An Unknown Disease
Syndrome X, now known as metabolic syndrome, is a combination of high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistence. Over 27 million Americans are believed to have metabolic syndrome. This syndrome can contribute to many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
The best prevention and treatment of Syndrome X seems to be diet and exercise. The research seems to lean toward a diet high in whole foods to combat metabolic syndrome. One of the best studied diets is the Mediterranean diet.
A Taste of the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean diet is high in grains, beans, vegetables and fruit. The main animals foods are fish and poultry. It is a diet higher in fat than the American diet with olive oil as a main source of fat. With a concentration on whole food and fish, the diet is higher in many of the nutrients needed for heart health such as: omega 3, beta carotene, vitamin C and E, potassium and maganesium.
Beneficial Foods
Nuts and seeds also show benefits against the metabolic syndrome. One study showed that nuts combined with the meditteranean diet could be a useful tool in managing metabolic syndrome. Nuts and seeds can be great snacks and help you avoid nutritionally devoid snacks like chips and high sugar snacks.