Originally published 6/4/13, this article has been updated and reposted due to its popularity and importance for Optimum Health.
Do you have a “sluggish” metabolism? If so, it impacts you daily. After all, your metabolism is the driving force for 3 crucial aspects of life:
You and I have something in common. We want great bodies that are fit, trim, and healthy! And, we are willing to invest time and energy to make it happen.
Being fit gives us the ability to perform fun activities and pursue many adventures. In fact, every day becomes more enjoyable if we are fit. Daily activities, like house chores, shopping, climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or traveling on vacation all become easier, and life, in general, has more options for enjoyment and fun.
Fitness has another advantage. Chances are, if you stay fit, you will live longer. In fact, research from the Cooper Clinic has indicated that, on average, if you…
Americans are feeling tired and they are gaining “unwanted” weight at alarming rates. Maybe you are an exception. I hope so. But, if you are at least 30 years of age, you likely have gained weight “against your will”. Think back to age 21. What was your weight? Has it changed? If you are typical, it is up ½ to 1 pound (or more) for each year.
Did you know that 100% of Americans, eating common American foods, are NOT getting recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals? Did you know that those same Americans who obtain the lowest amounts of vitamins and minerals gain the most weight? Both of these facts have been proven through research, and they are not going to change any time soon.
Fatigue is truly epidemic! Almost without exception, when I interview patients, it becomes apparent that energy levels are just not what they should be. The onset of the fatigue has typically been subtle, and it has then worsened over time. I’ve observed that fatigue has become a new epidemic, while it was relatively uncommon 30 years ago. What has changed? And what can we do about it?
We hear the word “metabolism” frequently. And, if yours is “sluggish”, it likely impacts you daily. Although we have a general sense of what metabolism is and how it affects us, few people can accurately define it. Metabolism can be thought of as the body’s chemical processes that allow 3 crucial aspects of life to occur:
These areas of metabolism have in common a demand for an energy source, i.e. calories! If any one of these 3 aspects of metabolism is impaired or sluggish, negative consequences are inevitable, often including weight gain!
By Dr. Rick Tague
Metabolic Syndrome: A common cause of weight gain…And how to fight it!
Don’t let it sneak up on you, know what to look for and what to do, read on…
Being overweight puts you at risk of having Metabolic Syndrome. What is Metabolic Syndrome? It’s actually a cluster of conditions that increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The five common findings of Metabolic Syndrome are: increased blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess body fat around the waist, or abnormal cholesterol levels. You don’t have to have all of these to be diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome, just having 3 of the 5 qualifies you for the classification. Having just 1 or 2 of the findings puts you at risk of a milder form of the condition sometimes referred to as “insulin resistance.”