Chromium is a trace element that helps balance blood sugar and may aid in weight loss. New research suggests that chromium deficiency is linked to a higher risk of heart attacks, and that the mineral may aid in healthy cholesterol levels. Researchers from Johns...
heart health
Cranberry is Heart Healthy: Contains multiple compounds that open and relax arteries
Compounds that occur naturally in cranberries may be good for the heart, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found. Early results from studies indicate that feeding cranberry juice powder seems to relax and open blood vessels in pigs that are...
Recipe for Heart Health? Exercise, fish oils supplement a great combo
When fat (lipid) levels rise in the blood for an extended time, a condition called post prandial lipemia, it can cause a temporary risk for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that a session of...
Niacin shines in cholesterol study
High cholesterol, a key risk factor for heart disease, can be modified through diet, lifestyle and drugs, yet many people still struggle to lower their cholesterol levels. Recently, scientists from the University of Maryland published a review stating that niacin,...
Hawthorn a top pick for heart health
Hawthorn is one of the most well-researched herbs used for heart conditions, including congestive heart failure, angina, high and low blood pressure, irregular heart beat, and more. In a recent review of eight studies at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in...
Fish Oils for the Heart: Healthy fats have a number of benefits, study finds
Fish oil can help reduce deaths from heart disease, according to new evidence reports announced today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The systematic reviews of the available literature found evidence that long chain omega-3 fatty acids, the...
Antioxidants are Heart Healthy: Large studies show preventative action
Large, epidemiologic studies indicate that among the healthy population, the long-term use of antioxidant supplements, specifically vitamin E and vitamin C, helps protect against heart disease. "It is puzzling how the American Heart Association's nutrition committee...
Soy Good: Component of soy foods improves blood flow and vessel health
An Italian study has found that a component of soy products, genistein, can bring about improved blood flow and blood vessel health, suggesting that soy can replace hormone therapy, which doctors now warn against because of increased risks of breast cancer, stroke and...
Young at Heart? Vitamins improve cholesterol problems in children
An estimated 50 million children have high levels of the "bad" cholesterol -- known as LDL -- that puts them at high risk for suffering heart attacks as adults. Most of these children have inherited disorders causing these abnormal cholesterol levels. Because...
Plant Power: Omega-6 oils increase heart benefit from fish oils
Combined fish (omega 3) and plant (omega 6) derived fatty acids are more effective for combating heart disease in women than fish oils alone, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (77, 1:37-42,2003). The study was carried out...