Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a naturally occurring member of the linoleic acid family and is found in the milk, cheese and meat of cattle and sheep. Eight different forms of CLA have been identified, and certain forms have more effect than...
Research indicates that healthy fats help to reduce heart disease when replacing saturated fats in the diet. Saturated fats, mainly found in animal foods, and trans fats, sometimes used in processed foods, can raise harmful LDL cholesterol and...
Fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, omega-3 fatty acids that are essential in your diet and may reduce your risk of heart disease. Fish oil also contains vitamin A, vitamin E and calcium. Vegetarians consume a...
Writer Alfred Hitchcock once asked, "Have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid?" Regardless of your personal feelings about yolks, you can't deny this food -- derived by separating the egg...
Garlic is an herb often used to flavor food. According to MedlinePlus, garlic has increasingly been used for medicinal purposes in order to prevent or treat many diseases and health conditions. You should consult your doctor before using this herb...
Sour cherries, also known as tart cherries, contain antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals that damage cells and may lead to cancer or heart disease. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, which are all found in abundance in...
Research into the effects of antioxidants has been ongoing for years. The relationship between antioxidants and heart disease still has not been determined. However, eating a diet high in antioxidants benefits a person's health in many ways....
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is widely known as the potentially harmful form of cholesterol in the human body. High LDL levels are linked to heart disease and other health problems. Having yielded some positive findings on the possible effect...
Omega-3 fatty acids are a long-chain type of polyunsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fats, or PUFAs, have been known to have beneficial effects on your heart when they replace unhealthy trans and saturated fats. Fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon,...
Minerals are essential micronutrients that play vital roles in promoting health and preventing disease. Minerals are found in a wide variety of plant-based, animal and marine foods and are available in dietary supplements. Taking supplements that...
Diet plays an important role in the cause, prevention and treatment of heart disease. A well-planned vegetarian diet may decrease your risk of heart disease and help you manage the condition in conjunction with prescription drugs. Consult your...
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by reddened patches of scaly skin. Even though there is no cure for psoriasis, research has shown that diet, including decreasing intake of animal fat, may improve the symptoms...
A pomegranate is a deciduous shrub native to the Middle East, although it's currently cultivated in arid regions throughout the world. The fruit of the pomegranate isn't widely available in the United States, but the juice is very popular....
Many people have cinnamon in their spice rack, but few may know the healthy benefits that can come from ingesting the brown bark native to Southeast Asia. Add cinnamon to your daily diet, not just your baked goods. Physicians recommend ingesting...
Proponents of coconut oil claim that this food can cure or assist in the treatment of all sorts of diseases, including cancer. The research is still in the early stages regarding most of these claims. However, research shows that there truly are...
Omega-3 fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that supports cognition and protects against heart disease. Alpha-linolenic acid is an essential omega-3 fatty acid your body cannot produce and must get from plant-based foods. Alpha-linolenic...
Cholesterol is a lipid that is a key component of cell membranes. It performs numerous functions in the body, including synthesizing vitamin D and steroid hormones. However, excess cholesterol is stored as plaque in artery walls, which increases...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the U.S., with coronary heart disease being the most common type, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, more than 1.25 million Americans have heart...
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of the skin and joints. General symptoms include patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammation with scaling on various areas of the body. It is considered a systemic disease,...
Insulin resistance, medically known as metabolic syndrome, is characterized by your body cells' inability to process insulin, a hormone that assists in metabolizing carbohydrates and glucose. It can be caused by pregnancy, genetic factors and...
Enough soda is produced for each American to consume 52 gallons per year. The large amounts of sugar in soda are associated with weight gain and metabolic syndrome. These conditions increase your risk of developing heart disease. In addition, diet...
Whether baked in a pie or freshly picked off the tree, cherries (Prunus avium) are popular for their distinctive taste. But flavor is not the only benefit these fleshy stone fruits bring to the table. Dole Food Co. lists cherries among its top...
Hereditary factors can significantly raise risk factors for heart disease. Research findings published in a 2005 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" identify a cox-2 genetic molecule that serves as a protective factor when...
Flaxseed oil, also known as linseed oil, is derived naturally from the seeds of the flax plant. Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, flaxseed oil has been shown to have many health benefits, such as supporting heart health, reducing blood...
Diabetes is a disease that affects glucose metabolism. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce the hormone insulin, which is responsible for removing glucose from the blood. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or...
Blood pressure is reported using two numerical values that represent the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. The top numerical value is referred to as your systolic value, which is the pressure that is created when your...
During the aging process, various changes take place in the skin. The skin gradually loses elasticity and collagen--proteins that enhance skin's firmness--which may result in wrinkles, sagging and reduced ability to recover from scarring and...
A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80. The top number, known as systolic, refers to the pressure of the heart contracting, whereas the bottom number, known as diastolic, refers to the pressure of the heart at rest between beats. Blood pressure...
All carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, or blood sugar, which is then used as energy by cells to perform bodily functions. High blood sugar levels, also known as hyperglycemia, can increase the risk for serious medical conditions including...
