Metabolic Syndrome | A Metabolic Plan

Resveratrol – A Life-Changing Substance?

Filed under: health and nutrition, Resveratrol; Tagged as: Caloric Restriction, calorie restriction, Cardiovascular Benefits, Cardiovascular Event, Clot Formation, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Failure, Life Span, Low Density Lipoprotein, metabolic syndrome, Platelets, resveratrol, Stickiness, Vascular Disease

Scientists are discovering significant preventive and therapeutic potential from resveratrol in fighting age-related diseases such as cardio-vascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

It has long been known that caloric restriction slows the pace of aging. Now scientists are finding that resveratrol mimics the life-span-prolonging effects of caloric restriction also. Until recently, however, scientists haven’t known why drastic dieting increased longevity. Now they believe it is a type of protein called sirtuins. Sirtuins stabilize the DNA to prevent damage that can lead to age-related diseases as well as promoting DNA repair.

The benefits of resveratrol seem to be growing as more and more research is done. Here is some of the benefits.

Cardiovascular

Many studies have shown the impact of resveratrol on reducing the risks of heart disease and the damage from strokes. Some of these discoveries include the reduction of atherosclerosis, inflammation, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) oxidation, and a reduced “stickiness” of platelets leading to a reduction in deadly clot formation.

Findings show that resveratrol not only may prevent a cardiovascular event but it may reverse the damage should one occur.
Stroke is another devastating outcome of atherosclerosis. Through its activation of sirtuin molecules, resveratrol can prevent injury to brain cells.
Researchers have also measured how platelet aggregation or “clumping” which is an important factor in clot formation in heart attacks and strokes is affected by resveratrol. They found that there was an increase in nitric oxide which lowers the amount of clumping.
In the studies being conducted, the supplemented animals also had reductions in their blood pressure.

Lower Cholesterol

Scientists have now established a relationship between resveratrol, inflammation, blood lipids, immune cells, and the cells lining arterial walls. In studies with mice, they had consistently

Lower total cholesterol and LDL levels than did control animals as well as consistently higher levels of beneficial HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
Also, the resveratrol-supplemented group saw higher levels of an enzyme called paraoxonase, which is an HDL-associated protein that prevents the LDL oxidation. In addition, the cholesterol-producing enzyme HMG-CoA-reductase (HMGR) was significantly lower. The prescription drugs called statins are used to control HMGR activity.

Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome

Type 2 diabetes is associated with development of the metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies have established beyond doubt that red wine consumption is associated with a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Resveratrol helps regulate glucose levels in the blood of diabetic patients while delivering glucose to skeletal muscles. In fact, resveratrol’s activation of sirtuins is so effective that many researchers are now interested in its use as a potential drug for the treatment of diabetes.

In endless studies, resveratrol continues to mimic many of the metabolic benefits of caloric restriction through its activation of sirtuins, without the deprivation associated with a reduced calorie diet. There will undoubtedly be more results from the myriad of studies being conducted. It seems that resveratrol may be a life-changing substance.

As a side note – resveratrol does quickly dissipate when in contact with oxygen. The level of resveratrol in wine will be drastically reduced in a bottle that is open overnight. Which also means that supplements on the market that do NOT guarantee the potency of resveratrol may have very little. Check the label for guaranteed potency.

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Many people spend time researching all the supplements and buying more and more of them as they read the latest information about what studies have been done and what new supplement will prevent them from dying of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer or diabetes – to name a few. But have you checked to see what you are doing to your blood chemistry?

When was the last time you had a comprehensive blood test? Annual blood testing is the most important step adults can take to prevent life-threatening disease. Critical changes in your body can alert you before serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or worse occur. Having the proper blood tests can empower you to put together a science-based disease-prevention program that could add decades to your life.

Chemistry Panel and Complete Blood Count

This is the basic testing and the best place to begin. This will give you information on your overall health. It provides a broad range of information on your vascular, liver, kidney and blood cell status. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) measures the number, health, variety, percentage, concentration and quality of the red and white blood cells for infections and anemia.

Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and transfer carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Other important components of red blood cells measured are hemoglobin and hematocrit. Low levels of these may indicate deficiencies of iron, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or folic acid.

White blood cells are an important component of the immune system. Increased levels in the blood are usually associated with bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. There are 4 types of white blood cells which are measured and each one is significant in the type of potential disease it can detect.

The Chemistry Profile provides up-to-date information on the status of your cardiovascular system. These tests include total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), triglycerides, and total cholesterol/HDL ratio, which is more valuable as a predictor of heart disease than total cholesterol or HDL levels alone.

The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones throughout the body, one of which is insulin, a regulator of glucose. The Chemistry Panel tests for your resting blood glucose, which helps in detecting early-stage metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Also included in the Chemistry Panel is an assessment of critical minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron.

While the CBC is a basic test, it provides invaluable information but is only a stepping off point in keeping apprised of your physical health. Over the next few days we will be discussing additional tests that will provide you with critical data in maintaining a healthy blood chemistry.

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The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic

Filed under: health and nutrition, Vitamin D; Tagged as: dementia, health, heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, nutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, Vitamin D, Vitamin D3

Do you know what your Vitamin D level is? Chances are you don’t and chances are it’s low. Research seems to be coming out almost daily about the effects of Vitamin D deficiency and how many people are deficient. Estimates range from about 35% in young people to 100% in the elderly.
There is a growing awareness of how critical Vitamin D is to our health. There have been many studies on various diseases and conditions which point to Vitamin D deficiency as playing a relevant role.
Recent research indicates thatthe following may be associated with Vitamin D deficiency:

rheumatoid arthritis
cognitive impairment and dementia.
hypertension which may cause high blood pressure
metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type II diabetes
heart disease

As you can see most of the above are related to inflammation. People with higher levels of Vitamin D also have better lung capacity, something that could be important to asthma sufferers.

Vitamin D is not something we get in large quantities from food but rather something we absorb from sunshine. As we have become a society who spends more and more time indoors or covered up when we’re outdoors, our Vitamin D levels have dropped. And many of us live in northern climes where, at least in the winter months, there may not be a lot of sunshine. Although surprisingly, there is a large number of people in states like Florida and Texas with below normal Vitamin D levels. Taking Vitamin D3 supplements is an inexpensive and simple solution which scientists believe will give us more protection against many diseases that are on the rise.