Heart disease and strokes can be avoided simply by taking this natural supplement, made from tomatoes, it is said. The important ingredient is lycopene, which blocks bad cholesterol from clogging the arteries. This ingredient can be found in tomatoes; however in its natural form it is not well digested. More trials are necessary to see verify how effective the pill is. Read more…
Men and women have different nutritional needs - therefore there are foods that are more important for each to eat. Here are a few, and why they’re important:
- Tomato Sauce - protects against prostate cancer.
- Oysters - boosts zinc intake, which helps with the male reproductive system.
- Broccoli - protects against bladder cancer, which is especially popular in men.
- Peanut Butter - protects against heart disease.
- Watermelon - has tons of potassium, therefore protects against high blood pressure.
- Papaya - contains tons of vitamin C, which protects against gallbladder disease.
- Flaxseed - potential weapon against breast cancer.
- Tofu - High in soy protein, which can lower cholesterol and may minimize menopausal hot flashes and strengthen bone.
- Buffalo Meat - contains a lot of iron, which helps with anemia (this condition occurs more in women.)
- Collard Greens - may help with osteoporosis.
Wine gets all the credit when it comes to health benefits. But research is increasingly showing that it’s not wine but, in fact, simply alcohol that thins your blood, reduces inflammation and improves sensitivity to insulin. So it’s a great time to be a beer lover! In case you need more reasons to chug, here are a few:
- A newly developed non-alcoholic beer may reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. (Hops contain low levels of the same plant estrogens found in soy.)
- Research has shown that certain antioxidants in hops may impede the development of prostate cancer (in large quantities).
- A recent study suggests that other antioxidants found in hops may help soothe chronic inflammation. Illnesses or diseases that may be affected include cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and arthritis.
- Dark-colored beers do not contain more antioxidants than light-colored beers: the color only indicates how longer the malt was roasted.
- A study showed that people who drink a beer or two per day had higher bone density than those who didn’t. This may be linked to a mineral found in beer called silicon, which promotes healthy bones.
- Beer contains antioxidants and some B vitamins. Some even contain a bit of soluble fibre, which has been linked to reduced cholesterol.
Check out WatchMojo’s video on the history of beer:
A new study has found that even if you have low cholesterol and are at a low risk for heart disease, you may still benefit from taking some sort of cholesterol pill - such as Crestor, Lipitor or Zocor. This result is “hailed as a watershed event in heart disease prevention,” as half of heart attacks occur in people who don’t seem to be at risk. However, to treat everyone in the United States in this manner could cost upwards of $9 billion annually.
The study also looks at ways to predict who will be at risk for heart attacks. Read more…
Children as young as 2 should be tested for high cholesterol, group says
MONDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) — In a further concession to the impact of the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, a leading group of pediatricians is recommending that kids as young as 8 years old be given cholesterol-lowering drugs in hopes of preventing heart problems later in life.The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that children as young as 2 years old start having their cholesterol levels screened if they have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol. Screening should start no later than 10, the academy said.
Dr. Steven P. Shelov, chairman of pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center and head of Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital in New York City, said he agreed with the new guidelines. “More aggressive screening is a good idea, and the use of [cholesterol-lowering] statins at relatively low doses will keep cholesterol at safer ranges.” Read more…
According to Steven Reinberg
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 4, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — A recent survey of U.S. adults with high cholesterol* shows that in spite of concerns about the serious health risks associated with their condition, such as heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease, there is a significant disconnect between understanding what should be done to monitor and control high cholesterol and actually implementing recommended changes to lower cholesterol levels.
Sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo and conducted by Harris Interactive, the survey of 400 adults diagnosed with high cholesterol found that nearly everyone (95 percent) agreed that a change in diet and regular exercise would be their preferred way to lower cholesterol. Yet, only half (50 percent) say they are doing everything they can to lower their cholesterol. Many are concerned about the possibility that prescription medications will damage their liver (83 percent) and kidneys (80 percent), but only three-fourths (73 percent) have discussed risks and side effects with their doctors.
Survey respondents often appeared to have other cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (52 percent), diabetes (29 percent) and coronary heart disease (14 percent). Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S., claiming more than 870,000 lives every year.(1) Currently, more than 100 million American adults, about one third of the U.S. population, have a total blood cholesterol level higher than 200 mg/dL, which puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease.(2)
The survey also indicates that while most (91 percent) say it is important to them to have cholesterol checked regularly, nearly half (46 percent) of those with high cholesterol are not sure what their total cholesterol level is, and four in five respondents (80 percent) aren’t sure what their LDL (”bad” cholesterol) level is. This lack of knowledge may also affect cholesterol goals. Half don’t have a total cholesterol goal and 79 percent don’t have an LDL level goal. Further, about half of adults with high cholesterol (52 percent) do not believe their LDL cholesterol level is a serious risk to their health.
The 2007 high cholesterol survey, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., is a follow up to similar surveys conducted in 2000 and 2004.
“This survey demonstrates that despite all the information available today about high cholesterol, and the seriousness of health problems associated with elevated levels, many people don’t seem to be making all the lifestyle changes necessary to address the problem. There is a significant gap between understanding the health risks associated with high cholesterol and knowing what their personal total and LDL cholesterol levels are, and the goals of treatment,” said Peter H. Jones, MD, Baylor College of Medicine. “The survey also shows a need for physicians to communicate about treatment options and safety, including non-systemic or non-absorbed medications,” added Dr. Jones.
Survey respondents said that important characteristics of a cholesterol- lowering medication are: that the medication is easy to tolerate (91 percent); that the medication can be used safely in combination with other drugs (89 percent); that the medication does not pass through their liver or kidneys (84 percent); and that the drug does not require blood work to monitor side effects of the liver (83 percent).
The leading class of non-systemic cholesterol-lowering medications is the bile acid sequestrant class (BAS). The branded leader of that class, WelChol®, is an effective option with a well-established safety profile for patients with high LDL cholesterol.(3) WelChol differs from many other LDL cholesterol-lowering medications on the market because it is non-absorbed, meaning that the body does not absorb it and it is eliminated without affecting the liver, kidney or other target organs.
“WelChol may be a viable option for those who recognize the benefits of taking LDL cholesterol-lowering medications but are concerned about potential adverse side effects noted with other prescription options,” adds Dr. Jones.
*For the purposes of this survey, those with “high cholesterol” were defined as U.S. adults (ages 20+) who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are doing something to manage their condition, including exercising regularly, changing diet, taking prescription medication, taking over-the-counter medication or eating cholesterol lowering food products.
For more information on WelChol, call 877-4-DSPROD (877-431-7763), or go to the WelChol web site at www.WelChol.com.
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