For people with existing hypertension, capsules containing cocoa flavanols helped reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness, according to a small study in Frontiers in Nutrition. Previous trials back up these findings — in fact, some research suggests that cocoa flavanols lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness as much as certain bloodRead
When it comes to diet advice for heart health, we’ve all heard the same thing — reduce your sodium intake. Turns out, that may not be the best approach for everyone. According to a study in Heart, a publication from the British Medical Journal, restricting salt intake may actually worsen aRead
An egg a day may keep the heart doctor away. That’s the conclusion of researchers who recently published a study in eLife journal. These new findings follow in the footsteps of a 2018 trial in Heart that involved more than half a million Chinese adults. They found that eating approximatelyRead
In this column, I’d like to take a closer look at three widely shared assumptions that greatly influence how we think about cholesterol and heart disease. Here are the three assumptions. See how many you agree with. There are two kinds of cholesterol, one “good” (HDL) and one “bad” (LDL).Read
That morning shot of espresso may be doing more than simply waking you up — it also could be increasing your cholesterol. According to a population-based, cross-sectional study published online in Open Heart, espresso consumption is significantly associated with higher serum total cholesterol levels, especially in men. As part ofRead
The newest power duo in the supplement world may be B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. A study from the journal Nutrients points to a possible synergistic effect between certain B vitamins and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for cardiovascular health. Study Details Texas State University researchers conducted a meta-analysisRead
Hundreds of studies support garlic’s cardiovascular benefits. Now a six-week clinical trial in Nutrients shows that a fermented form of garlic — aged black garlic extract — helps lower blood pressure in people with high cholesterol. Aged black garlic has long been a staple in Asian cuisine, where it’s consideredRead
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
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
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
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