Syndrome X is a cluster of disorders discovered in 1988 by a Stanford University Endocrinologist. These disorders can double your risk of stroke, triple your risk of coronary heart disease and increase your risk of developing diabetes 25-fold.

Syndrome X is all about metabolism. It comes from the Greek meta meaning "change" and ismos, meaning "state of". Metabolism is the sum of all the physical and chemical changes in the body. Syndrome X is also called metabolic syndrome and is diagnosed when you have 3 of the following 5 metabolic disorders:

1. Central obesity as measured by waist circumference: greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women.
2. Fasting blood triglycerides greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL.
3. Blood HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women.
4. Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg.
5. Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 110mgldL.

What to do:

1. Limit sugar intake
2. Stop drinking soda
3. Limit refined carbohydrates
4. Stop drinking alcohol
5. No fast foods
6. No fried foods
7. Exercise

It is all about lifestyle changes. The choice is yours. Begin today to make subtle, slow changes in your nutritional health. It could add not only years to your life but quality years free from disease and illness.