Black rice a source of healthful antioxidants

Black rice, a heritage variety of the grain that feeds one-third of Earth’s population, is an inexpensive source of healthful antioxidants. – Health conscious consumers who hesitate at the price of fresh blueberries and blackberries, fruits renowned for high levels of healthful antioxidants, now have an economical alternative, scientists reported here today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Eating nuts improve blood cholesterol levels

Eating nuts associated with improvements in cholesterol levels – Consuming more nuts appears to be associated with improvements in blood cholesterol levels, according to a pooled analysis of data from 25 trials reported in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Walnuts may help fight prostate cancer

Real-world health nuts: First evidence that walnuts may help fight prostate cancer — Walnuts slow prostate tumors in mice. – Scientists in California are reporting for the first time that walnuts – already renowned as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that fight heart disease – reduce the size and growth rate of prostate cancer in test animals.

Weight loss diets reduce atherosclerosis

Weight loss diets significantly reverse arterial clogging — Ben-Gurion University study — 2-year study reveals that carotid artery atherosclerosis reduction is due to weight loss-induced decline in blood pressure from either low-carbohydrate, low-fat or Mediterranean diets – A two-year study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) found that healthy, long-term weight loss diets can significantly reverse carotid (main brain artery) atherosclerosis, a direct risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

High leptin levels may protect against Alzheimer’s disease, dementia

Researchers find high leptin levels may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that higher leptin (a protein that controls weight and appetite) levels were associated with a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia.

Prevalence of bad cholesterol levels decreases in US

Among the population aged 20 years or older, the prevalence of high LDL-C levels decreased from 1999-2000 to 2005-2006. In the most recent period, the prevalence was 21.2%. – Between 1999 and 2006, the prevalence of adults in the U.S. with high levels of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, decreased by about one-third, revealed by US researchers. But a high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels.

Oxycholesterol cholesterol may pose greatest heart disease risk

Little known type of cholesterol oxycholesterol may pose the greatest heart disease risk – Health-conscious people know that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the so-called “bad” cholesterol) can increase the risk of heart attacks.

Health Newstrack