Post by jaco on May 11, 2008 6:41:14 GMT
Good news this week for all of us who love their food and an occasional tipple comes in the form of two new studies.
GOOD NEWS #1
Researchers have confirmed that a Mediterranean diet can have a positive impact on heart health - within just three months.
In a new trial designed to monitor the health of 772 Spanish adults for the next four years, who have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, early responses have been so good that the researchers have decided to issue an early progress report.
It shows that a diet that is rich in mixed nuts or virgin olive oil did more than a standard low-fat diet to reduce the risks of heart disease. The participants were advised how to prepare their own food, which included a more classic Mediterranean diet of fish, fruit, vegetables and vegetable fats and oils. They were also given a good supply of mixed nuts or extra virgin olive oil to add to the diet.
The two variations of the Mediterranean diet reduced systolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg (olive oil) and 7 mm Hg (nuts), and reduced serum concentrations of glucose by equal amounts.
GOOD NEWS #2
Researchers at the Institute on Aging at the University of Florida, Gainesville have found that having a daily drink or two can improve your health, reports the Daily Mail, 25th July... They found adults in their seventies who drank up to seven alcoholic beverages a week were likely to live longer and have fewer heart attacks.
Participants answered questions on their drinking habits and underwent a health check every year. They were classified as "never or occasional" drinkers who consumed less than one drink a week, "light to moderate" (one to seven drinks) or "heavier" (more than seven).
Over an average 5.6 years of follow-up, 397 volunteers died and 383 experienced a cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart failure. Compared with "never or occasional" drinkers, those who drank lightly to moderately had a 26 per cent lower risk of death and an almost 30 per cent reduced risk of cardiac events.
Heavy drinkers, however, were more likely to die or experience a cardiac event than those who drank the least. The scientists believe the health effects of alcohol may be linked to reduced levels of inflammation. But this alone could not explain the extent of the benefit seen in the study, they said. It was possible alcohol also had cellular or molecular effects that reduced the risk of heart disease, or interacted with genetic factors in a protective way.
GOOD NEWS #1
Researchers have confirmed that a Mediterranean diet can have a positive impact on heart health - within just three months.
In a new trial designed to monitor the health of 772 Spanish adults for the next four years, who have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, early responses have been so good that the researchers have decided to issue an early progress report.
It shows that a diet that is rich in mixed nuts or virgin olive oil did more than a standard low-fat diet to reduce the risks of heart disease. The participants were advised how to prepare their own food, which included a more classic Mediterranean diet of fish, fruit, vegetables and vegetable fats and oils. They were also given a good supply of mixed nuts or extra virgin olive oil to add to the diet.
The two variations of the Mediterranean diet reduced systolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg (olive oil) and 7 mm Hg (nuts), and reduced serum concentrations of glucose by equal amounts.
GOOD NEWS #2
Researchers at the Institute on Aging at the University of Florida, Gainesville have found that having a daily drink or two can improve your health, reports the Daily Mail, 25th July... They found adults in their seventies who drank up to seven alcoholic beverages a week were likely to live longer and have fewer heart attacks.
Participants answered questions on their drinking habits and underwent a health check every year. They were classified as "never or occasional" drinkers who consumed less than one drink a week, "light to moderate" (one to seven drinks) or "heavier" (more than seven).
Over an average 5.6 years of follow-up, 397 volunteers died and 383 experienced a cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart failure. Compared with "never or occasional" drinkers, those who drank lightly to moderately had a 26 per cent lower risk of death and an almost 30 per cent reduced risk of cardiac events.
Heavy drinkers, however, were more likely to die or experience a cardiac event than those who drank the least. The scientists believe the health effects of alcohol may be linked to reduced levels of inflammation. But this alone could not explain the extent of the benefit seen in the study, they said. It was possible alcohol also had cellular or molecular effects that reduced the risk of heart disease, or interacted with genetic factors in a protective way.