Burgers, Fries, and Diet Soda Are Recipe for Metabolic Syndrome

Like an O. Henry story, this one has a surprise ending.

"Middle-age adults who regularly eat a double burger, fries, and a diet soda for lunch or dinner increase their risk of incident metabolic syndrome by 25% compared with those who limit red meat to two servings a week."

Now for your surprise.

"But eating healthy doesn't reduce the odds of developing metabolic syndrome, said Lyn M. Steffen, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., of the University of Minnesota, who studied the eating habits of more than 9,514 middle-age Americans."

It does not surprise me really.

"An unexpected finding was that consuming a prudent diet (i.e. one that had a high concentration of fruits, vegetables, whole grains) and low-fat dairy products did not reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. 'We had expected to see a benefit because we have seen a beneficial relationship in other studies,' she said."

It is all about Calories in, Calories out.

To eat healthily, go here.