HEALTH TIPS: Burger, fries and a soda

Health Tip – Audio Version – “Burger, fries and a soda”
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step – Weight-Control Information Network (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Metabolic syndrome is bad for lunch. But a study indicates some common foods raise the risk. Lyn Steffen of the University of Minnesota examined data on eating patterns and health risks.

Metabolic syndrome includes belly fat, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and elevated blood sugar. It indicates higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The risk increases weren’t huge. Meat twice or more a day raised the risk about 25 percent. A diet soda raised it 34 percent. As for fries:

“Individuals who ate french fries one time per week increased their risk of metabolic syndrome by about 10 percent.’’

Steffen advises whole grains, low fat dairy, lots of fruits and vegetables, fish, and a small amount of meat.

Steffen’s study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, was in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 24 2008