Oscar the Grouch ("Sesame Street's" trash-can dweller) loves spinach-sardine-chocolate-fudge sundaes - and even though spinach and sardines are good for him, the grouchy chocolate-fudge bit got us wondering if he might not have metabolic syndrome and, just like 50 million other North Americans, not know it!

Research indicates that elevated blood sugar and other metabolic disruptions are more likely to happen to folks who are angry and stressed - and can turn folks who used to be pretty even-tempered into snap-dragons.

You have metabolic syndrome if you have any three of the following five conditions: a large waist (over 35 inches for women; 40 inches for men); elevated triglycerides (150 mg/dL or higher); low HDL cholesterol (below 50 for women, 40 for men); elevated blood sugar (100 mg/dL fasting); and elevated blood pressure (135/85 or higher). It predisposes you to diabetes and heart disease. And it seems that elevated cholesterol and elevated or fluctuating glucose levels are what really amps up the Grouch.

So if you are feeling more hostile, negative or impulsive, control of your glucose or cholesterol levels isn't improving and you're getting even more and more, well, grumpy, see your doctor for a diagnosis. And you can take charge and improve your mood and your metabolic profile by reducing stress (deep breathing exercises and/or Hatha Yoga); eliminating the Five Food Felons - saturated and trans fats, added sugar and sugar syrups, any grain that isn't 100 percent whole; and getting moving by, say, walking the walk for 10,000 steps a day. We can see that smile coming back!