Metabolic Syndrome
- Dr. Aidanne
- Feb 27
- 3 min read
In light of February being heart health awareness month, let’s discuss Metabolic syndrome.
It is a growing health concern worldwide and is estimated to affect 22-30% of the US population.(1) Naturopathic medicine is equipped to manage the key factors that influence metabolic syndrome, including lifestyle factors and hormonal imbalances.
What Is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is the term used to identify a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome can be made when a person has at least 3 of the following 5 risk factors:
Abdominal obesity – Waist circumference >40 inches in men and >35 inches in women.
Elevated blood pressure – 130/85 mmHg or higher, or taking antihypertensive medication.
High blood sugar – Fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL or diagnosed diabetes.
High triglycerides – ≥150 mg/dL or taking medication for high triglycerides.
Low HDL cholesterol – <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women.
Each of these factors on their own increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but when combined, they create a significantly higher burden on overall health.(2)
Conventional Approaches to Metabolic Syndrome
The standard medical approach includes lifestyle modifications and, when necessary, pharmaceutical interventions:
Nutrition
Most doctors will encourage patients to eat a whole foods diet, reducing sugar intake, and balancing macronutrients.
Exercise
It depends on the age of the individual but typically it is recommended to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (or 30-minutes Monday-Friday). Strength training and aerobic exercise improve insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health.
Medications
Pharmaceuticals are often used or required to manage the risk factors of metabolic syndrome if lifestyle, dietary or supplemental interventions are insufficient in managing these factors. This could include statins or ezetimibe for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, and anti-diabetic medications such as metformin or GLP-1 agonists for blood sugar regulation as needed.(2)
Naturopathic Approaches to Metabolic Syndrome
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes treating the root cause and optimizing metabolic health through holistic methods.
For example, if someone's anxiety is the root of their high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, then we work to calm the nervous system and support the adrenal glands as they respond to stress. We know that cortisol dysregulation can contribute to metabolic dysfunction and often people are unaware of the role that stress plays on their body. Poor sleep is also linked to weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased blood pressure.
Aside from stress management, I love using food as medicine and botanicals to support metabolic health:
Nutrition
While there are many fad diets out there, the Mediterranean diet has the greatest amount of literature to support its metabolic benefits. If you're interested in learning more about this diet, check out my article here!
Intermittent fasting is also a useful tool to improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. There are many ways to practice this, so be sure to talk to your doctor about which approach is best for you.
To get specific, if there are two foods I recommend for nearly all my patients to incorporate for metabolic health it's 2-4 tbsp of ground flax seeds (3,4) and 1/4 avocado (5) daily.
Botanical & Supplement Support
This list could be quite extensive but a few of my favorites include:
Berberine – Shown to support blood sugar regulation and cholesterol management.
Magnesium – Supports insulin sensitivity and blood pressure regulation.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Helps reduce inflammation and improve lipid profiles.
Cinnamon & Chromium – Aid in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
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References:
Morshedzadeh N, Rahimlou M, Shahrokh S, Karimi S, Mirmiran P, Zali MR. The effects of flaxseed supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters, insulin resistance and inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2021;35(7):3781-3791.
Haidari F, Banaei-Jahromi N, Zakerkish M, Ahmadi K. The effects of flaxseed supplementation on metabolic status in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized open-labeled controlled clinical trial. Nutrition Journal. 2020;19(1):8.
Zhang X, Xiao D, Guzman G, Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman B. Avocado consumption for 12 weeks and cardiometabolic risk factors: a randomized controlled trial in adults with overweight or obesity and insulin resistance. The Journal of Nutrition. 2022;152(8):1851.
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