What the heck is Syndrome X

[ladyhairg]

My doc says I've got something called Syndrome X and that the only way I will ever, ever lose any weight is through gastric bypass surgery. She says that without the surgery, I'll be dead in five years.

Does anyone out there know what exactly Syndrome X is? I tried doing a search online and only came up with a bunch of websites advertising expensive books and diet pills.

I know that it has something to do with insulin resistance, but that's about all I'm working with right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Amy

[Esther]

Insulin resistance, which leads to high insulin levels, which leads to obesity, clogging up arteries, fluctuating blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, high uric acid levels (leading to gout) and a few other things.

Some links:-

http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/syxwhitisand.html

http://syndromex.stanford.edu/

http://www.gazettearchives.com/health2001/_disc4/00000115.htm

I had this before starting Atkins but the low-carb lifestyle just makes it history. Low-carb means you don't need to make any/much insulin, so your body doens't overshoot and end up with too much.

An hours exercise a day helps lower your insulin resistance.

Chromium supplements help make your insulin more effective so your body doesn't need to make so much of it to do the same job - it kind of makes your body rebalance itself. I used to take 200 micrograms a day, but after a few months low-carbing it was no longer necessary.

If your uric acid levels are high, Atkins recomends not losing weight too fast as it can aggravate things, but I corrected my uric acid levels in 8 weeks flat on 30 grams of carbs a day by eating cherries for breakfast! 20 dried cherries is roughly 10 grams of carbs. Cherries and cream for breakfast can't be bad :nod A high carb diet uses a lot of antioxidants and the body runs out and starts making its own - uric acid. When it makes too much, it can cause problems, so add extra antioxidants to your diet if your uric acid is high.

The arteries clog up with cholesterol mostly because the cells lining them are insulin sensitive, which means when they detect insulin they turn carbs into fat. Reduce the carbs and the insulin and the arteries stop clogging up. Start losing weight and the cholesterol will start coming *off* your arteries.

My recomendation for a cure?
35 grams of carbs a day
200 micrograms of chromium a day
20 cherries a day (as part of your total carbs, not an extra!)
1 hour exercise a day - walking is great, or run/walk or whatever makes you puff a bit.
a good multivitamin/mineral supplement
extra antioxidants, like selenium, vitamins a, c, e, alphalipoic acid

Sounds better than surgergy, eh?

[Katlam]

I googled for it and found this

http://www.syndrome-x.com/

Go read and get educated.

Good luck.

Kathy

(PS you can PM 2Big and ask her about it, she may have heard more on it?)

edited to add Esther you are such a great resource! Sounds like you've been working with this already! (good to know)

[cleochatra]

{{{Esther}}}

Wow! Kat's right. You go girl!

{{{Lady}}} Here's to seeing you prove your doctor wrong!

[Miss Phode]

I had an ND tell me I have Syndrome X too. She gave me a supplement to regulate my insulin production, but I feel good on Atkins. Before Atkins I felt awful all the time, unless I took this insanely expensive supplement. I do have a hard time losing weight though. :sadblinky

[ztachick]

sounds like you got goo dinfo, but how do they test for it?

[Miss Phode]

I was going to an ND who does muscle testing. She didn't do a conventional test.

[ladyhairg]

Wow! Thank you guys SO much for all of the information. I should have known better than to panic and try to find the info for myself -- the folks here at ADBB are the best resource I know. Should have come here first!

As I learn more, I'm starting to think that maybe my doc jumped the gun a little bit. She never ran any blood tests -- just looked at my weight on the chart and decided that I have Syndrome X. Either way, it looks like lo-carb and supplements is going to be the way to go.

Funny thing, this is the same doc who told me that Atkins was a BAD thing a year ago. Hmmm . . . .

[Esther]

I would *really* like to know how you get on, Amy, so please keep in touch and let us all know.

Good luck, and don't forget the exercise! :wave