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www.thevillagenews.co.za
2 September 2020
MY WELLNESS Dr Arien van der Merwe is a medical doctor specialising in natural and mind-body medicine, herbal remedies, fat loss, stress management, workplace wellness and holistic health counselling. Address: The Green Healing Space, 16 Hope St, Hermanus. Tel: 067 1166 111. Email: ermanus@DrArien.co.za. Website: www.DrArien.co.za
Youthful Living
Metabolic Syndrome, Weight Wobbles and Stress and by maintaining normal body weight.
re you low on energy? Do you wake up tired and stressed out every day? Are your clothes getting tighter and tighter? You might have Metabolic Syndrome!
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This includes a healthy, sustainable eating plan, based on low carbohydrates and high plant oils, nutriceuticals (food as medicine), well-researched herbal remedies and a gentle exercise programme (e.g. yoga, walking, swimming, dancing), combined with nutritional guidance, advice on dealing with sugar addiction and insulin resistance, stress management and relaxation training. This approach will go a long way in lowering the risk of this widespread health challenge.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Weight Wobbles
By 2010, 150 million people around the globe had been diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and it is predicted that this figure will increase to 300 million by the year 2030. Undetected MetS can lead to an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke and more.
Fat accumulation is the main cause of chronic inflammation in the body and may increase your health risks associated with all lifestyle diseases, including MetS, diabetes, heart disease, depression and more. Losing weight, especially fat weight, is not only about a better-looking body, but more importantly, about managing the health risks that can pose a serious threat to your health and wellbeing.
The purpose of the stress reaction is to ensure survival of the human (and other) species. We know it as the classic fight-flight-freeze reaction. This is most effective for physical threats, but we also elicit this reaction to threats experienced in our own minds. The body goes into survival mode, signalling the need for protection – the best protection being fat deposits in our pantries (around the waist and abdomen) to use for insulation and fuel!
By Dr Arien van der Merwe
Common symptoms of MetS include:
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Increased waist circumference, with fat deposits around the abdomen. Often a simple muffin top can indicate the start of MetS, with as little as 5kg fat accumulation; Lipid profile imbalances: Increased triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, with low HDL cholesterol; Moderate to high blood pressure; Increased fasting insulin, indicating insulin resistance; Increased fasting glucose that may lead to diabetes; Genetic factors and stress levels are also contributing factors.
The most effective way to manage MetS and weight wobbles, is through lifestyle changes and an integrative, holistic medical approach.
Lifestyle changes that include healthier eating habits, combined with regular, moderate, enjoyable physical activity, and losing as little as 5 – 10% body fat, have shown phenomenal health benefits and are much more effective than any medication can ever be. Doctors constantly report that they successfully take patients off blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medications after the patients lost as little as 5kg of fat. Losing fat weight can prevent and even reverse existing diabetes; lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; and improve sleep apnoea and other sleep problems — along with helping you feel better about yourself, and increasing your energy levels. Around 90% of diabetes, 80% of heart disease and 60% of cancers are preventable with healthier lifestyles
Losing even a little weight can be especially beneficial for people who store their excess weight around their abdomen (apple shape), rather than their hips (pear shape). Fat stored around the waist and in the liver is more metabolically active, which makes it a high-risk trigger for heart disease, but is also easier to lose.
an important cause in all physical diseases and ailments. This is also the reason why longterm stress over many years will be visible as advanced ageing of the skin, with wrinkles at a younger age, as well as physical diseases like osteoarthritis, heart disease, menopause with severe symptoms, depression, metabolic syndrome, and even cancer. The interplay of hormones during stress
The Stress Connection
Weight gain and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight are common concerns in women over 35 years of age. Underlying stress from deeply-buried unconscious emotions play an important role, as do increased cortisol levels, insulin resistance and Metabolic Syndrome. Overeating might be a way of trying to find nourishment for emotional needs through food, or may be due to an underlying need for protection and safety. The stress reaction to cold and hunger is a deeply ingrained, instinctive survival response, which some people have when internal, mostly unconscious, stress is experienced. The increased stress metabolism leads to more free radical formation and oxidative stress, which causes renegade inflammation and accelerates the ageing process, as well as being
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Insulin: Essential to allow glucose to enter cells for energy and fuel usage. Fat and muscle cells may become resistant to insulin, leading to high blood glucose/sugar despite high insulin secretion, because the cells cannot use the glucose inside the cells for fuel. The high blood glucose then triggers fat production. Cortisol: Stress hormone released from the adrenal glands during long-term stress. An increase in cortisol results in more insulin resistance and thyroid hormone resistance. The many symptoms of high cortisol levels (which can ultimately lead to adrenal fatigue) include chronic distress (constantly feeling overwhelmed, anxious, worried), food cravings, disturbed sleep, depression, brain fog, low immune system functioning, muscle and bone density loss, stomach/peptic ulcer, and skin conditions like eczema and acne. Thyroid hormones: T3 and T4 are required in every cell to regulate metabolism. Low or borderline levels may lead to lack of energy, weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, constipation, etc. The effective way to address MetS, weight wobbles and stress is to consult with a holistic practitioner who will provide essential information, support and guidance on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and adopt eating guidelines, combined with a fat-loss programme.
