Metabolic Syndrome—WhatIt Is, How To FightIt (NAPSA)—Upwards of 47 million American adults have metabolic syndrome. Never heard ofit? Here’s a hint—it has to do with metabolism...and how, for many, it doesn’t work quite as well as it usedto. It’s not a single disease, rather a cluster of health problems that of A American Diabetes Association, see hope in reversing the trend. “To stem the rising tides of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, comprehensive approaches for improving nutrition and physical activity habits that target both individuals and population are required.” Nutrition and physical activity to turn it around? Not as bad asit sounds. You just need to start paying attention to what you eat and exercising. Here are sometips to help pre- ier does not mean you can’t enjoy a treat now and then. There are plenty of health-conscious foods that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Nestl Crunch, one of America’s favorite candy bars, has recently introduced Nestl Crunch Carb Select” Sugar Free, which uses a sugar substitute and counts less than 4 net carbs per serving. together appear to increase a per- son’s risk for several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and adult-onset diabetes. The National Institutes of Health defines metabolic syndrome as having three or more of the following conditions: a thick waist, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, insulin/ sugar resistance and high blood sugar. Researchers from “Diabetes Care,” a journal published by the hike or bike. Go ice skating or take up tennis. And eating health- (Some carbohydrates, such as You can choose a healthier lifestyle for yourself. sugar, cause a noted effect on blood sugar while other carbs, such as fiber and sugar alcohols, have a reduced effect. Impact carbs are calculated by subtract- motivate you, inspire you and, well, push you on those days when ing fiber and sugar alcohol from total carbohydrates—leaving the carbs that have a greater impact on blood sugar.) Baby Steps sweat. If you can’t find someone you know, join a class at a local gym or an exercise group. Similarly, find a family member or friend who shares similar nutri- don’t hope to rebuild your body in a day. Know that changing a body is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t lost six inches off your waistline after the first week. It’s vent or combat metabolic syndrome: Use The Buddy System Team up with a partnerto help you'd rather pluck your eyelashes out one at a time than go for a tion goals. Look On The Bright Side Working out and eating healthier don’t have to be bad words. You don’t have to resort to sit-ups or exercise machines when you work out. Rather, you just need to get your blood pumping. Go for a Rome wasn’t built in a day, so a serious commitment but one worth making. To learn more about metabolic syndrome, visit www.american heart.org. For more information about Nestl Crunch Carb Select Sugar Free, visit www.nestlecrunch.com.
