More Proof: Mediterranean Diet Best for Heart Health

English: Olives in olive oil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Once again, eating a diet based on fish, legumes, vegetables, and moderate amounts of alcohol is linked to lower chances of dying from a heart attack, stroke, or other vascular "events," according to a new study of New York City residents. 

The mostly Hispanic and black study participants did not necessarily eat traditional foods from Mediterranean countries, but the closer their diets were to the spirit of Mediterranean eating — with plenty of fish, healthy fats like olive oil, whole grains, and vegetables — the lower their risk of death from vascular problems including heart attacks. 

"While it's not the Mediterranean diet, it is comparing a healthier diet to a less-healthy diet, and there was some improvement," said Teresa Fung, a professor at Simmons College in Boston who was not involved in the study.

Read more: More Proof: Mediterranean Diet Best for Heart Health
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

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7 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Alcohol

First of all, if you’re not sure what the word “moderation” means, we can wait while you look it up in a dictionary. OK, got it? Great. So here we go: believe it or not, drinking alcohol in moderation has genuine, medically researched health benefits. If you’re an alcoholic, you need to find some other way to help fight cholesterol or boost your brainpower. But if you are an adult and enjoy having an evening glass of pinot noir, check out these seven surprising benefits of drinking alcohol.

1. Lowers bad cholesterol:

   
   Nutritionists, physicians, and Americans who love pastries have all pondered why there is a low level of coronary heart disease in France, even though the French diet is high in saturated fats. Aside from the fact that the French take vacations while Americans run themselves into the ground, research indicates the antioxidants in red wine, a staple of French meals, promote good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol, which helps to prevent clogged arteries. To enjoy this benefit, women should have just one glass of wine a day, while men can have two. (And everyone should take more time off!)

2. Reduces the risk of diabetes:

   
   Physicians want people to keep in mind that you can get the same health benefits that come with moderate alcohol consumption from other food items. That said, a recent study indicates that with women, alcohol may stimulate the body to release insulin and other substances, preventing sudden increases in blood sugar which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Previous research made this same connection, but more detailed studies need to be done to determine more precisely how alcohol helps to control spikes in blood sugar.

3. Builds brain power:

   
   Wine creates good cholesterol, which in turn improves blood flow to the brain. Researchers believe that moderate drinking may also dilate vessels in your brain, creating cerebral blood flow, and fight against toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. It’s also believed that alcohol creates a manageable amount of stress on brain cells, which helps them to cope with more significant stress that can lead to dementia.

4. Prevents gallstones:

    

   MORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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'Miracle molecule' in red wine, blueberries

This image shows a red wine glass. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(PHILADELPHIA.CBSLOCAL) — There may be another health benefit drinking red wine.
Scientists report a so-called “miracle molecule” found in red wine might help improve mobility and prevent falls among older adults. The ingredient is called ‘resveratrol.’ Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Duquesne University Jane Cavanaugh says they tested the effect on laboratory mice.
“As these animal age, they lose some of their motor coordination. Very similar as to humans do as they age. And when we gave them out the resveratrol, the older mouse has less loss of motor coordination.”

Resveratrol is also found in grapes, blueberries and other dark-skinned fruits.

Read the full story ›

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Walnuts 'improve sperm health'

Two Juglans regia walnuts. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(BBC) — Eating around two handfuls of walnuts a day improves sperm health in young men, a study in the journal Biology of Reproduction suggests.

Sperm shape, movement and vitality improved in men who added walnuts to their diet over 12 weeks.
The fatty acids found in these nuts are thought to have helped sperm development. It is not known if this would help improve male fertility.

About one in six couples are infertile, with 40% of these due to a male factor.

Read the full story ›

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Prostate cancer surgery 'has little or no benefit' in extending life of patients

New research into prostate cancer has revealed that surgery has little or no benefit in extending the life of a patient.
The study, which has not yet been published, compared surgically removing the prostate gland with 'watchful waiting' and found there was little difference between the two.
Experts are believed to be 'shaken' by the news because thousands of men could have gone through painful and unnecessary surgery.

A new study suggests that surgery makes little or no difference to prostate cancer sufferers

One expert, who did not want to be named, told the Independent newspaper: 'The only rational response to these results is, when presented with a patient with prostate cancer, to do nothing.'
The Prostate Intervention Versus Observation Trust (PIVOT), led by Timothy Wilt, started in 1993 and analysed 731 patients over 12 years.
It found that those who had an operation to treat the cancer had less than three per cent chance of survival compared with those who had no treatment.
The results were presented at a meeting of the European Association of Urology in Paris in February and were met with a stunned silence.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2136512/Prostate-cancer-surgery-little-benefit-extending-life-patients.html#ixzz1tOiDLkAZ

Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease

Dr. Dwight Lundell
PreventDisease
Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:58 CST

© n/a

We physicians with all our training, knowledge and authority often acquire a rather large ego that tends to make it difficult to admit we are wrong. So, here it is. I freely admit to being wrong. As a heart surgeon with 25 years experience, having performed over 5,000 open-heart surgeries, today is my day to right the wrong with medical and scientific fact.

I trained for many years with other prominent physicians labelled "opinion makers." Bombarded with scientific literature, continually attending education seminars, we opinion makers insisted heart disease resulted from the simple fact of elevated blood cholesterol.

The only accepted therapy was prescribing medications to lower cholesterol and a diet that severely restricted fat intake. The latter of course we insisted would lower cholesterol and heart disease. Deviations from these recommendations were considered heresy and could quite possibly result in malpractice.

It Is Not Working! MORE>>>>>>>>>

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