Consumption of dietary fibre from fruits and cereals may lower the risk of coronary heart disease, say researchers from Harvard University, Boston. They say that dietary fibre, found in fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals, may reduce the risk of heart disease by...
heart disease
Cholesterol Fighter? Compound in blueberries shows great promise
A compound in blueberries shows promise of lowering cholesterol as effectively as a commercial drug and has the potential for fewer side effects, according to a researcher with the US Department of Agriculture. The compound, pterostilbene, could be used for those who...
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...
And the Winners Are… USDA study ranks high-antioxidant foods
Artichokes and beans may not be at the top of your list of favourite foods, but when it comes to antioxidants, these veggies earn a coveted place. They are among a growing variety of foods found to contain surprisingly high levels of these disease-fighting compounds,...
Go Nuts! Almonds help lower cholesterol, studies show
Almonds are high in fiber, protein, folic acid, vitamin E, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and phytochemicals. They’re also high in monounsaturated fats, which protect against heart disease by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or the "bad" cholesterol...
Vitamins Cut Health Care Costs: Billions could be saved if more took them
If governments covered the cost of a daily multivitamin for the older population, it could save health care costs in the long run, according to an economic impact study by a US health care consulting company, The Lewin Group. They determined that increased daily...
Eastern Wisdom? Women can reduce menopause symptoms by learning from the Japanese
Women can dramatically reduce menopausal symptoms and risk factors for heart disease by living more like their Japanese counterparts, say Australian researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Investigators Dr Debra Anderson and Vicki Kain have been...
Eat Away Cholesterol: Diet as effective as drugs, say researchers
Researchers at the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital have shown that a vegetarian diet composed of specific plant foods can lower cholesterol as effectively as a drug treatment. The study compared a diet of known cholesterol-lowering, vegetarian foods...
Antioxidants for Arteries: Vitamins C and E slow heart disease progression
Three years ago, a team of Finnish researchers reported that combined supplements of natural vitamin E and time-release vitamin C, taken over a three-year period, slowed the progression of atherosclerosis in men. Using ultrasound to document blood-vessel changes, the...
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...