What is Metabolic Health?
Think you’re metabolically healthy because you see a “normal” weight on the scale? Think again — having a moderate weight doesn’t automatically guarantee good metabolic health.
According to the University of North Carolina, one in eight adults in the United States are metabolically healthy. In the 2019 study, researchers measured waist circumference, fasting and long-term blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood fats and cholesterol to assess metabolic health.
What is metabolic health?
There is no standard definition in the medical community for metabolic health but it is quickly becoming a goal of many. A large part of metabolic health is having a healthy metabolism — a body that can both digest and absorb nutrients from food without an unhealthy spike in blood sugar, insulin, and blood fat. Large spikes can contribute to high cholesterol, body fat, blood pressure, and large waist circumferences.
Good metabolic health reduces your risk of getting metabolic diseases such as obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and more.
A combination of factors makes up your metabolic health, some of which you can influence and others that are not. You can’t change your age, sex, or genes, but you can modify your diet, sleep, exercise, stress levels, and mental well-being.
Why is good metabolic health important?
Metabolic health has become even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, as public health researchers uncover links between poor metabolic health and severe complications from the COVID-19 virus. Having poor metabolic health means you have a higher chance of developing diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. If you have diabetes or heart disease, or if you are at high risk of developing these diseases in the future, taking steps now may prevent the advancement of the disease — or even reverse it entirely (for example, Type 2 Diabetes).
Better yet, good metabolic health makes it more likely you will enjoy an active and healthy life at any age.
How can I improve my metabolic health?
Making diet and lifestyle changes can help improve your metabolic health. At OnePeak Medical, Lisa Parker, MSN, FNP-C, MHP is certified as a Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP) through the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP) to help support our patients through diet and lifestyle interventions, including carbohydrate restriction.
Many people can benefit from a low-carb diet. OnePeak Medical’s Fitness and Nutrition Advisers work alongside Lisa to help integrate diet, exercise, vitamin supplementation, and other healthy practices into your everyday life.
Are you a vegetarian or vegan? A low-carb diet could still help! Don’t just take our word for it, OnePeak Medical patient Sarah D. has achieved great results with a vegan Keto diet.
“I have struggled to keep my body healthy for 20 years. Even as a gluten-free vegan, I have struggled with my weight. Lisa Parker was able to find out how my body works and show me that I was eating the wrong foods at the wrong times. With some vitamin therapy and the help of their nutritionist, we found a way to modify a Keto diet to fit my veganism, and now I feel in control for the first time in years!”
Book your appointment
Lisa practices at OnePeak Medical’s Ashland clinic located at 2205 Ashland Street, Suite 102, Ashland, OR 97520 and is available via telehealth appointments for patients all over Oregon.