Recent research has shown Metabolic Syndrome to be linked to a western diet of meat, fried food and carbonated beverages. and improved by fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grained foods. In a prospective study of over 9500 participants, Researchers from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis followed persons aged between mid 40s and mid-60s for some 9 years and identified 3782 cases of Metabolic Syndrome. After correcting for smoking and known risk factors, a positive correlation between the developmennt of Metabolic Syndrome as defined by the American Heart Association and the consumption of 2 or more serves of meat daily, fried food and carbonated beverages was identified. The consumption of a prudent diet with whole grained foods, fruit and vegetables, coffee*** or sweetened beverages did NOT have any correlation with Metabolic Syndrome in this study Whilst the correlation between fried foods and meat with Metabolic Syndrome was not unexpected, the association with carbonated beverages deserves further research. The researchers were 

© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.
***Hooray for coffee drinkers, chocolate has already been cleared

Published in Circulation 2008, Results of Artherosclerosis Research in the Community Study

Pamela L. Lutsey, MPH; Lyn M. Steffen, PhD, MPH, RD; June Stevens, PhD, MS, RD

From the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Minneapolis (P.L.L., L.M.S.), and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Received May 18, 2007; accepted December 7, 2007