Keep lung function healthy with a formula that helps reduce abdominal fat

A Walk on the Wide Side

You could go without water for two days, maybe three. You could go without food for many days. But try going without oxygen and you might make it to the end of this e-Alert – not much further.

Obviously, lung function is vital for good health. But as I’ve pointed out in a number of e-Alerts, lung function has to be maintained or it deteriorates quickly as we get on in years.

Can’t stand the heat

You can guess the number-one lung function priority: no smoking. For non-smokers, priority-one is also easy to guess: regular exercise. Then add nutrients: High intakes of vitamin C, magnesium, and beta-carotene have all been linked to improved lung function.

Now…about that belly…

Recently, French researchers conducted a study to assess the association between poor lung function and specific components of metabolic syndrome (a cluster of symptoms that increases risk of type 2 diabetes.)

Using data collected from a seven-year population-based study that included nearly 122,000 adults, researchers found lung function impairment to be linked to three metabolic syndrome factors:

1. A combination of high blood sugar and high blood pressure
2. A combination of low HDL cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels
3. Abdominal obesity

Of the three, abdominal obesity was most clearly linked to metabolic syndrome. Too much abdominal fat has been found to increase pro-inflammatory markers, while also decreasing anti-inflammatory markers. Researchers speculate that excess adipose tissue in the abdomen prompts inflammation, which takes a toll on the lungs.

Alarms are ringing

Here’s the wake up call: “A study of 387 normal-weight people showed that men with waists measuring 40 inches double their risk of dying prematurely, and women with waists measuring 35 inches were 79% more likely to die than women with 28-inch waists.”

That quote comes from Melissa Hickle, Managing Editor of the HSI Members Alert newsletter. Writing in the current issue (April 2009), Melissa also offers some good news: “Even modest reductions in visceral fat can help reverse the effects of metabolic syndrome.”

Easier said than done, however, because abdominal adipose fat accumulates effortlessly, but it’s notoriously hard to lose. That’s why most of us who have reached a certain age could use a little help managing our middle. And some extract of licorice root might do just that.

Here’s what Melissa writes about glabridin, the active ingredient in a formula called Glabrinex: “Licorice root contains a flavonoid called glabridin. In addition to containing antioxidants and demonstrating blood-sugar- lowering properties, it’s this flavonoid that’s been shown to decrease deadly visceral fat.”

Melissa explains that glabridin increases the activity of enzymes responsible for the breakdown of fat tissue, while also stimulating metabolism of fatty acids in the liver.

As you might expect, there’s much more to the Glabrinex story, so you should talk to your doctor before using Glabrinex or any other weight-loss or fat-loss formula. Meanwhile, HSI members can use their monthly password to access Melissa’s entire article on our website at hsionline.com.

The HSI Members Alert provides a convenient way to stay informed about all of the most groundbreaking advances in nutrition and alternative medicine. Find out how you can be among the very first to learn about cutting edge cures you’ll rarely hear about in the mainstream media.

Sources:
“Lung Function Impairment and Metabolic Syndrome” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 179, No. 6, 3/15/09, ajrccm.atsjournals.org
“No carrot sticks for dinner, no sweating your life away on the treadmill – shrinking that spare tire has never been easier” Melissa Hickle, HSI Members Alert, April 2009, hsionline.com