The fast paced lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to means that we struggle to make time for a number of things, our diet and general wellbeing being one of them. It’s easy to put taking care of ourselves aside for the purpose of fitting more into the day, but eventually that attitude builds up to makes us rather ill. In more serious cases, it can even lead to us being more prone to developing diseases. The solution to this is simple – the metabolic syndrome diet. Metabolic syndrome is a result of the lifestyle choices many of us opt for, such as eating the wrong quantities and types of food, not exercising enough and being stressed all the time. There are a number of physical manifestations of this problem, such as abdominal fat, high risk of diabetes, cancers and bodily inflammation. The cost of this problem could be your life – the fat around your stomach could actually be risking an early death. There is some good news though – the situation is preventable, simply by removing your belly fat. With simple but effective lifestyle changes, you can achieve this and boost your health in the process.
Exercise and stress management are two of the key components of the metabolic syndrome diet. Exercising for twenty minutes around four or five times a week is the best way to reduce visceral fat, as well as slowing your anxiety and stress down to a manageable level. You should live within ten percent of your normal body weight, for which there is a simple formula. The basic rule for men is 106 pounds for the first five feet then six pounds for every additional inch. For women, the rule is 100 pounds for the first five feet and then five pounds for every additional inch. Experts also advise that you monitor your calorie intake to make sure you don’t gain too much weight.
Your diet also, naturally, plays a big part in maintaining this diet. It’s advised that you eat early to give your body chance to break the food down and to utilise it, but don’t skip breakfast – this has an adverse effect. You should also eat often – this doesn’t mean large portions all the time, but rather four or five smaller meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism going throughout the day. The more fibre you can eat, the better, as this will keep you fuller for longer to limit your snacking. You can get this from eating more fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Of course, fatty foods and processed goods are off the menu – this are usually high in saturated fats, sugar, salt and unhealthy additives. Wherever possible, aim for fresh and healthy meals that are loaded with nutrients for overall wellbeing – soup is a great way of getting plenty of veggies into your diet in one simple, filling meal.
Snacking can be the biggest cause of people giving up on their diet, but if you make better choices you may still be able to sneak in a snack without ruining your whole diet plan. This means opting for nuts, seeds and fruit instead of the crisps and biscuits. Nuts are loaded with health-boosting nutrients, as well as being filling and low in fat. Natural, sugar-free yoghurt with berries will also fill you up without ruining your fat or sugar intake – it will also count towards your five a day if you include plenty of fruit. Lastly, ensure that you stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water – experts recommend around six to eight glasses each day to keep your body functioning correctly.