Good Cholesterol Help Prevent Inflammation

GERMANY—A recent study conducted at the University Hospital of Bonn and presented in the current issue of Nature Immunology found that HDL “good cholesterol” helps fight off inflammation, and prevents clogging of the arteries.

High cholesterol levels cause dangerous deposits in the bloodstream, which could lead to clogging/hardening of the arteries. As a consequence, this can lead to increased risk for stroke and heart attack. These bad cholesterol levels are known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

The study analyzed the different benefits that come from high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). They found good cholesterol helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. In addition, they found that HDL has anti-inflammatory benefits.

According to WebMD, inflammation can cause several chronic illnesses’, which include: arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.

It is noted that a few things that will help lower bad cholesterol, and raise good cholesterol include:

·       Eating fruit

·       Eating 5 servings of vegetables per day

·       Consuming fish, garlic and onions

If you are interested in fighting off inflammation and preventing heart disease, you might want to consider lowering your bad cholesterol levels and increasing your good cholesterol levels.

Have a great day. 

How Healthy Is Diet Soda?

TEXAS—A recent study conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center and published in the Journal of American Geriatrics found that diet soda could increase your risk of obesity and heart disease.

The study included 749 participants over the age of 65. The researchers tracked their consumption of diet soda, along with their waist circumference, height, weight, and heart health. These factors were analyzed four times over the course of the 9 year study.

The team found that those who were occasional or daily drinkers of diet soda on average saw significant increases in their waistline, compared to those who did not drink diet soda. Specifically, those who occasional drank diet soda showed an average increase of 1.83 inches to their waistline and those who drank diet soda daily saw an average increase of 3.16 inches. In addition, the researchers noted that this is linked to an increased risk of obesity, which is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers recommended that older adults should limit or stop their consumption of artificially sweetened drinks (diet soda); they could replace these drinks with the following alternatives:

·         Water or sparkling water (source of carbonation)

·         Tea (hot or iced)

·         Drinks that are sweetened with cane sugar

If you are interested in preventing obesity or heart disease, you might want to consider eliminating diet soda or other artificially sweetened drinks from your diet.

Have a great day. 

Olive Oil

PENNSYLVANIA—A recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and published in Molecular & Cellular Oncology found that olive oil has cancer fighting properties.

The study isolated the compounds found within olive oil and analyzed any health benefits, focusing on cancver prevention.

The team found a compound in olive oil, called oleocanthal to be responsible for killing cancer cells. The researchers found that this compound only targets cancer cells, not healthy cells, and could kill them within 30 minutes.

In addition to fighting off cancer, the researchers noted additional health benefits associated with adding olive oil to your diet:

·         Helps you feel more full and satisfied after eating

·         Ability to boost bone health

·         Improves heart health

·         Helps prevent type-2 diabetes

If you are interested in preventing cancer, or receiving some of these other health benefits, you might want to consider adding olive oil to your daily diet.

Have a great day.

Foods That Help Brain Function

CAMBRIDGE , MASSACHUSETTS —A recent study conducted at Harvard University and published in Food Technology found several nutrients that help protect your brain from aging.

The study included a large group of participants who were told to complete questionnaires regarding their diet. The researchers compared their diet to overall health benefits, especially relating to brain and memory function.

The team found 4 nutrients that significantly help brain function, they include:

1.      Omega-3 fatty acids: They have been proven to play an important role in overall brain health and memory function. The following foods are rich in omega-3: fish (salmon), olive oil, and chia seeds.

2.      Walnuts: This study and previous studies have shown that walnuts reduce the risk and could help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

3.      Choline: This is a nutrient found in eggs and has been proven to help prevent changes in brain chemistry that result in cognitive decline or failure.

4.      Blueberries: They have several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that have also been shown to help increase the neural signaling in the brain, which is what helps control memory and learning.

If you are interested in protecting your brain from aging, you might want to consider adding some of these nutrients to your daily diet.

Have a great day. 

Omega-3 Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

SWEDEN —A recent study conducted at the Karolinska Institute and published in the journalAlzheimer’s & Dementia found that omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

The study included 15 participants with Alzheimer’s disease, 20 participants with mild cognitive impairment, and 21 control subjects with no cognitive issues. The researchers analyzed fluid found in their brains as well as their brain tissue.

It is noted that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with inflammation in the brain. The team found that the omega-3 helped reverse the final stages of inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

According to WebMD, the following foods are high in omega-3 fatty acids:

·         Fish (halibut, salmon, tuna)

·         Eggs

·         Milk and yogurt

·         Peanut butter

·         Oatmeal

·         Oats and walnuts

If you are interested in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, you might want to consider adding omega-3 fatty acids to your daily diet.

Have a great day. 

Physical And Mental Activities Help

CHICAGO —A recent study conducted at Rush University Medical Center and published in the journal Neurology found that physical and mental exercise could help prevent cognitive decline. The study included 1,260 participants between the ages of 60 and 77, they were all considered to be at risk of dementia. Half of the participants were placed in a group that received health advice regarding following a healthy diet, and participated in physical and mental daily exercise. The other half of the participants did not receive health advice nor physical and mental exercise activities. At the end of the 2-year study, the team found that the group that added physical and mental activities to their daily routine saw on average a 25 percent higher score on a test that measures mental function. According to lead author, Professor Miia Kivipelto: “Our study is the first large randomized controlled trial to show that an intensive program aimed at addressing these risk factors might be able to prevent cognitive decline in elderly people who are at risk of dementia." According to the researchers, you can stay physically active by simply walking, biking, jogging, or doing housework for 20 minutes per day. In addition, the following are examples of mental activities: ·         Puzzles ·         Reading ·         Learn a new hobby ·         Playing an instrument If you are interested in preventing cognitive decline, you might want to consider adding physical and mental exercise to your daily routine. Have a great day.

Peanuts May Improve Heart Health

PENNSYLVANIA—A recent study conducted at Pennsylvania State University and published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) found that adding peanuts to your diet could help improve your heart health.

The study analyzed a group of participants; they were randomly divided into two groups. One group was told to add peanuts to their meals, while the other group did not add any peanuts to their meals.

The team found that those who consumed peanuts saw an improvement in their blood flow, which in turn leads to improved heart function.

According to lead researcher, Xiaoran Liu:

"Previous studies have shown that individuals who consume peanuts more than two times a week have a lower risk of coronary heart disease. This study indicates that the protective effect of peanut consumption could be due, in part, to its beneficial effect on artery health."

The researchers also noted the importance of being aware of the amount of calories found in peanuts. They must replace other food sources of calories when added to a diet, such as potato chips or French fries.

If you are interested in improving your heart health, you might want to consider adding peanuts to your daily meals.

Have a great day.