Sacramento has a rapidly rising metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes rate among the young and middle-aged. So does India. And the rest of the world as well. Why? And why do these strike vegetarians eating a diet high in white rice, bread, and starchy plant-based foods? In other countries, add even a small amount meat or fish to the diet, and in largely rice or bread-based societies, the risks of these health issues rise. It's similar to the risk of a higher cancer rate among mostly red-meat eaters globally. See the article, Red Meat Eaters More Likely to Die from Cancer or Heart Disease. Also see the article, Vegetarians Have Lower Cancer Risk Than Meat Eaters.

Could the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes epidemic in part be increased by eating white rice instead of the more expensive brown rice? See the article, Waist circumference measurement identifies metabolic syndrome. In the case of white rice, there is nothing slowing it down causing a sudden spike in blood glucose. Is the overconsumption of white rice, bread, and soda in part causing the problems? See how high white is on the Glycemic Index.

White rice or any other carboyhydrate does not cause type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. It's how your individual genes, your body's response to any combination of food reacts to your diet as a whole. It's an issue regarding risk. See the article, Will feeding mothers prevent the Asian metabolic syndrome epidemic?

It's also customary to eat white rice instead of brown rice in China. See the article, Study warns of growing Metabolic syndrome epidemic in China. How much carbohydrate does one need? Experts advise consuming about 50 to 60 percent of one's total daily calories from carbohydrates, mostly complex carbohydrates, and no more than 30 percent of calories from fat. What happens to the rice polish with all the vitamin B contents or the rice bran? It's packaged and sold globally.

You can buy rice bran or rice polish in local health food stores. After the bran and polish are removed, you get the white rice, and that's what a lot of people are eating globally. Think how difficult it is to get served brown rice in any large, chain eatery in the world, including the USA. You'd have the same luck trying to find whole grain sprouted flourless no-yeast bread outside of the natural foods section of a market or in a health food store. It's about cost. But when rice first grows, it grows as brown rice. Somebody has to scrape off the vitamins from the rice.

Restricting total carbs to less than 130 grams per day is not recommended, according to the American Diabetes Association. Also, the National Academy of Sciences - Food and Nutrition Board recommended that diets provide 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrates, with a minimum intake of 130 grams per day for adults.

Go to any restaurant or fast-food eatery in any country, and chances are you'll be served white rice, unless you're in a specialized health-food type restaurant. It's what most people serve in their home until they are told why brown rice is more nutritious. Seethe article, Diabetes afflicting more in US Asian population - The Boston Globe. Also see the article, Brown rice and white rice? - Diabetes Daily.

Can white rice contribute to type 2 diabetes? See the article, Why Brown Rice is Healthier.

Why are type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome rising so fast all over the world? Is anyone looking to see whether metabolic syndrome is rising rapidly in young or middle-aged urban police personnel, perhaps due to stress and diet? Metabolic syndrome is hitting policemen hard in India. And it's not only in India. The cheapest source of calories in these centers is white rice. Many healthcare workers believe that white rice is responsible for the diabetes epidemic globally.

In the Marshall Islands, 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii, children indulging in popsicles and soda or eating ramen noodles with Kool-Aid powder sprinkled on top for breakfast. Picture families dining on white rice, meat, and sweet beverages for lunch and dinner every day. What kind of meat? How about Spam, canned corned beef, chicken, fish, crab, octopus, and variety meats such as turkey tails or pig intestines? The diabetic and metabolic syndrome risks are spreading, according to the article, Defeating Diabetes: Lessons From the Marshall Islands.

What's the relationship between vegetarian diets and metabolic syndrome, if any? The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes is increasing globally at an alarming rate, according to the study, “Addressing the diabetes pandemic: a comprehensive approach.”

Metabolic syndrome is rising in the USA as well and in Europe. So is type 2 diabetes? What's causing this global epidemic? Are people genetically changing or is the food?

Metabolic syndrome usually hits people with the genetic tendency to gain weight in the abdomen, who have high blood pressure, and issues with insulin. Are people eating too many foods that turn to sugar too fast in the bloodstream? Or are people changing genetically? Are there too many foods that turn to sugar too quickly in the diets of people around the world? What's the role of global fast foods, and are they similar to local fast foods, if the transfats and sugar in the foods play a role?

Why does India, largely a vegetarian society, have the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the world? But India has been vegetarian for centuries. Is it a combination of genetics and vegetarian? If so, then why is metabolic syndrome rising along with type 2 diabetes all over the world? Is it stress that points to metabolic syndrome?

Is vegetarianism creating high insulin in the blood streams of people eating a largely vegetarian diet? It's stress combined with the tendency to gain weight around the abdomen instead of of on the hips and thighs. It's about the waist-to-hip ratio. So it boils down to stress plus genetics. And also its about the type of vegetarian diets and the stress with the genetics.

Why is metabolic syndrome global in countries that eat more meat than vegetables? India is focused on because it has the highest diabetes rate in the world and is largely vegetarian. Is it balance, stress, genetics, or all of these pointing to the rising metabolic syndrome rate?

Why all of a sudden is metabolic syndrome in India is rising rapidly? Stress or changes in foods? Basically, in India, a largely vegetarian country, is it the stress getting to the policemen in urban settings rather people other than the police living in rural settings? And why in modern times? The area has been vegetarian for centuries. But metabolic syndrome is rapidly rising all over the world and especially locally. See the article, “Global Prevalence of Diabetes — Diabetes Care.”

India leads the world with largest number of diabetic subjects thus earning it the dubious distinction of being termed the “Diabetes capital of the world.” See the article, “India is the diabetes capital of the world with 41 million.”

According to the Diabetes Atlas 2006 (see Diabetes Atlas) published by the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes in India is currently around 40 million and this number is expected to rise to 70 million by 2025, unless urgent preventive steps are taken. See the article “High Prevalence of Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Among Policemen.” APICON, 2008. See the articles, “Daily Diabetic: India is Diabetes Capital of the World.” See International Diabetes Federation (IDF)

The so called “Asian Indian Phenotype” refers to certain unique clinical and biochemical abnormalities in Indians which include increased insulin resistance, greater abdominal adiposity i.e., higher waist circumference despite lower body mass index, lower adiponectin and higher high sensitive C-reactive protein levels. See the article, “Abdominal obesity, visceral fat and type 2 diabetes- “Asian Indian Phenotype.” This phenotype makes Asian Indians more prone to diabetes and premature coronary artery disease. The only issue is why are those phenotypes also prevalent in Sacramento, among a diverse population eating perhaps similar foods?

Why is type 2 Diabetes A Major Cause of Mortality of Youth and Middle Aged People Globally?

During the past 30 years, the status of type 2 diabetes has changed from being considered a disorder of the elderly, to one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality affecting the youth and middle aged. It is important to note that the rise in prevalence is seen in all six inhabited continents of the globe. The major driver of the epidemic is the more common form of diabetes namely type 2 diabetes, which accounts more than 90% of all diabetic cases. See the article, “Metabolic syndrome–emerging clusters of the Indian phenotype.”

1. Metabolic Syndrome is one of the commonest risk factors for Cardiovascular mortality.

2. The major characteristics of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure and lipid abnormalities.

3. Currently, no randomized controlled studies are aimed specifically at treating metabolic syndrome.

4. The primary goals of dietary management for persons with metabolic syndrome are to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.

5. The long term effects of low-carbohydrate diets have not been studied adequately in patients with metabolic syndrome, although short-term effects show benefit.

References

1. Huizinga MM, Rothman RL. Addressing the diabetes pandemic: a comprehensive approach. Indian J Med Res 2006;124:481-4.

2. Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H. Global Prevalence of Diabetes — Diabetes Care: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 2004;27:1047-53.

3. Mohan V, Sandeep S, Deepa R, Shah B, Varghese C. Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes: Indian scenario. Indian J Med Res 2007;125:217-30.

4. Deepa R, Sandeep S, Mohan V. Abdominal obesity, visceral fat and type 2 diabetes- “Asian Indian Phenotype. In: Mohan V, Rao GHR (ed).

5. Type 2 diabetes in South Asians: Epidemiology, Risk factors and Prevention. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi 2006:138-152.

6. Joshi SR. Metabolic syndrome - Emerging clusters of the Indian Phenotype