Managing Metabolic Syndrome with the Practice of Yoga
Yoga enthusiasts, colloquially known as yogis, swear by the practice's potential benefits on both body and mind. Scientifically, though, what's the deal with yoga and metabolic syndrome? A recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports sheds some light on this.
Led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong, China, this badass study dives into the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health. The research team had already shown improved blood pressure and smaller waist circumferences among those who practiced yoga for a year. So, they decided to investigate the effects on individuals with metabolic syndrome, those with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, who make up around half of the adult U.S. population.
The researchers recruited 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, splitting them into a control group and a yoga group. The yoga group attended three 1-hour sessions per week for a year, while the control group simply had monthly health check-ins.
The researchers took blood samples to monitor adipokines, signaling proteins released by fat tissue that initiate either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
Here's the lowdown on the results: "The study revealed that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure," advance the researchers. In layman's terms, that means yoga reduced inflammation and improved the overall health of study participants.
Dr. Siu sums up the study, stating, "These findings help us understand how regular exercise affects human health, particularly through long-term yoga practice."
So, if you're dealing with metabolic syndrome, a touch of yoga might be just what the doctor ordered to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms. Cheers to that!
Yoga practice appears to have a significant impact on metabolic syndrome, as demonstrated in a study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, showing a decrease in proinflammatory adipokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory adipokines among participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, thereby improving the overall health. Furthermore, regular yoga exercise could provide a therapeutic approach to manage metabolic disorders, according to Dr. Siu's research in the field of health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise.
