According to the American Heart Association, over 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, which translates into 1 in every 6 people. Metabolic syndrome, also called Syndrome X, is actually a set of risk factors that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and excessive abdominal fat. When these factors are combined, they double your risk of heart disease and increase your risk of diabetes by five times. In short, metabolic syndrome is the precursor to some very dire health problems.
Now for some good news. Research suggests that metabolic syndrome can be prevented with something as simple as your daily menu. Yes, improving your diet actually has that much impact, according to a recent study which found that plant-based diets were shown to be effective in improving body weight, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factors, and could be highly effective in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.(1)
Also impressive is that the study in question was in fact a review of eight observational research studies examining the association of plant-based eating with metabolic syndrome. The majority of the studies found better metabolic risk factors and lowered risk of metabolic syndrome among individuals following plant-based diets, as compared with omnivores. This was due to some key plant-based dietary factors, such as fewer calories, less saturated fat, and an absence of processed meat, all of which appear to influence metabolic syndrome risk. Additionally, whole food plant-based diets are higher in fruits, vegetables and fiber, which collectively protect against the development of metabolic syndrome. Let food be your medicine!
(1) Curr Diab Rep. 2014;14(9):524. doi: 10.1007/s11892-014-0524-y