“According to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, only 1 in 8 Americans is achieving optimal metabolic health, which carries serious implications for public health. Poor metabolic health leaves people more vulnerable to developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious health issues.”​

Only 12.2% of adults are metabolically healthy – including those who are under or of normal weight.

Metabolic health was defined as having optimal levels of five health factors:

Waist circumference – men <40 in; women <35 in

Fasting blood glucose – <100 mg/dl  and hemoglobin A1c <5.7%​

Blood pressure  – systolic <120 and diastolic <80 mmHg

Triglycerides –   <150 mg/dL

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol “good” –  ≥40/50 mg/dL for men/women

AND not taking any related medication.

This stat should concern you.

We are not a healthy nation.

Chances are that you are not metabolically healthy even if you “feel okay.”

To avoid lots (potentially months and years) of medications, illness, time spent at the doctor’s office or hospital, start today with the basics and here are things you can do right now:

• Exercise – go for a walk or lift weights
• Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of plain water – not soda, not coffee, not alcohol
• Stop doing anything and rest/take a bath/call a friend/ be present with your family/ play a sport – something to reduce feelings of stress and increase contentment
• Get sunlight, especially the sunrise and sunset
• Don’t smoke
• Cut out alcohol
• Increase your protein intake
• Cut sugar
• Cut out seed oils
• Go to bed and get 7-9 hrs sleep

You have control over these things and perhaps today is the perfect day to do something meaningful for your health:)