The Cenegenics program is based on hormone optimization, nutraceutical supplementation, exercise, and a balanced low glycemic diet.

Antioxidant supplements are an important component of nutraceutical supplementation. One reason for this is described below:

Antioxidants Could Curb Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Loading up carotenoids—a class of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables—could help lower your risk of metabolic syndrome, according to a recent study.

Increasingly common in the U.S., metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of health problems (including excess belly fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and inflammation) linked to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

For the study, researchers measured carotenoid intake among 374 men (ages 40 to 80), 22 percent of whom had metabolic syndrome. Results showed that higher total carotenoid consumption was associated with smaller waistlines and less abdominal fat. The study's authors also found that higher intake of lycopene (a carotenoid found in tomatoes, watermelon, and red grapefruit) was linked to lower levels of harmful blood fats.

To boost your carotenoid intake, fill up on foods like carrots, spinach, sweet potato, red peppers, tomatoes, kale, collards, pumpkin, and papaya or take a high quality supplement.

Nutritional Epidemiology

Dietary Carotenoid Intake Is Associated with Lower Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men

Ivonne Sluijs*, Joline W. J. Beulens, Diederick E. Grobbee and Yvonne T. van der Schouw
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Carotenoids have antioxidant properties. Little is known about the relation of dietary carotenoid intake on metabolic syndrome risk. We examined whether dietary carotenoid intake was associated with metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome risk factors. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study in 374 men aged 40–80 y. Intakes of β-carotene, -carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin were estimated using a validated FFQ. Presence of metabolic syndrome was determined using fasting serum glucose, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome was present in 22% of the men. After adjustment for confounders, total carotenoid and lycopene intakes were inversely associated with presence of metabolic syndrome [relative risk (RR) quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 (95% CI) 0.42 (0.20–0.87), P-trend 0.02; and 0.55 (0.28–1.11), P-trend 0.01, respectively]. For β-carotene, a decreased risk was observed for each quartile of intake compared with the first [RR quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 (95% CI) 0.58 (0.33–1.02)]. Higher total carotenoid, β-carotene, -carotene, and lycopene intakes were associated with lower waist circumferences and visceral and subcutaneous fat mass. Higher lycopene intake was related to lower serum triglyceride concentrations. In conclusion, higher total carotenoid intakes, mainly those of β-carotene and lycopene, were associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and with lower measures of adiposity and serum triglyceride concentrations in middle-aged and elderly men.