Health Matters

Almost All Obese Men Will Eventually Become DiabeticThis month, two studies show that being overweightshortens life. A study from the University of Uppsala in Swedenfollowed 1800 Swedish overweight men, from age 50 for 30 yearsand showed that almost all are at high risk for heart attacks andpremature death (Circulation, December 2009). The authors showedthat overweight men who originally did not have metabolicsyndrome eventually suffered from metabolic syndrome, diabetesand heart attacks.Metabolic syndrome is considered to be early diabetes andincludes high blood sugar and triglycerides, high blood pressure,low good HDL cholesterol, and abdominal obesity (40 inches for men,35 for women). In this study, being overweight without metabolicsyndrome increased heart attack rate by more than 95 percent, andbeing verweight with metabolic syndrome increased the rate by morethan 155 percent.In another study, researchers at the University of Bristolin the UK and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden analyzed more thana million Swedish mother-son and father-son pairs over age 50.They showed that the sons who were overweight tended to haveparents who had died prematurely and had an extremely highincidence of heart attacks, diabetes, and some cancers (BritishMedical Journal, January, 2010).Fat cells are like endocrine glands. As they fill withfat, they release hormones that turn on your immunity to causeinflammation. An overactive immunity damages artery walls tocause heart attacks and strokes. High blood fat levels blockinsulin receptors so your cells cannot respond to insulin and yourblood sugar levels rise too high. This causes sugar to stick tocell membranes to damage arteries to cause heart attacks andstrokes. Since your insulin receptors are blocked, your pancreasreleases increasing amounts of insulin which constricts arteriesto cause heart attacks.Storing fat primarily in your belly rather than in yourhips means that you already have high insulin levels, which shortenslives and increases heart attack risk. Insulin specifically causesfat to be stored in your belly.If you can pinch more than an inch of fat in your belly,you are overweight and at increased risk for metabolic syndrome,diabetes, heart attacks, and premature death. You should first becleared by your doctor for exercise and try to exercise every day.Avoid all foods that cause a high rise in blood sugar, particularlysugared drinks, foods made from flour, and sugar-added foods.Eat large amounts of vegetables. Avoid red meat, lose weight, andmake sure that your vitamin D3 level is above 75 nmol/L.

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