Metabolic Syndrome Diet: Foods to Eat & Avoid
Metabolic syndrome consists of a number of health issues that a person has all at the same time. These issues are high Blood Pressure, extra fat around the midsection, increased blood sugar readings, and cholesterol levels that are abnormal. When these are all happening together you have an increased chance of a Stroke, Diabetes and Heart Disease.
If you have just one of these issues you do not have metabolic syndrome. If you do have it, you can turn things around by making important lifestyle changes.
What to Include in a Metabolic Syndrome Diet
Even if you do not lose any weight, if you change the foods that you eat you can improve your blood pressure, reduce your blood glucose levels, and correct your cholesterol numbers. Here are some foods that you might want to include if you are starting a metabolic syndrome diet.
1. Increase Your Fiber
When you add more fiber to your diet you will find that you are not as hungry because the fiber fills you up faster. Foods that have more fiber include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables nuts, avocadoes and vegetables that are in the cabbage family.
2. Add More Fruits and Vegetables
You have been hearing this for years but eating fresh fruits and veggies can help you to not get metabolic syndrome and may even keep you from getting certain kinds of Cancer. Keep in mind serving sizes for each group: fruits and vegetables- 1/2 cup; leafy greens – 1 cup; fruit or vegetable juice – 1/2 cup; dried fruit – 1/4 cup. Remember that fresh is best, anything processed is just adding unnecessary preservatives to your diet.
3. Eat Healthy Salads
Many people think by eating a salad they are automatically eating healthy but it is what you put on your salad that could make it just as bad as eating a hamburger. Always get your salad dressing on the side or you can end up adding nearly 1000 calories to your healthy meal. Instead of using creamy salad dressings or those that are full of fat, switch to balsamic vinegar, salsa, lemon juice, or rice vinegar.
4. Know Your Fats
If you’re not sure which fats are good for you and should be a part of your metabolic syndrome diet, here is a simple list:
You will find omega-3 fats through fish oil supplements, walnuts, soybeans, and flaxseed. Omega-6 oils can be found in sunflower oil, corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil. Monounsaturated fats are also a very healthy choice and are plentiful in nuts, canola oil, and olive oil. Even though these fats are good for you, as is anything, use in moderation.
What to Avoid for a Metabolic Syndrome Diet
If you are dealing with metabolic syndrome, you should first work on lowering your blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. These are both contributing factors in heart disease. If you are diabetic, you should also focus on reducing your blood sugar levels.
Here are some things to avoid for a heart-healthy eating plan:
1. Unhealthy Fats
The two types of fat that will raise your cholesterol numbers are trans-fat and saturated fat. Foods that have saturated fats are usually from animals. Trans fats can be found in foods that use hydrogenated fats and oils like most prepackaged sweet treats (cake, cookies, pies, and coffee creamers). Trans fats can also be found in the fat and meat of animals. On a heart-healthy diet, you should limit your intake of saturated fat to 5 to 6 percent each day.
2. Sodium
Too much salt is not a good thing for any diet, including a metabolic syndrome diet. With added salt and sodium in most of our foods, adding salt at the table just increases the problem. Too much salt will cause you to retain fluids, which affects your blood pressure levels. The suggested amount of sodium is not more than 2,300 milligrams each day. For people who have high blood pressure, you may want to keep it below that.
3. Alcohol
This category is not a requirement for a healthy diet. In fact, all it does is add to your triglyceride levels, which is a specific kind of fat that is located in the blood, and increases your blood pressure. Because alcohol has no nutritional value, it is just excess calories which could result in added weight. The amount of drinks that a man can have each day is two; for a woman, it is no more than one. One serving of alcohol equals:
Dietary Tips to Follow
For a healthy metabolic syndrome diet, simply knowing what to include and what to avoid is not enough, you should also keep a healthy eating habits.
Metabolic syndrome consists of a number of health issues that a person has all at the same time. These issues are high Blood Pressure, extra fat around the midsection, increased blood sugar readings, and cholesterol levels that are abnormal. When these are all happening together you have an increased chance of a Stroke, Diabetes and Heart Disease.
If you have just one of these issues you do not have metabolic syndrome. If you do have it, you can turn things around by making important lifestyle changes.
What to Include in a Metabolic Syndrome Diet
Even if you do not lose any weight, if you change the foods that you eat you can improve your blood pressure, reduce your blood glucose levels, and correct your cholesterol numbers. Here are some foods that you might want to include if you are starting a metabolic syndrome diet.
1. Increase Your Fiber
When you add more fiber to your diet you will find that you are not as hungry because the fiber fills you up faster. Foods that have more fiber include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables nuts, avocadoes and vegetables that are in the cabbage family.
2. Add More Fruits and Vegetables
You have been hearing this for years but eating fresh fruits and veggies can help you to not get metabolic syndrome and may even keep you from getting certain kinds of Cancer. Keep in mind serving sizes for each group: fruits and vegetables- 1/2 cup; leafy greens – 1 cup; fruit or vegetable juice – 1/2 cup; dried fruit – 1/4 cup. Remember that fresh is best, anything processed is just adding unnecessary preservatives to your diet.
3. Eat Healthy Salads
Many people think by eating a salad they are automatically eating healthy but it is what you put on your salad that could make it just as bad as eating a hamburger. Always get your salad dressing on the side or you can end up adding nearly 1000 calories to your healthy meal. Instead of using creamy salad dressings or those that are full of fat, switch to balsamic vinegar, salsa, lemon juice, or rice vinegar.
4. Know Your Fats
If you’re not sure which fats are good for you and should be a part of your metabolic syndrome diet, here is a simple list:
- Good: Omega-3, omega-6, monounsaturated fats
- Bad: Animal fats, saturated fats,trans-fats
You will find omega-3 fats through fish oil supplements, walnuts, soybeans, and flaxseed. Omega-6 oils can be found in sunflower oil, corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil. Monounsaturated fats are also a very healthy choice and are plentiful in nuts, canola oil, and olive oil. Even though these fats are good for you, as is anything, use in moderation.
What to Avoid for a Metabolic Syndrome Diet
If you are dealing with metabolic syndrome, you should first work on lowering your blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. These are both contributing factors in heart disease. If you are diabetic, you should also focus on reducing your blood sugar levels.
Here are some things to avoid for a heart-healthy eating plan:
1. Unhealthy Fats
The two types of fat that will raise your cholesterol numbers are trans-fat and saturated fat. Foods that have saturated fats are usually from animals. Trans fats can be found in foods that use hydrogenated fats and oils like most prepackaged sweet treats (cake, cookies, pies, and coffee creamers). Trans fats can also be found in the fat and meat of animals. On a heart-healthy diet, you should limit your intake of saturated fat to 5 to 6 percent each day.
2. Sodium
Too much salt is not a good thing for any diet, including a metabolic syndrome diet. With added salt and sodium in most of our foods, adding salt at the table just increases the problem. Too much salt will cause you to retain fluids, which affects your blood pressure levels. The suggested amount of sodium is not more than 2,300 milligrams each day. For people who have high blood pressure, you may want to keep it below that.
3. Alcohol
This category is not a requirement for a healthy diet. In fact, all it does is add to your triglyceride levels, which is a specific kind of fat that is located in the blood, and increases your blood pressure. Because alcohol has no nutritional value, it is just excess calories which could result in added weight. The amount of drinks that a man can have each day is two; for a woman, it is no more than one. One serving of alcohol equals:
- Beer – 12 ounces
- Wine – 5 ounces
- Liquor – 1 1/2 ounces
Dietary Tips to Follow
For a healthy metabolic syndrome diet, simply knowing what to include and what to avoid is not enough, you should also keep a healthy eating habits.
- Don’t skip breakfast. In fact, you should eat shortly after waking up in the morning.
- Eat smaller meals. When you spread out your meals so that you eat every 3 or 4 hours, you will keep your energy levels even and not be so hungry. Substitute your 2 larger meals for smaller meals and snacks consumed more frequently.
- Eat half of your usual meal. Portion control will do a good deal to help get your metabolic syndrome under control. When you are having lunch or dinner at a restaurant, split your meal with someone or ask your server to put half of your meal in a container to take home.
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