Fighting metabolic syndrome with grapes
I count grapes as among my favorite health snacks, although sometimes they only go in between the junk food. Yes, I am not always a healthy eater, and if you are, then consider me a big fan. But if you’re starting to get a little thicker around the waist (real or imagined), then here’s a bit of good news – try grapes.
Last month, I read about a study on how grapes could help reverse the effects of metabolic syndrome. The Mayo Clinic defines metabolic syndrome as “a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.”The study conducted by E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan Health System, shows how a diet enriched with any variety of grapes can reduce fat that surrounds the heart, liver and abdominal area (mainly due to poor diet and lack of exercise), and as a result protect these organs from damage caused by metabolic syndrome.
While the research was done on lab rats, I’d like to believe that the polyphenols in grapes have a magical effect on human fat as well. In fact, I am going to put grapes to the test. I will keep you posted on my progress a few months.
