Heart Disease Prevention - Why Is Triglyceride Important In Heart Disease Prevention?

Focus is mainly placed on cholesterol levels when talking about heart disease and stroke prevention. The relationship between triglyceride blood levels and the risk of heart disease has been less obvious. However, studies have now indicated… Find out more at:

https://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com/why-is-triglyceride-important-in-heart-disease-prevention.html

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Boost Good HDL Cholesterol?

It is important that one should not only strive lowering LDL cholesterol but also try increasing HDL cholesterol. Most people are aware of how to lower LDL cholesterol, say by adopting healthy lifestyle that include healthy diet and exercising regularly. In fact, some of the things that can help lower LDL cholesterol can also boost the HDL cholesterol levels.

To find out more, click the following link:

https://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com/how-to-boost-good-HDL-cholesterol.html

Heart Disease Prevention - Is Coconut Oil Really Heart-Healthy?

According to a survey conducted in July 2016 by The New York Times, 72 percent of Americans think coconut oil to be a healthy food while only 37 percent of nutritionists agree. Is coconut oil really a healthy food? Find out more at:

https://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com/is-coconut-oil-really-heart-healthy.html

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Drinking Tea Prevent Heart Disease?

It is believed that tea has beneficial health effects, including cancer prevention, weight loss, skin improvement, protection the brain from Alzheimer's and dementia, and helps lower blood sugar because it is a good source of the compounds known as catechins and epicatechins. Find our more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Drinking Tea Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - Can High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?

For some peoples, too much cholesterol in the body can be unhealthy. High blood cholesterol, which does not have any signs or symptoms, can raise the risk of coronary heart disease, a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Can High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?

Can Aloe Vera Prevent Heart Disease?

Being a type of plant native to Southern Africa, aloe vera is now mostly grown indoors all over the world. Apart from using as health foods, it is also used as ingredients for certain skin lotions and cosmetics.

The thick gel found in the leaf of the aloe vera plant has been used by ancient people for a wide range of applications, ranging from controlling irritation to keeping wounds clean, and soothing gastrointestinal upset. The gel is composed of 95 to 99 percent water along with glycoproteins and polysaccharides. Glycoproteins can stop pain and inflammation, while polysaccharides stimulate skin growth and repair, making aloe vera gel an excellent cream for accelerating the healing process in burns and wounds.

Aloe vera contains broad spectrum of essential nutrients and beneficial plant compounds, and about 75 different nutrients have been identified. Made from the gel of the plant’s leaves, aloe vera juice is rich in Vitamins A, C, D, E, and a combination of B Vitamins: B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, and niacin. It also contains such minerals as copper, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, sodium, and iron as well as amino acids and at least 8 different types of enzymes.

In addition to boosting the immune system and helping detoxify the body, aloe vera juice can lower blood sugar levels in Type-2 diabetics. There is also evidence that the juice can help ease constipation though it is generally not recommended for digestive issues as it can cause some abdominal cramping or diarrhea.

Some studies had reported that taking aloe vera extract could decrease total cholesterol levels by anywhere between 10 percent and 15.5 percent, lower LDL cholesterol by at least 12 percent, and reduce triglyceride levels by anywhere between 25 percent and 31 percent. Meanwhile, a couple of studies noted that HDL levels were elevated between 7 percent and 9 percent. Lowering LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and raising HDL cholesterol levels can help heart disease prevention.

For instance, one study of 5,000 patients over 5 years found that participants had reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels. Furthermore, there was a decrease in frequency of angina attack during the study period and patients had their drug dosages gradually reduced over time. By the end of the study, 85 percent of the patients had their heart rhythm return to normal on an ECG. The findings were published in journal ‘Angiology’ in August 1985.

Nevertheless, consumption of aloe vera juice in excess amount may lead to abdominal cramping, diarrhea, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. People who are being treated with medications of diabetes, digoxin or diuretics should talk to their doctor before using aloe vera. This is because aloe vera can help lower blood sugar level that may be potentially danger for people already suffering from low blood sugar. Meanwhile, capability of lowering potassium in aloe vera may cause potassium levels to fall too low when using aloe vera together with drugs for digoxin or diuretics.

Why Eating Eggs Might Not Raise Heart Disease Risk?

Whole egg consists of 2 main components: egg white and egg yolk. Egg white is a wonderful source of protein. Egg yolk contains not only essential nutrients like choline and lutein which are important for preserving our brain and eye health, but also important vitamins such as vitamins B2, B5, B12 and D.

But people have been told to limit intake of eggs because of high cholesterol in egg yolks. A single egg yolk has about 200 mg of cholesterol, making it as one of the richest sources of dietary cholesterol. High cholesterol is said to be a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

In reality, dietary cholesterol and cholesterol in the blood are only weakly related. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. The body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, Vitamin-D, and substances that help digest foods. The body makes all the cholesterol it requires, though cholesterol can also be found in the food eaten (dietary cholesterol). The liver is stimulated to make cholesterol primarily by saturated fat and trans fat in the diet, not dietary cholesterol.

Eating foods high in cholesterol has very little impact on the blood cholesterol levels for most people. That is why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 removed the prior recommendation to limit consumption of dietary cholesterol to 300 mg per day. In about 70 percent of the population, foods rich in cholesterol like eggs cause only a subtle rise in cholesterol levels or none at all. In the other 30 percent, these foods do cause a rise in blood cholesterol levels. 

Some evidence suggests that eggs might even be beneficial because this raises levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) that is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Egg yolks are also rich in the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that help eye health and protect against inflammation. Carotenoids need to be eaten with fat in order for the body to more fully absorb them, and a whole egg is the total package. Egg yolks contain a vibrant mix of saturated and unsaturated fat (about 5 grams per egg).

The risk of heart disease is influenced by the total lifestyle. It is a disease that has its root in inflammation and levels of inflammation are affected by weight, physical activity, the anti-oxidant levels in the diet and the type and amount of fats consumed.

Many huge studies that followed hundreds and thousands of people have found eating an egg a day is safe for most people. They did not find higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular diseases in people who eat up to an egg per day. A study by the University of Eastern Finland, for instance, reported that even carriers of the ApoE4 gene, which makes them highly susceptible to heart disease, egg and cholesterol intake was not linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease. The findings were published online February 10, 2016 in the ‘American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’.

For the majority, an egg a day does not increase their risk of heart attack or stroke. But people who have difficulty controlling their total and LDL cholesterol, with diabetes, or already have heart disease, may want to be cautious about eating egg yolks and should instead choose foods made with egg whites. No more than 3 egg yolks per week is recommended.

Heart Disease Prevention -Can One Rely On Coconut To Prevent Heart Disease?

People used to stay away from coconut products because they are unhealthy. Lately, coconut seems to return as a health food, and coconut-based products have become increasingly popular. Proponents of coconut claim that coconut contains healthy fats that are good for the heart, protect against illnesses like Alzheimer’s, arthritis and diabetes, and can even aid weight loss. But can you rely on coconut to prevent heart disease? Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention -Can One Rely On Coconut To Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - How Olive Oil Is Important For Heart Disease Prevention?

Being low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber, Mediterranean diet is often praised to be a healthy diet. One of main reasons is that olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, most notably oleic acid. To find out how olive oil is important for heart disease prevention, click the following link:

Heart Disease Prevention - How Olive Oil Is Important For Heart Disease Prevention?

Heart Disease Prevention - Less Added Sugar For Heart Disease Prevention!

Research has shown that excessive added sugar is bad for the health, especially the heart. For instance, people will gain weight or even be obese with excessive intake of sugar. Weight gain is often linked to other chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and even certain types of cancer. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Less Added Sugar For Heart Disease Prevention!

Heart Disease Prevention - Keeping Cholesterol In Check For Heart Disease Prevention

Excessive amount of cholesterol, especially the LDL, in the bloodstream can raise the risk of developing not only heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke but also Alzheimer's disease. High levels of LDL can form plaque in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the body. More details can be found at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Keeping Cholesterol In Check For Heart Disease Prevention

Heart Disease Prevention - How Is Palm Oil Linked To Heart Disease?

Palm oil contains a high amount of harmful saturated fat, about 50 percent higher than other commonly used cooking oils, but studies have found inconsistent effects of palm oil on blood lipid. A recent study that was published in May 2015 in ‘The Journal of Nutrition’ had reported that though palm oil raises LDL levels… Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - How Is Palm Oil Linked To Heart Disease?

Is Trans Fat Considered Safe?

Trans fat has been a hot topic lately. Why are so many people talking about it? According to a recent announcement made on June 16, 2015 by the FDA (Food And Drug Administration), trans fat will have to disappear from the American diet because it is not “generally recognized as safe” for use in the human food. So FDA orders food manufacturers to stop using trans fat within 3 years.

While trans fat occurs naturally in small amounts in meat and dairy products, it is mainly formed by making liquid oil goes through a process called hydrogenation that makes the oil solid or semi-solid. That is why trans fat is also known as hydrogenated fat. It is often used for frying or as an ingredient in processed foods because it can help give products a longer shelf life, and it makes foods smooth and taste better, too.

Unfortunately, trans fat raises levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, LDL) and reduce levels of good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, HDL). In other words, it put people at a higher risk of getting heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Fried and baked goods, from doughnuts and biscuits to frozen pizza and stick margarine, often contain trans fat. Microwave popcorn and fast food might also contain trans-fats. Often foods that stated “trans fat free” do contain trans fat. This is because food manufacturers are allowed by FDA to indicate “trans fat free” in the labels so long the foods do not have more than 0.5 grams of trans fat.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), people should consume good fats like olive oil, canola oil, and sunflower or safflower oil. Soft margarine should be used as a substitute for butter. When choosing foods, people should look for “0 gram trans fat” on the nutrition facts label and “no hydrogenated oil” in the ingredient list. People are also advised to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and less of the fried and processed foods that most likely to contain trans fat.

Once trans fat is determined by the FDA as not generally recognized as safe, companies will have to seek explicit FDA approval if they intend to use it in foods. However, it is expected that the new ruling should not have great impact on the food industry since food manufacturers have already been using less trans fat. The Grocery Manufacturer's Association of America indicates that food makers have lowered the amount of trans fat in processed foods by 86 percent since 2003. 

How To Manage Cholesterol Level?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. While human body requires some cholesterol to make hormones, Vitamin-D and substances that help digest foods, high cholesterol levels can increase the chance of getting heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Fasting lipid blood test is one way to find out information on one’s total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or bad cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or good cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Of all the readings, LDL is the most important figure one should pay attention to. For a person without diabetes or a history of heart disease or stroke, an LDL level of above 4.0mmol/L or 160mg/dL is considered high. But if one has diabetes, heart disease, or has previously suffered a stroke, the threshold is lower, at 2.6mmol/L or 100mg/dL. LDL causes fat deposits to accumulate on blood vessel walls. This will eventually create a blockage that might lead to heart attack and stroke.

The human body can make all the cholesterol it needs but cholesterol can be added to the body in some of the foods consumed. Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, for example, egg yolks, meat, and cheese. Some foods have saturated fats and Trans fats that can also raise the cholesterol level.

Besides diet, level of physical activity, body weight, heredity (genes) and age can determine the cholesterol levels, too. People who do not have adequate physical activity tend to gain weight. Overweight would raise the LDL levels and lower the HDL levels. LDL levels appear to rise with increasing age, and sometimes, high cholesterol can run in families and this is of course uncontrollable. 

Patients with high cholesterol levels are usually advised to perform moderate aerobic exercise to improve their cholesterol levels. Regular exercise could help one lose weight, increase HDL levels and lower LDL levels.

Meanwhile, they should adopt a diet low in saturated fats and high in vegetables and fruits. Vegetables like cabbage, carrot, onion and tomato, and fruits such as blueberries, avocado, grapefruit, grape, and soybeans are rich in cholesterol-lowering antioxidants. In addition, one should try to have a diet contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lower one’s triglyceride levels.

However, if one’s cholesterol levels do not reduce after 3 to 6 months, he or she should see the doctor who might prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications like statins.

People are mostly not aware of the high blood cholesterol levels in their body because there is no signs or symptoms. It is advised that adults aged 20 and above should have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every 5 years. 

Why You Should Avoid French Fries?

Most people, especially kids, like to eat French fries simply because they are delicious. Americans now eat an average of 4 servings of French fries every week for every man, woman and child.

French fries contain primarily carbohydrates from the potato and fat absorbed during the deep-frying process. A large serving of French fries at McDonald’s in the Untied States is 5.4 ounces (154 grams). The serving offers nearly 500 calories that are derived from the 63 grams of carbohydrates and the 25 grams of fat. A serving also contains 6 grams of protein and 350 milligrams of sodium (salt).

Nowadays, French fries are usually fried in partially hydrogenated oil that adds Trans fat. Trans fat increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) and decreases high-density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol). Eating too much French fries will cause people to become overweight or even obese., which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In addition, consuming food rich in Trans fat might raise the risk of getting heart disease, high bad cholesterol, lower good cholesterol, high blood pressure, and stroke.

On November 13, 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that crispy French fries are more likely to contain a chemical called acrylamide that might be associated with a higher risk of getting cancer.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, acrylamide is found in about 40 percent of the calories consumed in a standard American diet. While frying, roasting or baking tends to produce acrylamide, boiling or steaming foods typically do not. Besides potato, other foods that contain acrylamide include cereals, coffee, crackers, breads (especially toasted bread) and dried fruits.

Acrylamide forms naturally in plant-based foods when they are cooked at high temperature for a long time. It is usually found in such fried foods as French fries. It is produced from a chemical reaction from the sugars and an amino called asparagine, which is found in many grains and vegetables. Potatoes have a particularly high amount of it. Acrylamide is used primarily for industrial purposes like producing paper, dyes and plastics, and treating drinking water, wastewater and sewage.

Scientists first found acrylamide in food in 2002. Animal studies have shown that high levels of acrylamide are linked to an increased risk of cancer, although long-term studies have not yet been done in humans. 

Avoid eating food that is crispy or burnt, as advised by the FDA. The dark brown or black areas on foods are more likely to contain acrylamide. Meanwhile, potatoes should be kept in a dark and cool place like a pantry. Keeping potatoes in the fridge can simply increase the amount of acrylamide produced during cooking.

Heart Disease Prevention - Role Of Inflammation In Causing Heart Disease

Inflammation has been placed an equally important role as cholesterol. Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s healing system because without it, injuries would fester and simple infections could be deadly. Its aim is to defend the body against bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders, to remove debris, and to help repair damaged tissue. Click the following link to find out more:

Heart Disease Prevention - Role Of Inflammation In Causing Heart Disease

Heart Disease Prevention - Is Coconut A Healthy Food?

It seems that coconut is a food that should be avoided. But lately, people are pouring coconut into coffee and spreading it on toast, lured by endorsement from celebrities and enticed by promise that coconut can banish belly fat, boost heart health and even stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. To find out more, please click the following link:

Heart Disease Prevention - Is Coconut A Healthy Food?

What Can Chocolate Do To Cut Cardiovascular Disease Risk?

Chocolate is something that most people hard to resist. It is estimated that a typical American consumes over 10 pounds of chocolate annually. This leads to an interesting question: Would chocolate pose any threat to our health?

According to scientists, chocolate contains compounds called "flavanols" that is a naturally occurring antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Many large-scale studies have linked consumption of flavanol to lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, only few studies have tested the direct effect of chocolate consumption.

That is why researchers from San Diego State University intend to find out whether chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, might protect against the risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) by lowering blood pressure, blood flow, and improving blood lipid levels.

31 participants were randomly assigned to consume for 15 days a daily serving (50 grams) of regular dark chocolate (containing 70 percent of cocoa), dark chocolate (containing 70 percent of cocoa) that had been overheated or bloomed, or white chocolate (containing 0 percent of cocoa).

At the outset of the study, researchers recorded these participants’ readings on blood pressure, forearm skin blood flow, circulating lipid profiles, and blood glucose levels.

With reference to participants assigned to white chocolate group, those consuming either form of dark chocolate had lower blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL or the bad cholesterol) levels coupled with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or the good cholesterol).

The findings, which were presented on April 24, 2012 at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting in San Diego, CA, indicated that dark chocolate might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the glucose levels and lipid profiles.

Meanwhile, the researchers warned that people should consume dark chocolate in moderation because chocolate can easily raise daily amounts of saturated fat and calories. Remember this, the study participants were allowed to consume not more than 50 grams of chocolate a day.

The researchers are planning follow-up studies involving more participants and a longer duration of chocolate consumption.

A Drop In Trans Fat For Americans

A study that was published in the Feb 8, 2012’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association’ revealed that Americans consume less trans fat today than they did 10 years ago.

Trans fat (trans fatty acid) is created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oil to make it more solid. It is also known as partially hydrogenated oil. It can be found in fried foods such as French fries and doughnuts, and baked foods including pastries, biscuits, pizza dough, cookies, crackers, and stick margarines and shortenings.

By studying the white adults in the United States between 2000 and 2009, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the average level of trans fatty acids of these participants dropped 58 percent.

This is certainly good news for Americans’ health because too much consumption of trans fat will raise the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL or bad cholesterol) and lower the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or good cholesterol). In turn, the risk of developing heart disease and stroke, and Type-2 diabetes would be higher. As suggested by the American Heart Association (AHA), the daily consumption of trans fat should not exceed more than 1 percent of the total daily calories.

While the researchers could not figure out the exact reason of the drop, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began in 2003 to require trans fat content to be listed on products’ nutrition labels. Moreover, manufacturers also began removing trans fat from their foods and educational information about the health risks of trans fat was increased too. All of these factors could have contributed to the decline.

As the study did not include other ethnic groups, the findings could not be generalized to the population as a whole. Further research is required to examine if there will be a drop in cholesterol levels occurred along with the decline in trans fat levels. Meanwhile, the researchers plan to analyze their data to better assess the effectiveness of public health measures in cutting down trans fat levels.

Why Pregnant Mother Should Not Smoke?

Tobacco smoking is bad for the health. It would lead to many chronic diseases including lung cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, stroke, erectile dysfunction and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The harm often extends not only to the smokers themselves but also to others, especially the family members and friends. Studies have shown that people might develop similar diseases through secondhand smoke.

Smoking is no longer the privilege for men. Many women have picked up this habit as well.

Around 15 percent of women smoke while pregnant in many Western countries. What these female smokers do not know is that a wide range of childhood health problems, including behavioral and neurocognitive problems and sudden infant death had been linked to smoking during and after pregnancy.

A recent study by researchers from the University of Sydney found that pregnant mothers who smoke could cause changes to their unborn babies that can lead them to have lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. HDL is commonly referred to as ‘good cholesterol’ that plays a key role in protecting against atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the artery wall thickens because of accumulation of fatty materials. It could cause heart problems and even heart attack.

Published on June 21, 2011 in the European Heart Journal, the Australian researchers reported that by the age of 8, children born to mothers who smoked in pregnancy had level of HDL cholesterol at around 1.3 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), which was lower than those born to mothers who had not smoked, with about 1.5 mmol/L.

The participants were 405 healthy 8-years-old children (born between 1997 and 1999) who had been enrolled before birth into a randomized controlled trial that was investigating asthma and allergic disease. Data were collected before and after they were born, including information on mothers' smoking habits before and after pregnancy, exposure to passive smoke, and data on height, weight, waist measurement and blood pressure.

Ultrasound scans were used to measure the arterial wall thickness and blood samples were taken from 328 children, who agreed, to measure lipoprotein levels. There was no effect on the thickness of the children's arterial walls, but it was found that there was an effect on levels of HDL cholesterol.

The findings suggested that smoking created an unhealthy set of characteristics on babies while they are developing in the womb, which might cause them prone to develop heart disease and stroke later on. The effect seemed to last for at least 8 years and the risk of getting heart disease for smokers’ children could be 10 to 15 percent higher.