Whole grain consumption is associated with a 21% reduction in cardiovascular disease when compared to minimal whole grain intake, according to a 2008 review article in Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Disease. Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the developed world. Stroke is No. 3. The term “cardiovascular disease” lumps together heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and generalized [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘legumes’
April 11, 2010
Longevity Components of the Mediterranean Diet
According to Greek researchers, the components of the Mediterranean diet that contribute to longer lifespan are: moderate alcohol consumption low consumption of meat high consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, olive oil, and legumes The following didn’t seem to contribute much, if any: cereals (the grain of a grass such as wheat, corn, oats) dairy products fish and seafood [...]
March 22, 2010
Vinegar to Treat Diabetes?
Vinegar reduces blood sugar elevations after meals containing complex carbohydrates, according to the Department of Nutrition at Arizona State University. Meals containing carbohydrates (and to a lesser extent, proteins) raise blood sugar after meals in people with or without diabetes. [I've written previously about the normal ranges of blood sugars.] Previous studies established that a [...]
January 18, 2010
Grains and Legumes: Any Effect on Heart Disease and Stroke?
Several scientific studies published in the first five years of this century suggest that whole grain consumption protects agains coronary heart disease and possibly other types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke. Note that researchers in this field, especially outside the U.S., use the term “cereal” to mean “a grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the [...]
January 16, 2010
Eat the Right Carbs to Alleviate Diabetes and Heart Disease
Harvard’s Dr. Frank Hu in 2007 called for a paradigm shift in dietary prevention of heart disease, de-emphasizing the original diet-heart hypothesis and noting instead that “. . . reducing dietary GL [glycemic load] should be made a top public health priority.” Jim Mann at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand) authored a 2007 [...]
January 12, 2010
Does Diet Influence Risk of Stroke?
Harvard researchers suggest that our food consumption does indeed influence our risk of suffering a stroke. This matters since stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Scientists looked carefully at 121 different studies—published between 1979 and 2004—on the relationship between dietary factors and stroke. High blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor [...]
January 10, 2010
Diabetes + Overweight and Obesity = Diabesity
Mark Hyman, M.D., blogged about diabesity at the Huffington Post December 24, 2009. He defines diabesity as a problem with glucose regulation associated with overweight and obesity. The glucose physiology problem ranges from metabolic syndrome to prediabetes to full-blown type 2 diabetes. “Diabesity” has been in circulation for a few years, but hasn’t caught on [...]
January 8, 2010
What Are Phytonutrients and What Have They Done For Me Lately?
Nutrition scientists think that plants have small amounts of numerous “bioactive compounds,” sometimes referred to as phytonutrients, that protect us against disease. Many scientific studies have looked at groups of people over time, noting the various foods they eat as well as the diseases they develop. These are called epidemiologic, ecological, or observational studies. One finding is that lower rates of [...]
January 6, 2010
Legumes and Whole Grains: Any Role in Diabetes?
Expert nutrition panels consistently recommend whole grains and legumes for people with diabetes. Why? And do these foods affect development of diabetes? I found a pertinent scientific review article on the subject from 2004 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Here are some pertinent quotes from the summary: Epidemiological studies strongly support the suggestion that [...]
January 2, 2010
Legumes and Cereal Grains: Any Role in Weight Management?
Researchers at the University of Wollongong (Australia) reviewed the scientific literature on the role for cereal grains and legumes in weight management. In this context, ”cereal” refers to “a grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the starchy grains of which are used as food” (American Heritage Dictionary). Here’s their summary: There is strong evidence that [...]
