Abdominal, or central, obesity is at an all-time high. Abdominal obesity is of particular concern because it is linked to metabolic syndrome, a condition where blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure are poorly controlled. Persons with metabolic syndrome are at greatly increased risk for more serious conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, diabetes and stroke. In the U.S., metabolic syndrome is defined as abdominal obesity, (waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women), together with two or more of the following risk factors: serum triglycerides 150 mg/dl or above; HDL cholesterol 40mg/dl or lower in men and 50mg/dl or lower in women, blood pressure of 130/85 or more and fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dl or above. The United States alone has about 30% of the population affected by Metabolic Syndrome.

Even though central obesity is an essential component of metabolic syndrome, that’s not the whole story. Abdominal fat is actually comprised of two metabolically distinct fat compartments. The fat that accumulates under the skin is called subcutaneous fat. Unsightly as it may be, this type of fat is relatively benign. The real perpetrator is dense visceral fat found deep in the abdomen, surrounding the intra-abdominal organs. Visceral fat is of particular concern because elevated levels of visceral fat are actually a cause of metabolic syndrome. Visceral fat cells are not just sedentary storage cells. They release inflammatory cytokines such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin (IL)-6, which contribute to chronic systemic inflammation. Visceral fat also produces angiotensin, a chemical messenger that can elevate blood pressure by causing the constriction of blood vessels. Excess visceral fat is a significant factor in the development of metabolic syndrome.   Some new herbal supplements have been developed that specifically targets this abdominal fat.  One is a licorice derivation VFM-100 or Glabrinex.  The other is Insinase by Metagenics, which is in UltraMeal 360.  The First Line Therapy Lifestyle program is specifically designed to reverse metabolic syndrome.  BIA is used to determine your individual needs.  Ask us about working with Elizabeth and Leah on a program specifically for you. 

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