What is metabolic syndrome and why is it so dangerous for us? These and other questions are explained here in an interview with Heike Erner. The good news: We can counteract it with a balanced diet, even if you already have metabolic syndrome.
Heike Erner has been a naturopath and holistic nutritionist since 2009, as well as holding a degree in business administration with a focus on personnel management/coaching. For the past 8 years, she has been focusing on nutritional counseling, health coaching, and micronutrient therapy. In addition, she advises and researches for companies based in the nutrition sector regarding new, interesting findings from the field of naturopathy and nutritional medicine.
Medicom: Ms. Erner, you are a naturopath and have specialized in topics such as nutritional counseling and health coaching. In the context of nutrition, the term "metabolic syndrome" is being heard more and more frequently. What exactly does this mean? At first, it sounds quite harmless; what significance does it have for our health?
Heike Erner: "Metabolic syndrome" is a complex of factors such as overweight (obesity, especially emphasized in the trunk), high blood pressure (hypertension), a disturbed or derailed sugar metabolism (insulin resistance and subsequently type 2 diabetes mellitus), and lipid metabolism disorders (elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels).
The unique feature of this quartet is that each of these individual factors represents an increased risk for serious cardiovascular diseases. However, this risk multiplies dramatically when several of these factors come together.
Since cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of death in industrialized nations, raising awareness about "metabolic syndrome" in our civilized society is one of the most important tasks of preventive medicine. This is because you can do something about it and take corrective action in good time. As this complex of symptoms is increasingly affecting younger people as well, the importance and corresponding education regarding a healthy diet and lifestyle, which have a decisive influence here, are very high.
Medicom: How common is "metabolic syndrome" and what makes it so insidious and dangerous?
Heike Erner: Metabolic syndrome is common and the trend is rising. In Germany, it is assumed that one in four people will now develop metabolic syndrome in the course of their life, thereby doubling their risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. That is worrying! Metabolic syndrome is insidious because each of the individual factors has a common characteristic – it doesn't hurt!
Metabolic syndrome is common and the trend is rising.
As such, the altered values are initially only noticed when changes in these parameters are detected during medical check-ups. On your own, you might see the often-ignored excess weight, but elevated blood sugar levels, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and also high blood pressure are initially long-standing, inconspicuous companions.
Only the consequences of long-term derailments cause complaints. By then, however, it is often too late and manifest changes, such as vascular damage, in particular arteriosclerosis and/or kidney and eye damage, have already occurred. In the worst case, the consequence is a direct heart attack or stroke, especially if these altered parameters are ignored for years.
Therefore, such changes should be taken seriously and counteracted as early as possible. This includes having regular check-ups with your GP, even if nothing hurts. This is especially true if you are overweight at a young age or if there is a known family history of cardiovascular disease.
Metabolic syndrome is insidious because each of the individual factors has a common characteristic – it doesn't hurt!
Medicom: Why is "metabolic syndrome" actually particularly common in industrialized countries like Germany or the USA?
Heike Erner: This is because this complex of symptoms in its origin has primarily and almost exclusively nutrition-related influences, i.e., lots of sugar, many bad fats, too much animal protein, little fruit and vegetables and therefore often too few antioxidants, phytochemicals, and vitamins, as well as a lack of essential fats such as the vital omega-3 fatty acids. Add to that stress and too little exercise and voilà – you have created the decisive influences to develop metabolic syndrome. Sometimes a certain genetic predisposition is also involved.
It is interesting to note that in countries where Mediterranean forms of nutrition prevail, cardiovascular diseases were significantly less common, at least in the past. Unfortunately, the industrially characterized diet has also reached these countries where Mediterranean eating habits were common, so that a worsening of the situation is also visible here.
Medicom: And you say one can take preventive influence on the development of these factors. Which preventive measures play a role in this? Who can do what, and when?
Heike Erner: Yes, above all, you can not only take preventive action. Even if metabolic syndrome is already present, it still makes sense to review and change your lifestyle and diet immediately.
Even if metabolic syndrome is already present, it still makes sense to review and change your lifestyle and diet immediately.
Some things are still reversible with appropriate long-term change – unfortunately not everything. Even if damage has already occurred, for example arteriosclerosis (vascular calcification), further deterioration of the situation can be actively counteracted by appropriately adapting your lifestyle and diet.
In this, the GP can and must sometimes provide support through medication and/or the nutritionist can provide guidance through individual counseling. Relying solely on medication without simultaneously actively doing something for your health is not a good solution. Unfortunately, many medications have side effects. There is no medication that covers all factors or cures metabolic syndrome without your own effort.
Often a vicious circle then develops and the list of medications gets longer and longer, the dosages higher. This is not goal-oriented – even if some of these medications are indispensable, you should work early on with additional personal health care to ensure that there are not more and more of them.
Thank you very much, Ms. Erner, for this conversation!
Mini-series in the online magazine on health and nutrition with nutritionist Heike Erner
Together with Ms. Erner, Medicom will provide simple health and nutrition advice in a mini-series to help optimize the individual factors. This allows everyone to adopt tips and advice for themselves individually. This does not replace a visit to the doctor, but serves as motivation to find ways to start a healthy lifestyle.
For each of the four factors of metabolic syndrome (overweight, sugar metabolism disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, and lipid metabolism disorders such as elevated cholesterol levels), you will find an article with explanations and health-promoting advice. We are convinced that everyone should and can actively do something for their health. Taking active responsibility for your own health means self-love and self-care and pays off twice in the end.
Do you want to know how healthy eating works easily? Then listen to our podcast interview: How to succeed with healthy eating according to Anne Fleck.
