Mandatory curbs on food salt content 20 times more effective than voluntary curbs — Cost effectiveness of interventions to reduce dietary salt intake – Imposing statutory limits on the salt content of processed foods could be 20 times more effective than voluntary curbs by industry, finds research published online in the journal Heart.
A diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil may prepare the body to deal better with stress – walnuts can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. – A diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil (containing polyunsaturated fats) may prepare the body to deal better with stress, also influence blood pressure at rest and under stress.
New study strengthens link between everyday stress and obesity using an animal model — Study using animal model shows stress has impact in the short term causing metabolic changes in the longer term that contribute to obesity – Stress can take a daily toll on us that has broad physical and psychological implications. Science has long documented the effect of extreme stress, such as war, injury or traumatic grief on humans. Typically, such situations cause victims to decrease their food intake and body weight. Recent studies, however, tend to suggest that social stress–public speaking, tests, job and relationship pressures–may have the opposite effect–over-eating and weight gain.
Cancer risk found for long-term hormone therapy — USC researchers determine continued risks of breast cancer for women who use postmenopausal hormone therapy – Using postmenopausal hormone therapy for more than 15 years increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among leaner women according to research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).
Scientists identify 95 genetic variants associated with cholesterol, triglycerides – Researchers have discovered or confirmed 95 regions of the human genome where genetic variants are associated with blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are major indicators of heart disease risk.
Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer – A recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease like breast cancer.
Study examines outcomes of lowering homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 – A new study revealed that the substantial long-term reductions in blood homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation did not have beneficial effects on vascular outcomes but were also not associated with adverse effects on cancer incidence.
More ‘good’ cholesterol is not always good for your health — HDL cholesterol can transform from good to bad actor in heart-disease process
– We’ve all heard about the importance of raising HDL, or the so-called “good” cholesterol, and lowering LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, to improve heart health. While we’ve come to assume HDL cholesterol is an inherently good thing, a new study shows that for a certain group of patients, this is not always the case.
Beta-Blockers May Be Associated With Benefits in Patients With Lung Disease – Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have fewer respiratory flare-ups and longer survival if they take beta-blocker medications, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Patients at high risk of recurrences of heart disease: Breakthrough in prevention – A clinical study directed by Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif of the Montreal Heart Institute confirms the potential of a medication to reduce inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis.
LSUHSC researcher finds surprising link between sugar in drinks and blood pressure – Researchers have found that there is an association between sugary drinks and blood pressure and that by cutting daily consumption of sugary drinks by just one serving a day, people can lower their blood pressure.
Health, life insurers hold $1.88 billion in fast-food stocks: AJPH article — Harvard researchers say insurers put profits over health – Just weeks after the passage of a health bill that will dramatically increase the number of Americans covered by private health insurers, Harvard researchers have detailed the extent to which life and health insurance companies are major investors in the fast-food industry ? to the tune of nearly $2 billion.
