March 4, 2014

Proposed Nutrition Labels A Healthy Innovation

The Food and Drug Administration has known for years that people who read nutrition labels eat healthier than those who do not. But the FDA only last year discovered this: One of the main reasons people don’t read labels on food packaging is that they’re confusing – and many of those consumers are the ones fighting weight problems. So we applaud the FDA’s first update to nutrition labeling in two decades. The changes, announced Thursday, make serving sizes better reflect what consumers actually eat, not some ideal or arbitrary serving. They also add a line for the amount of manufactured sugars added to foods, important […]
February 25, 2014

Hemp for a Healthy Heart?

The word cannabis stirs a lot of emotion in people today — some positive and plenty negative. But whatever your beliefs are, one thing is for sure: There are definitely health benefits to these plants. Despite all the legal issues and controversy surrounding cannabis, we decided to look at the heart health benefits of hemp seeds. Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised. Interested in what we found? Then let’s dive in. Hemp Oil Contains Omega-3s, Sterols, and Oleic Acid In a recent study, Spanish researchers analyzed the chemical composition of hemp seed oil and found a mix of heart-healthy compounds. […]
February 25, 2014

Fried Meat May Raise Risk of Diabetes

Toxic chemicals found at high concentrations in fried and grilled meats may raise the risk of diabetes and dementia, researchers say. US scientists found that rodents raised on a Western-style diet rich in compounds called glycotoxins showed early signs of diabetes, along with brain changes and symptoms that are seen in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings matched what the researchers saw in a small number of older people, where those with higher levels of glycotoxins in their circulation had memory and other cognitive problems, and signs of insulin resistance, which precedes diabetes. The results are tentative, but if confirmed by other […]
February 18, 2014

Higher Vitamin C Levels Linked To Lower Risk of Stroke

A presentation at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting, held in Philadelphia from April 26 to May 3, 2014, revealed a protective effect for high plasma levels of vitamin C against the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by bleeding in the brain and, although less common than ischemic stroke, is associated with a greater risk of mortality. “Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency, specifically a plasma vitamin C concentration of less than 11 micromoles per liter, and may have hemorrhagic manifestations,” write authors Stéphane Vannier, MD, of Pontchaillou University Hospital in Rennes, France and colleagues. […]
February 18, 2014

The 8 Forms of Vitamin E and How They Preserve Your Memory

I’ve mentioned to you a few times how your heart and brain health are connected and that what’s good health practices for one benefits the other.  That’s why, as a cardiologist, I also look for new research that benefits the brain as well as the heart. Recently, I came across some new research about Vitamin E that I’d like to pass on to you as it is especially helpful in protecting your memory.  And the positive side effect is that it also benefits your heart! Is Your Memory Getting The Full Benefit of Vitamin E? You may not know this, but […]
February 4, 2014

Caffeine a Mixed Bag Health-Wise

There’s increasing evidence that caffeine can be good for you. A mild stimulant that works on the central nervous system, caffeine is something most of us use to “get going in the morning,” said Marcie Prachyl, a dietitian at Hendrick Medical Center. The popular substance — an estimated 90 percent of Americans consume it daily — has been linked to benefits such as potentially minimizing cognitive decline associated with aging, including the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Prachyl said. “It makes them more alert and improves their quality of life if they continue to drink it,” she said of older consumers […]
February 4, 2014

Cinnamon Improves Liver Enzymes

The February 2014 issue of the journal Nutrition Research described the outcome of a trial conducted by Iranian researchers which revealed a benefit for cinnamon in men and women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease includes steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and can result in death if left untreated. The trial included fifty men and women between the ages of 20 and 65 years with NAFLD. Participants were randomized to receive two 750 milligram capsules of cinnamon or a placebo daily for twelve weeks. Blood samples collected before and after the treatment period were analyzed for […]
January 28, 2014

5 Best New Gluten-Free Snacks

If you follow a gluten-free diet religiously (which for most of you is an absolute must), you’ll know that new gluten-free snacks are a fun find. Luckily, they’ve become a lot easier to find, but for the gluten-free veteran, it still never fails to excite. And if you’re new to a gluten-free diet, you’re likely navigating your way through the discovery process and are lacking a strong list of snacks you can fall back on. Well, we’re here for you. Periodically, we just can’t help but talking up our newest and favorite gluten-free snacks. And today is another one of those […]
January 21, 2014

Fat in Your Diet – Do You Know The Real Skinny?

When I talk to my patients about ways to protect their heart, and general health by eating more good fats and avoiding the bad fats – they’re often confused.  One patient said, “Aren’t they all bad?”  You can’t blame his response though, for the last few decades, “fat” in the diet has been blamed for everything from heart disease to cancer to many other conditions in-between. In the last several years though, health researchers have come to learn that all fats aren’t created equal.  Not all are bad and, some are even good and necessary for your good health.  So I’d like […]