Metabolic Syndrome and Type II Diabetes Reach Dangerous Levels in U.S.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of symptoms including high blood sugar, obesity and cardiovascular problems — has reached epidemic proportions.

According to the American Heart Association, 47 million Americans now have metabolic syndrome. The syndrome afflicts 40 percent of people in their sixties and seventies. That number is expected to rise along with our aging population.

A recent CDC study published in Pediatrics shows the epidemic isn't limited to older adults either. Obesity in teens has skyrocketed in the past decade, and 23 percent of teens are now classified as diabetic or prediabetic.

The symptoms of metabolic syndrome can cause very serious long-term damage to your body — even if you feel fine.

"A person with metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to develop diabetes. Other silent symptoms include eye, kidney and nervous system damage over time," explained Dr. Carl Hastings, chief scientific officer at Reliv International.

Could you have metabolic syndrome?

Excess weight, particularly around the waistline, is the biggest contributor to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome typically includes three or more of these symptoms:

• waistline of 40+ inches for men or 35+ inches for women
• high blood pressure, or on blood pressure medication
• high triglycerides
• high blood sugar or type II diabetes
• low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol

Balancing Blood Sugar

The solution for metabolic syndrome lies in a three-pronged approach of balancing blood sugar, losing weight and improving cholesterol.

"When blood sugar and insulin levels drop too low, we feel hungry. When this scenario plays out repeatedly, with blood sugar going up and down, we tend to eat more calories," explained Hastings.

If blood sugar is continuously balanced, we stay satiated for a longer period of time, and weight loss is easier. Careful nutritional intake can help.

"Research shows that cutting-edge ingredients such as Pycnogenol^® and more common dietary sources such as cinnamon have significant blood sugar management properties," said Hastings.

Beating Cholesterol at the Source

Most cholesterol is produced in the liver by the HMG-CoA reductase gene. Statin drugs work by blocking HMG-CoA, but they can often block too much. This leads to serious side effects because our body needs a minimum level of cholesterol for proper cellular function. On the other hand, a naturally occurring soy peptide called lunasin targets cholesterol at an earlier stage, reducing the HMG-CoA without blocking it entirely.

Video: Watch how lunasin works.

A Nutritional Solution

Reliv International, Inc. (reliv.com) produces nutritional supplements that promote optimal health. GlucAffect®  is a cutting-edge nutritional approach to metabolic syndrome. A patented formula combines scientifically proven ingredients to address three factors of metabolic syndrome: blood sugar, weight and cholesterol.

In an eight-week clinical study of overweight individuals with elevated blood glucose levels, subjects taking four daily servings of GlucAffect lowered their fasting blood glucose by an average of 30% and lost an average of nearly 16 pounds. Read the study.

The recent addition of LunaRich® soy powder significantly increases the lunasin content in GlucAffect and its ability to combat metabolic syndrome.

About Reliv International, Inc.

Reliv International, Inc., based in Chesterfield, Mo., produces nutritional supplements that promote optimal nutrition along with premium skincare products. Reliv supplements address essential nutrition, weight loss, athletic performance, digestive health, women's health, anti-aging and healthy energy. The company sells its products through an international network marketing system of independent distributors in 15 countries. Learn more about Reliv at www.reliv.com, or on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

SOURCE Reliv International, Inc.