Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It is associated with increased risk of death. Though a crazy number of people now suffer from it, a simple dietary change might make a big difference.

You fit the criterion for metabolic syndrome if you have at least 3 of 5 conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, low levels of the heart healthy HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides. And if you fit the criterion, you are not alone. Metabolic syndrome may now affect a billion people, and in the United States, it affects approximately an insane one third of all adults.