thankfully, medications are very effective in managing metabolic diseases and with significant dietary and lifestyle changes, you won’t have to be on medications forever.

 

To make some positive changes in your diet and lifestyle, you can start by: 

 

• Drinking more water⁠
• Walking more every day⁠
• Eating more fruits⁠
• Eating more vegetables⁠
• Getting your 7-8 hrs of sleep⁠
• Asking for support⁠

Because diet and medications can interact with one another, it is important to seek clearance from your medical provider before making any significant changes. With the guidance from your doctor and nutrition professional, you can start on a plan that is effective and safe for you as you set out on your journey to transform your health.

 

Can Metabolic Syndrome be Cured?

The short answer is – Yes! Metabolic Syndrome and its related medical conditions do not have to be a permanent diagnosis. However, in order to reverse disease, you will  need to make significant long-lasting lifestyle changes. In addition to an effective therapeutic diet, regular physical activity, stress management, social connections and improved sleep quality are important components to not only reverse Metabolic Syndrome, but also to ensure long-term vitality and improved quality of life. 

While being diagnosed with a chronic disease can seem like a discouraging and permanent sentence on your health, it does not have to be. That’s why working with a Certified Nutritionist and experienced Health Coach can give you the accountability and support you need when it’s difficult to find the motivation and courage to practice healthier habits. Trying to battle diseases that have no experior symptoms makes it easy to forget the risk they pose to your health and future quality of life. That’s why we are here to support you and encourage you to take care of your body and mind so you can prosper for years to come.  

 

Aida Sadeghi MS,CNS

When to seek a Nutritionist

 

Nowadays, health and nutrition advice is everywhere you look, it can be difficult to know what is correct and what advice to follow. You might use Google to look up a few symptoms and figure out what’s going on with you, but at the end of the day, you’re better off making that appointment to get examined by a health professional. The same holds true when it comes to nutrition advice. Striving toward better health and wellness, nutrition counseling offers professional insight to identify and change unhealthy habits, which will support a long-lasting healthy lifestyle. Thanks to the world wide web, there are endless sources of information and advice which makes it difficult and confusing to figure out what solutions would best suit you. 

 

What does a Nutritionist Do?

 

When it comes to navigating the endless sources of information about nutrition and weight management, working with a nutrition professional makes this challenging journey more manageable and successful.  An effective way to reach your health goals is to work with a trained professional, like a Certified Nutritionist, who can give you individualized nutrition plans that best support you. Whether you want to lose weight, control blood sugar, manage high cholesterol or blood pressure or address unhealthy eating behaviors, a Certified Nutritionist creates a diet plan as part of a nutrition therapy approach for your specific needs. While you could certainly test and try out the endless inventory of advice and information available on Google and social media by yourself, you’ll find it far more effective to seek the support of a nutrition professional. 

 

Is it Worth Working with a Certified Nutritionist?

 

When setting out to make healthy lifestyle and nutrition changes, seeking a nutrition professional can save you time and money. A Certified Nutritionist can create a plan with recommendations that actually work for you and save you from trying fads and gimmicks that are not sustainable and that promise health outcomes you desire but often fall short. With various drugs and supplements available that claim to aid weight loss, people are understandably drawn to an “easier” solution of taking a pill rather than examining their dietary and physical activity habits and making improvements. While advanced developments of medications that aid in weight loss can have a place in supporting weight management, they don’t replace the need to repair poor nutrition as the foundational tool to create improved health and wellbeing. Supplements and “detox” products only act as temporary and often ineffective ways to achieve weight loss or better health. That’s why nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits are the most effective means to create and maintain better health and wellness. 

 

Time and time again, I see people buy into marketing schemes for supplements that are completely unnecessary and that falsely promise quick and easy solutions. As a Certified Nutritionist, my job is to teach you how to properly fuel your body first with balanced nutrition, hydration and lifestyle. Nutrition should be the focus of nutrition therapy. 

 

What Should I Know Before my Appointment?

 

Before meeting your Certified Nutritionist, it is helpful to have an idea of what your health goals are. Some of the more pressing reasons to schedule a consultation include elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, digestive problems, irregular bowel movements, changes in appetite, constant thoughts about food and binge or overeating. Your nutritionist may ask to see some of your recent blood work, they may ask about some of your daily eating habits, cravings, how you feel after you eat certain foods and more. 

 

It’s also important to understand that nutritionists can’t offer quick fixes, and better health through nutrition takes time and patience. While highly sought after, quick solutions are not effective and sustainable enough to provide a long lasting transformation. Dietary and lifestyle changes require guidance as well as accountability and support. A therapeutic nutrition plan along with guided support from your Certified Nutritionist holds you accountable every step of the way to get you to your health and nutrition goal.  

Aida Sadeghi MS,CNS