Pomegranates are considered one of the world's healthiest fruits. They offer many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of prostate and lung cancers. They can also protect against heart disease. Pomegranates may be good for the heart due to...
The Western-type diet is rich in cholesterol and other atherogenic factors. Atherogenes is the formation of plaques in the inner lining of arteries and is associated with coronary heart disease, or CHD. CHD is a huge problem in the United States....
The flax plant is an annual that grows roughly 4 feet tall. The flowers are either pale blue or bright red. The oil is produced from the seeds of this plant, which are also edible whole. Scientific studies show that flax oil might have health...
According to the American Heart Association, low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, can build up inside the inner walls of arteries that feed your heart and your brain. LDL cholesterol works with other substances in your body to form...
Soy oil and corn oil are fairly evenly matched when it comes to calories and heart health. Both oils provide rich sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both have anti-inflammatory effects, and both have a lowering impact on LDL, or bad...
Flaxseeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. While vital to many bodily functions, omega-3 fatty acids are not produced by the body. Dr. Frank Sacks, professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Harvard...
There are numerous causes or risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, ischemic heart disease, also known as ischemic cardiomyopathy, occurs when...
Sea algae are not plants but a type of fungi called Protista. Scientific studies have found algae to have health benefits. For one, algae are rich in minerals and other nutrients required by the body. However, seek the advice of a medical...
Blueberries are the most purchased fruit on the market. Because they are loaded with antioxidants, blueberries are often considered a perfect super food. According to the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging blueberries have the highest...
Vitamin D3 is receiving a lot of attention in the hope that its use can help fight many different types of diseases. It is being credited with possibly having an effect on a reduction in cancer rates, diabetes, hypertension, MS and other...
Nutrition scientists are now looking into modifying fat recommendations in the diet, according to experts with the Peanut Institute. Diets high in monounsaturated fats are beneficial to the heart and lower cholesterol. Foods high in...
Acquiring a small paper cut on your finger or catching a cold may seem like a simple occurrence that time will take care of. But any trauma or illness will set off a complicated cascade of responses called the inflammatory response. In fact,...
Soy lecithin refers to a mixture of phospholipids, or fat derivatives. It is an oily substance, which is a byproduct of soybean oil production. You can find lecithin naturally in other food sources, including egg yolks, wheat germ and legumes. Soy...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance used to make chemicals like vitamin D. The body manufactures some cholesterol, and the diet provides the rest. Cholesterol serves as the basis for the production of all steroid hormones including cortisol,...
Lentils and nuts are both foods which are full of nutrients, carry many nutritional benefits and can be in a healthy diet plan. However, they differ slightly in the benefits that they offer, meaning that you may want to include them in different...
Healthy arteries have an elastic quality that helps distribute blood from the heart to organs and tissues of the body. When the arterial walls are rigid, the heart has to work harder to distribute blood to the body. Arteriosclerosis is often...
Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells, called beta cells, which are located in your pancreas. Insulin is intimately involved in the metabolism of fuel molecules in your body, particularly carbohydrates and fats. By stimulating receptors...
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in flaxseed and fish oils, have garnered a lot of attention over the past decade for their purported health benefits. The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health reports that increased consumption of...
Performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids increase muscle strength and body size. These drugs act on the body's testosterone system. This system plays an important role in reproduction and development. A 2006 poll presented in the...
Scientists and physicians have recognized the role of cholesterol in heart disease for many years. In 1961, researchers at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute determined that an elevated total cholesterol level increases your risk of...
Recent evidence of heart-healthy benefits of chocolate shows that this most fondly revered of foods can now be eaten, given as a gift and received with a pure heart and a clear conscience. Chocolate contains substances similar to those found in...
Avena sativa is the botanical name for wild oats, also commonly called oat straw and oat bran. Historically, this grass has been grown as a cereal grain for humans and livestock. Oat bran contains more soluble fiber than any other plant source and...
Button mushrooms are the most consumed mushrooms in the United States, accounting for 90 percent of mushroom intake according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Also referred to as white button mushrooms or commercial mushrooms, they...
Cholesterol is a necessary component in the production of several important hormones, including cortisol, which modulates the stress response; aldosterone, which regulates water balance in the body; and the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and...
Homocysteine, a toxic waste product that results from the metabolism of another amino acid, is used as a marker for cardiovascular disease risk because of its damaging effects on blood vessels. Homocysteine may contribute to heart disease risk in...
Certain foods can help lower blood levels of cholesterol. Current dietary guidelines suggest that people with heart disease or high risk factors for the disease should not consume more than 200mg of cholesterol a day. For those without heart...
High cholesterol puts you at risk for heart attacks and stroke, so it's important to lower your cholesterol levels if they are elevated. This condition can be managed with drugs, but some of these have undesirable side effects. Losing weight,...
Plaque formation in the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart can occur gradually but if left untreated may lead to ruptures, clots, heart attack or stroke. Factors contributing to plaque accumulation include smoking, high...
The pomegranate, scientifically known as Punica granatum, is native to the Middle East including Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Northern India. The seeds, juices and oils of the pomegranate are the components of the fruit that contains the...
