Eat These Seeds to Give Metabolic Syndrome the Slip
Metabolic syndrome. No one wants this diabetes segue. So here's a snack that just might help you thwart it: pumpkin seeds.
Also called pepitas, pumpkin seeds are loaded with magnesium. And a recent study found that the more magnesium a person's diet had, the lower his or her chances of developing metabolic syndrome.
A Major-League Mineral
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of ills, including high blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides; low HDL cholesterol; and a big belly. When researchers recently tracked the eating habits of young adults, diets highest in magnesium were associated with a 31 percent lower risk of the syndrome. A super statistic to know, considering that metabolic syndrome could lead to health woes like diabetes and heart disease. (Do you think you might have metabolic syndrome? Check out this list of symptoms.)
How It Works
Experts aren't completely sure how magnesium helps fight metabolic syndrome, but the mineral is known to improve the body's capacity to use insulin and help regulate blood sugar. In fact, of the volunteers studied, those who consumed the most magnesium had the lowest insulin levels. (Here's more on the potential blood sugar benefits of magnesium.)
Did You Know?
Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. So get the mineral from food instead of from supplements. (Use this online tool to find foods rich in magnesium.)
RealAge Benefit:
Getting enough magnesium (400 milligrams for women and 333 milligrams for men) can make your RealAge as much as 0.9 years younger.
