Newsletter #33

December 20, 2002

By Debasis Bagchi, Ph.D.

In his book, Syndrome X, Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack (New York, Simon & Schuster, 2000), Gerald Reaven, M.D., says that Syndrome X is a term used to from a body's own insulin resistance.

Insulin is responsible for transporting glucose (blood sugar) into the body's cells, where it is used for energy and stored for future use. When a person is resistant to insulin, glucose transport is impaired. In turn, the pancreas, where insulin is manufactured, compensates by releasing more and more insulin which, in turn, leads to elevated insulin levels, or hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia is a primary indicator of Syndrome X, which can lead to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity, as well as colorectal cancer.

Syndrome X increases the risk of heart disease through seven factors:

In addition, lifestyle factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity and smoking also worsen Syndrome X symptoms.

Somewhere between 60 and 75 million Americans are resistant to their own insulin and are afflicted with Syndrome X. Between 5 and 10 percent of those people will develop Type 2 diabetes, because their pancreas simply cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes, often referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is more easily controlled by diet, exercise and close monitoring. Risk factors include: age, physical inactivity, obesity, family history and race/ethnicity.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, it is estimated that 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the population) have diabetes, including 5.4 million people who have the disease but are undiagnosed. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by 2 to 4 times, is the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74 years old, and accounts for 40 percent of new cases of end-stage kidney disease. In addition, more than half of all lower-limb amputations in the U.S. are among those with diabetes.

The risk factors for CVD include:

1. Age -- Men over the age of 45; women over the age of 55, or who have passed menopause or have had ovaries removed and are not taking estrogen.
2. Family History -- Father or brother who had a heart attack before age 55; mother or sister who had a

heart attack before age 65; close blood relative who had a stroke.

3. Health conditions -- High cholesterol or blood pressure; more than 20 pounds overweight for your

height and build; diabetes.

4. Lifestyle -- Smoking or exposure to secondary smoke; lack of physical activity (less than 30 minutes

Overweight is defined as an excess amount of body weight in proportion to height. This weight includes muscle, bone, fat and water. So, theoretically, a muscle builder could be classified as overweight.

Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat. The term is often commonly used to distinguish the degree to which a person is overweight. Medical professionals generally agree that men cross the line from overweight to obese when they have more than 25 percent body fat, and women more than 30 percent.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, more than half of all adults are overweight and nearly one-quarter of U.S. adults are obese. Complications from obesity include: diabetes, high blood pressure, CVD, breast cancer and colon cancer.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that nine out of ten people don't get enough chromium in their diets. Compounding the issue, chromium is poorly absorbed -- typically less than two percent of the amount consumed.

InterHealth Nutraceuticals Inc. has developed a patented form of niacin-bound chromium called ChromeMate (polynicotinate), which, according to scientific research, is absorbed and retained more than 600 percent better than inorganic chromium chloride and 300 percent better than chromium picolinate. Most importantly, according to a report presented at the 40^th annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology in March 2001, ChromeMate has also been shown to be a completely safe chromium supplement, even when taken at high doses.

Items on sale at Honeycomb Natural Foods through December 31, 2002

Cascara Sagrada Bark Mild Stimulant Laxative - 100 Capsules

Regular Price----$8.49…………………….Sale Price----$4.79

Echinacea-Golden Seal Herbal Supplement 480mg - 100 Capsules

Regular Price----$14.99……………………Sale Price----$8.99

Power-Herbs Caffeine-Free Green Tea-Power or

Power-Herbs Bilberry-Power - 60 Capsules

Regular Price----$15.99…………………….Sale Price----$8.99

Ester-C 500mg with Bioflavonoids - 120 Capsules

Regular Price----$16.50…………………….Sale Price----$12.79

Green Tea or Green Tea jasmine - 20 Tea Bags Each

Regular Price----$3.39………………………Sale Price----$1.99

Ginger-Peppermint Tea - 24 Tea Bags

Regular Price----$3.95……………………….Sale Price----$2.79

Kava Kava Tea or Echinacea & Golden Seal Tea - 24 Tea Bags Each

Regular Price----$7.50……………………….Sale Price----$5.29

Valerian Root Tea - 24 Tea Bags

Regular Price----$4.75……………………….Sale Price----$3.29