How do carbohydrates impact your health? - Richard J. Wood
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The things we eat and drink on a daily basis can impact our health in big ways. Too many carbohydrates, for instance, can lead to insulin resistance, which is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. But what are carbs, exactly? And what do they do to our bodies? Richard J. Wood explains.
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Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of symptoms that increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes. The underlying cause of metabolic syndrome is thought to be insulin resistance. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing significantly world-wide. There are five diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome:
1.Fasting blood glucose ≥100 mg/dL
2.Blood pressure ≥130/≥85 or taking a medication to lower blood pressure
3.Waist circumference ≥35 inches for women or ≥40 inches in men
4.Triglycerides (fat in your blood) ≥150 mg/dL
5.HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) ≤50 for women or ≤40 in men
Insulin resistance is a condition where the body makes insulin, but the tissues response to that insulin is blunted. Insulin resistance is thought to be the underlying cause of metabolic syndrome, and is a hallmark of Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin resistance can lead to weight gain and disruptions in blood-fat levels ("triglycerides") and good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol).
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Richard J. Wood
- Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
- Animator Qa'ed Mai
- Narrator Addison Anderson