Cardiovascular Health
Can Cocoa Extract Reduce Cardiovascular Disease?
We know that chocolate is the way to many people’s hearts. Now a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a cocoa flavanol extract may offer protection against cardiovascular events. Flavanols are nutrient-rich compounds found in several plant foods, including cocoa, purple and red grapes, blueberries, andRead
Researchers ID a Gene that Encodes the Transport of NAD+ for Cellular Metabolism
Penn Medicine researchers have solved a decades old mystery around nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a key molecule fueling the power plant of cells that could be exploited to find new ways to treat diseases, from neurodegenerative disorders to cancer. Reporting in a study published today in Nature, researchers from theRead
Specific Transcriptome Changes Associated with Blood Pressure Reduction in Hypertensive Patients After Relaxation Response Training
ABSTRACT // Objective: Mind–body practices that elicit the relaxation response (RR) have been demonstrated to reduce blood pressure (BP) in essential hypertension (HTN) and may be an adjunct to antihypertensive drug therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the RR reduces BP remain undefined. Design: Genomic determinants associated with responsivenessRead
Flavonoids Influence Gut Bacteria and Lower Blood Pressure Levels
Flavonoids in foods, including berries, apples, pears and wine, may reduce blood pressure levels, which is partially explained by characteristics of the gut microbiome, according to new research published in Hypertension. “Our gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolizing flavonoids to enhance their cardioprotective effects, and this study providesRead
Five-Minute Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training Lower Blood Pressure as Well as Exercise & Meds
Working out just five minutes daily via High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), a practice described as “strength training for your breathing muscles,” lowers blood pressure and improves some measures of vascular health as well as, or even more than, aerobic exercise or medication. The study, published in JAMA fromRead
Framingham Heart Study Data: Omega-3 Index as Predictive of Early Death and Cigarette Smoking
An inadequate Omega-3 Index may be just as powerful in predicting early death as smoking. It’s a bold statement made in a research paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study is based on data from the Framingham Heart Study. The Framingham Heart Study provided unique insightsRead
Blood Sugar A1C Biomarker Test for Atherosclerosis?
When running a routine glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) test to track blood sugar levels, you may want to consider also using the test to identify individuals with advanced atherosclerosis. Though the test is used primarily for the diagnosis and management of prediabetes and diabetes, the glycosylated hemoglobin test can provide aRead
Long-Term Cardiovascular and Heart Complications of COVID-19 in Younger Adults
Young healthy adults with mild COVID-19 symptoms may have an increased risk of cardiovascular and heart complications, and may continue for some time after infection. This according to new research published in Experimental Physiology, highlights the possible long term health impacts of COVID-19 non-hospitalized young adults who had only minorRead
New Test Measures Anti-Inflammatory Function of HDL Cholesterol
Assessing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is already a standard part of formulas used to predict cardiovascular risk. However, a new test that measures the anti-inflammatory function of HDL cholesterol may provide additional information that is independent of the quantity of HDL. If the results are confirmed in broaderRead
PCOS DISCOVERIES: Men with Genetic Risk Factors & Black Women at Greater Odds for Cardiometabolic Diseases
Two new studies presented at the annual ENDO 2021 meeting (March 20-23), the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, provides valuable insight into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The first study found that men with the genetic risk factors for PCOS can develop the same characteristics of the disease. This surprising study leadsRead
