Body Composition & Cardiovascular Issues:
Simple Changes to Get Lean & Healthy
Try a natural approach that targets fat loss, maintains lean muscle tissue, and promotes cardiovascular health. A healthy body composition (proper muscle-to-fat ratio) has been associated with longevity and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions. Over 60% of Americans and a growing percentage of Canadians have an "altered" or unhealthy body composition (excess body fat), which can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hormonal conditions, and cardiovascular disease.
Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and appropriate nutritional support are recommended by national health organizations to positively impact body composition and cardiovascular health. A comprehensive program should include body composition testing (fat & lean tissue ratios)-because thin doesn't mean healthy if you're losing muscle and retaining unhealthy fat. Loss of muscle results in loss of ability to burn calories, which makes it much more difficult to maintain fat loss over time. An imbalance in body composition (gaining too much fat or losing too much muscle) can also lead to serious health problems.
A natural strategy should attempt to facilitate fat loss and support the management of conditions associated with excess body fat, such as cardiovascular issues. This goal can be achieved by:
- Simple dietary changes. By eating the right kinds of foods, such as low-glycemic-index foods and healthy fats, patients can enhance the success of their program. The glycemic index (GI) assesses blood glucose response to a food, and research documents that people at risk of diabetes should maintain a diet with low GI foods.
- Routine exercise. Regular exercise-as simple as walking 30 minutes 3 times per week-is important for maintaining a healthy body composition. Resistance exercise is beneficial as well, since increasing muscle mass increases energy needs, helps combat fatigue, and decreases the likelihood that fat mass will return after the program is completed.
- Targeted nutritional support. Protein and certain vitamins and minerals can help improve body composition and support associated conditions.
- Meal supplements. Research has shown that clinical programs that include a meal supplement, such as a beverage, are more successful for body composition management.
- Soy protein. A high quality protein, specific preparations of which have also been shown to promote healthy body composition and support lean muscle mass. In addition, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Soy protein has also been shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects.
- Fructose. A naturally occurring sweetener with a low GI that is suggested as a preferred sugar source for diabetics since small doses show virtually no effect on blood sugar or insulin.
- Fiber. Known to promote healthy digestion, blood insulin, and blood glucose levels, as well as maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels. Fiber is also associated with lower risk of heart disease.
- Folate & Vitamin B12. Key vitamins that promote healthy homocysteine levels. Elevated blood homocysteine is associated with aging and altered body composition, and is an independent risk factor for heart disease.
- Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium. Shown to be important in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Low intake of calcium is also associated with higher levels of body fat, and calcium supplementation has been shown to promote healthy body composition and decrease fat retention in clinical trials and animal studies.
- Plant sterols (such as beta-sitosterol). Foods containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Plat sterols are also recommended by the NIH as part of a lifestyle program for cardiovascular health.
- UltraMeal is a meal option formulated with the nutrients above (with the exception of plant sterols) to provide comprehensive nutritional support for patients with conditions associated with metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity, altered body composition, and isulin resistance.
- UltraMeal Plus features the same ingredients as UltraMeal, with the addition of plant sterols for patients who require more intensive support for conditions related to cardiovascular disease, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome, and altered body composition.
UltraMeal® medical food support for metabolic syndrome UltraMeal® Bar medical food support for metabolic syndrome UltraMeal® Plus medical food support for cardiovascular disease issues UltraMeal Recipes
Additional Support for Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Health:
Ultracare First Start™ medical food support for metabolic syndrome in children & teens UltraGlycemX® medical food support for dysglycemia Nutraceutical support for healthy body composition Nutraceutical support for cardiovascular health Nutraceutical support for blood sugar management
Bariatric Support:
Metagenics offers a line of medical foods specifically designed to meet the need of pre- and post-surgical bariatric patients. Visit www.bariatrixessentials.com for more details.