New link between heart disease and red meat
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Study offers new understanding of cardiovascular health benefits of vegan, vegetarian diets
A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis – or the hardening or clogging of the arteries – according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
The study shows that bacteria living in the human digestive tract metabolize the compound carnitine, turning it into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite the researchers previously linked in a 2011 study to the promotion of atherosclerosis in humans. Further, the research finds that a diet high in carnitine promotes the growth of the bacteria that metabolize carnitine, compounding the problem by producing even more of the artery-clogging TMAO.
The research team was led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Translational Research for the Lerner Research Institute and section head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic, and Robert Koeth, a medical student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
The study tested the carnitine and TMAO levels of omnivores, vegans and vegetarians, and examined the clinical data of 2,595 patients undergoing elective cardiac evaluations. They also examined the cardiac effects of a carnitine-enhanced diet in normal mice compared to mice with suppressed levels of gut microbes, and discovered that TMAO alters cholesterol metabolism at multiple levels, explaining how it enhances atherosclerosis.
The researchers found that increased carnitine levels in patients predicted increased risks for cardiovascular disease and major cardiac events like heart attack, stroke and death, but only in subjects with concurrently high TMAO levels. Additionally, they found specific gut microbe types in subjects associated with both plasma TMAO levels and dietary patterns, and that baseline TMAO levels were significantly lower among vegans and vegetarians than omnivores. Remarkably, vegans and vegetarians, even after consuming a large amount of carnitine, did not produce significant levels of the microbe product TMAO, whereas omnivores consuming the same amount of carnitine did.
"The bacteria living in our digestive tracts are dictated by our long-term dietary patterns," Hazen said. "A diet high in carnitine actually shifts our gut microbe composition to those that like carnitine, making meat eaters even more susceptible to forming TMAO and its artery-clogging effects. Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians have a significantly reduced capacity to synthesize TMAO from carnitine, which may explain the cardiovascular health benefits of these diets."
Prior research has shown that a diet with frequent red meat consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but that the cholesterol and saturated fat content in red meat does not appear to be enough to explain the increased cardiovascular risks. This discrepancy has been attributed to genetic differences, a high salt diet that is often associated with red meat consumption, and even possibly the cooking process, among other explanations. But Hazen says this new research suggests a new connection between red meat and cardiovascular disease.
"This process is different in everyone, depending on the gut microbe metabolism of the individual," he says. "Carnitine metabolism suggests a new way to help explain why a diet rich in red meat promotes atherosclerosis."
While carnitine is naturally occurring in red meats, including beef, venison, lamb, mutton, duck, and pork, its also a dietary supplement available in pill form and a common ingredient in energy drinks. With this new research in mind, Hazen cautions that more research needs to be done to examine the safety of chronic carnitine supplementation.
"Carnitine is not an essential nutrient; our body naturally produces all we need," he says. "We need to examine the safety of chronically consuming carnitine supplements as weve shown that, under some conditions, it can foster the growth of bacteria that produce TMAO and potentially clog arteries."
This study is the latest in a line of research by Hazen and his colleagues exploring how gut microbes can contribute to atherosclerosis, uncovering new and unexpected pathways involved in heart disease. In a 2011 Nature study, they first discovered that people are not predisposed to cardiovascular disease solely because of their genetic make-up, but also based on how the micro-organisms in their digestive tracts metabolize lecithin, a compound with a structure similar to carnitine.
Its True Medical Cannabis Provides Dramatic Relief for Sufferers of Chronic Ailments
Treatment can improve appetite, ease chronic pain, and more
Though controversial, medical cannabis has been gaining ground as a valid therapy, offering relief to suffers of diseases such as cancer, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, ALS and more. The substance is known to soothe severe pain, increase the appetite, and ease insomnia where other common medications fail.
In 2009, Zach Klein, a graduate of Tel Aviv Universitys Department of Film and Television Studies, directed the documentary Prescribed Grass. Through the process, he developed an interest in the scientific research behind medical marijuana, and now, as a specialist in policy-making surrounding medical cannabis and an MA student at TAUs Porter School of Environmental Studies, he is conducting his own research into the benefits of medical cannabis.
Using marijuana from a farm called Tikkun Olam — a reference to the Jewish concept of healing the world — Klein and his fellow researchers tested the impact of the treatment on 19 residents of the Hadarim nursing home in Israel. The results, Klein says, have been outstanding. Not only did participants experience dramatic physical results, including healthy weight gain and the reduction of pain and tremors, but Hadarim staff saw an immediate improvement in the participants moods and communication skills. The use of chronic medications was also significantly reduced, he reports.
Kleins research team includes Dr. Dror Avisar of TAUs Hydrochemistry Laboratory at the Department of Geography and Human Environment; Prof. Naama Friedmann and Rakefet Keider of TAUs Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of Education; Dr. Yehuda Baruch of TAUs Sackler Faculty of Medicine and director of the Abarbanel Mental Health Center; and Dr. Moshe Geitzen and Inbal Sikorin of Hadarim.
Cutting down on chronic medications
Israel is a world leader in medical cannabis research, Klein says. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, was first discovered there by Profs. Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel Gaoni. Prof. Mechoulam is also credited for having defined the endocannabinoid system, which mimics the effects of cannabis and plays a role in appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory.
In the Hadarim nursing home, 19 patients between the ages of 69 and 101 were treated with medical cannabis in the form of powder, oil, vapor, or smoke three times daily over the course of a year for conditions such as pain, lack of appetite, and muscle spasms and tremors. Researchers and nursing home staff monitored participants for signs of improvement, as well as improvement in overall life quality, such as mood and ease in completing daily living activities.
During the study, 17 patients achieved a healthy weight, gaining or losing pounds as needed. Muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors and pain reduced significantly. Almost all patients reported an increase in sleeping hours and a decrease in nightmares and PTSD-related flashbacks.
There was a notable decline in the amount of prescribed medications taken by patients, such as antipsychotics, Parkinsons treatment, mood stabilizers, and pain relievers, Klein found, noting that these drugs have severe side effects. By the end of the study, 72 percent of participants were able to reduce their drug intake by an average of 1.7 medications a day.
Connecting cannabis and swallowing
This year, Klein is beginning a new study at Israels Reuth Medical Center with Drs. Jean-Jacques Vatine and Aviah Gvion, in which he hopes to establish a connection between medical cannabis and improved swallowing. One of the biggest concerns with chronically ill patients is food intake, says Klein. Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, can lead to a decline in nutrition and even death. He believes that cannabis, which has been found to stimulate regions of the brain associated with swallowing reflexes, will have a positive impact.
Overall, Klein believes that the healing powers of cannabis are close to miraculous, and has long supported an overhaul in governmental policy surrounding the drug. Since his film was released in 2009, the number of permits for medical cannabis in Israel has increased from 400 to 11,000. His research is about improving the quality of life, he concludes, especially for those who have no other hope.
Is Your Mouth Fit for Kissing Reasons Youre Not Kissable
Also called fever blisters, you don’t get cold sores from fevers or colds but they can be triggered by them. The virus that causes cold sores is usually passed via a kiss, shared utensils, or other close contact. OTC creams and ointments may help discomfort and speed healing. Frequent sores may require a prescription. Cold sores are a top mouth problem. Other problems include canker sores, TMJ, bad breath, and mouth cancer.
Caused by candida yeast, thrush is most common in older adults or babies. But a weakened immune system, antibiotics, diabetes or certain medications such as inhaled corticosteroids can give candida a chance to grow wild. Wiping away the patches will cause soreness. See a doctor for a firm diagnosis.
This painless condition occurs when the little bumps on your tongue grow long and trap bacteria that live in your mouth -- making your tongue look black and hairy. Causes can include antibiotic use, poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking a lot of tea or coffee, and not producing enough saliva. Brushing your tongue and using a tongue scraper is usually all you need to treat it, though sometimes medication is necessary.
No one knows what causes these small, painful blisters inside your mouth. Triggers include hypersensitivity, infection, hormones, stress, and not getting enough of some vitamins. Also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores can show up on your tongue, cheek, even gums. They usually last a week or two. Persistent, severe canker sores can be treated with numbing creams or prescription treatments.
Leukoplakia is a reaction to an irritant, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, usually is painless, and can’t be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth need a dentist’s evaluation.
A rare rash that shows up as lacy, white patches or red shiny bumps on the inside of the cheeks or tongue could be lichen planus. No one knows what causes it. Generally, mild lichen planus doesn’t need any treatment. If it causes pain or ulcers, it can be treated with oral and topical medication. Oral lichen planus can be chronic and may increase the risk for oral cancer. Lichen planus can also affect skin, scalp, nails, and genitals.
When parts of your tongue are missing some of their small bumps, you end up with raised and lowered spots, giving your tongue a map-like appearance. The spots can change location, pattern, and size within minutes to hours. Geographic tongue is harmless and can come and go. It usually doesn’t need any treatment. If there’s pain, over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can help.
A mouth sore that doesn’t go away. Unexplained numbness in the face, mouth, or neck. Problems chewing, speaking or swallowing. These are a few symptoms of mouth cancer. Causes can include smoking cigarettes and using smokeless tobacco, drinking heavily, overexposure to the sun, and a family history of cancer. Don’t let fear keep you from the doctor -- oral cancer that is caught early is treatable and curable.
A problem with the jaw called temporomandibular joint syndrome can cause severe pain in the jaw, face, ear, or neck. Clenching, tooth grinding, or injury can all cause TMJ, but the results are often the same: pain, headaches, dizziness, even trouble swallowing. Treatment may involve rest, a mouth guard, medication, or surgery.
Munching on ice or hard candies, grinding or clenching teeth, even exposing teeth to heat and cold can lead to chips, cracks, and breaks in your teeth. Tiny chips or cracks may not be a bother. But anything more could lead to pain or permanent tooth damage. Your dentist can offer dental bonding, tooth contouring, porcelain veneers, and crowns to fix badly damaged teeth.
Ever notice a small blue-gray “stain” in a soft part of your mouth after dental work? Called amalgam tattoos, they occur when a tiny piece of amalgam filling gets embedded in your cheek or gum. The silver in the amalgam leaches into your mouth’s soft tissue, resulting in what looks a bit like a tiny tattoo. Amalgam tattoos pose no harm. But if the blue-gray spot grows or changes color, that’s not an amalgam tattoo. Ask your dentist to check it out.
Periodontal Disease
With periodontal disease like gingivitis, bacteria in plaque can cause receding gum lines. Pockets form that become infected and can cause bone loss. Proper oral hygiene can help prevent periodontal disease. Smoking, poor diet, and stress can make it worse. See your dentist to treat receding gums.
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums could be gingivitis, which can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. Also called gum disease, gingivitis – a form of periodontal disease -- can happen when an illness, medication, plaque, or other problem leaves gums vulnerable to bacterial infection. Prevention is the best strategy. That means daily flossing and brushing, as well as regular dental visits. Severe gingivitis may require antibiotics.
Ever let an aspirin nestle in your cheek, near an aching tooth? While you may hope this relieves pain faster, instead the acid in the aspirin burns a white, rough lesion into your gums or cheek. Preventing aspirin burn is simple -- swallow those pain relievers! Treatment for aspirin burn is just as basic: Time. Simple burns should heal in about two weeks.
Cavities, Abcesses, Discoloration
Flossing and brushing daily and regular dental checkups help prevent problems like cavities, abscesses, and tooth discoloration. Don’t mess around with a severe toothache. Dental infections can spread to the face, skull, and even to the bloodstream. See your dentist as soon as possible if your toothache lasts longer than 1 or 2 days or if you have a fever, earache, or pain when you open your mouth wide.
Bad Breath
Unbrushed teeth have food particles around them that promote bacteria and cause bad breath. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may be from continuous breathing through your mouth, dry mouth, a sign of gum disease, or even diabetes. Fight bad breath by brushing your teeth and tongue, drinking water, and avoiding food triggers. See your dentist if bad breath persists.
Blueberries Prevent Fat Cell Formation and Assist Weight Loss Goals
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Researchers at TWU set out to evaluate whether blueberries play a role in the development and differentiation of new baby fat cells or adipocytes that are the primary vehicle for fat storage in the body. In the past, studies have shown powerful natural polyphenols found in plants to inhibit the formation of fat cells and induce lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fats from cellular storage.
Blueberry Extract is Shown to Inhibit Baby Fat Cell Formation
The lead study author, Shiwani Moghe, MS determined that blueberry polyphenols can inhibit a critical path leading to obesity at the molecular level and may play a significant role in blocking the development of new fat cells. The berry may also play a part in releasing fat from adipocytes that will help millions with the desire to lose weight. She noted “This is a burgeoning area of research. Determining the best dose for humans will be important. The promise is there for blueberries to help reduce adipose tissue from forming in the body.”
Blueberries Prevent Deadly Arterial Plaque and Atherosclerosis
Blueberries have been a natural part of the human diet for countless generations and provide a tasty source of plant polyphenols that prevent coronary artery disease and can assist with weight loss efforts. Include four to eight ounces of fresh blueberries to your diet each day or take an organically produced concentrated extract supplement to naturally improve health and prevent fat cell development.
Veggie Might Vegan Mayo and Worcestershire for Cookout Independence
Sweet readers: Today kicks off No-Cook Month on Cheap Healthy Good! Join us as we never turn on our stoves, ever.
Girls and boys, it’s been as hot as blue blazes around these parts (New York City, if you’re just joining us). Luckily for me, I have a sensitive little cookie monster who requires air conditioning for summer survival. No, not me—I can take the heat.
However, my Charming Boyfriend does not; and his apartment is consistently two- to three-degrees hotter than outside. Thank Maude for NO COOK MONTH!
To kick it off, I’m dipping back into a past theme: make your own condiments. It’s not a stove-free meal, but with Canada Day upon us (happy, happy, up there!), and the 4th of July just days away, I figured everyone’s cooking out anyway. Vegans and vegetarians will need something animal-free to slather on and spice up their veggie burgs, tofu dogs, and grilled portobellos.
Vegan Mayo
While Kris promises to keep this site mayo-free, I make no such vow, and besides vegan mayo is really just tofu sauce. Even Kris can get behind that right? Right? Hey, Miss K, where are you going? (Um ... I have a thing. - Kris)
Anyhoo…this creamy, light sandwich spread does no harm to the baby chicks, cuts down on picnic botulism (or is it salmonella? I’m always confusing my food-borne illnesses…), and is perfect on sandwiches and salads—anywhere mayo or that other processed sandwich glop dares to tread.
All you need are a few simple ingredients, a food processor/blender (or a strong whisking arm), and you’ll be too cool for the real deal in no time.
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce is one of those nonvegetarian foodstuffs that can sneak past even the most diligent animal-bits teetotaler. The original, stuff of apothecary legend, is made with anchovies or other fishy paste. That’ll kill the buzz, from the bloody marys to the chex mix, at any veghead’s party.
Turns out, a veggie version is tres easy, and requires just a little patience, along with a couple not-so-secret ingredients: molasses and tamarind concentrate. Tamarind is a sour fruit found in Africa and Southeast Asia, is commonly used in Indian, Thai, and Latin American cooking, and can be found at Indian or Latin markets.
Molasses is the anti-high fructose corn syrup.
There is something about the molasses and tamarind that give the Worcestershire sauce its depth and zing. I thought the fish paste would be the biggest flavor factor, but the batch I made—just by letting the spices meld overnight—tastes shockingly close to the original.
The veggie wor’st was tangy and spicy on homemade veggie burgers along with the first harvest of lettuce from CB’s fire-escape herb garden. The vegan mayo added a smooth and delicious complement.
Whip up a set of homemade, vegan condiments for your holiday cookout to mark your complete independence from processed foods. Or just because it’s fun make stuff from scratch.
Happy 3rd anniversary and happy Independence Day, everyone!
~~~
If this article tips your canoe, swim on over to
- Make Your Own Ketchup
- Make Your Own Mustard
- Western North Carolina BBQ Sauce
Vegan Mayo
Makes 1 cup or 16 1-tablespoon servings.
Adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman.
1/4 cup safflower oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1) Place tofu, vinegar, mustard, and salt in a bowl or the bowl of your food processor/blender.
2) Zap/whisk until smooth.
3) Drizzle in oil, blending as you go. Continue whizzing/whisking until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes in the food processor).
4) Serve as desired. Refrigerate up to two weeks.
5) Accept praise and amazement at your hard work graciously.
~~~
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Makes 1 cup or 16 1-tablespoon servings.
Adapted from Cooking with Rockstars.com.
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate
1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1) Combine all ingredients into a small nonreactive mixing bowl. Stir well.
2) Transfer to a container with a lid—a glass jar or take-out container is perfect.
3) Allow flavors to meld overnight or at least 8 hours. (I let it sit out on the counter, but you can refrigerate if you feel safer that way.)
4) Shake and strain out the red pepper flakes.
5) Serve with veggie burgers, bloody marys, and confidence.
Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
Vegan Mayo: 42.5 calories, 4g fat, 3g fiber, .8g protein, $0.05
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.03
Calculations
Vegan Mayo
6 oz silken tofu: 187.5 calories, 9.6g fat, 48g fiber, 12g protein, $0.42
1/4 safflower oil: 480 calories, 56g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.32
2 tbsp white vinegar: 6 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.02
2 tsp Dijon mustard: 6 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.02
1/4 tsp salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
Totals: 679.5 calories, 65.6g fat, 48g fiber, 12g protein, $.80
Per Serving (totals/16): 42.5 calories, 4g fat, 3g fiber, .8g protein, $05
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar: 24 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
2 tbsp soy sauce: 22 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
1 tbsp brown sugar: 50 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.03
1/2 tbsp molasses: 29 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.07
1 tbsp tamarind concentrate: 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.13
1/4 tsp grated ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp Dijon mustard: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp garlic powder: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp onion powder: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
1/4 tsp cinnamon: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $.02
Totals: 133 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.53
Per Serving (totals/16): 8 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $.03
Tosha A Sindhi Sweet
Cant imagine Diwali without a sweet, if you are searching for an easy and a delicious sweet which goes for simple ingredients with less efforts this Sindhi sweet Tosha will come in secure. Yes this delightful Tosha goes for all purpose flour or maida, curd and baking soda, with a simle sugar syrup. This is a very easy,quick and very addictive sweet which can be stored for many days in an air tightened box. Tosha tastes almost like our South Indian badusha, but the shape is different from the former one.
Actually when i was searching for a quick sweet, i got this Tosha from here, thanks Nivedita for sharing this incredible sweet which gets ready in a jiffy. As i told earlier, with less efforts you can make these cuties if you dont want to spend more time in your kitchen during festival. You dont know how to make badusha and want to make a sweet which tastes similar to it, just makes this toshas and enjoy it.This beauties are going Diwali Delicacies Event, hosted by me and Sangee Vijay of spicy treats and to Gayathris Diwali Special.
1cup All purpose flour or maida
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/2cup Oil
1/2tsp Salt
1/2cup Curd
For sugar syrup:
2cups Sugar
2+1/2cups Water
Take the flour,salt and baking soda, now the oil and curd gradually alternatively and knead the dough as smooth dough.
Knead well until the dough turns smooth (dont add water while kneading)
Make small kababs like rolls from the dough (u can get almost 30pieces)
Heat oil, fry the rolls in medium simmer flame until they turns golden in colour (dont cook in high flame else the interior of the toshas will stay uncook)
Meanwhile make the sugar syrup with sugar and water until they turns thick.
Drop the toshas into the sugar syrup ,stir them well in the syrup.
Remove it,let it cool completely.
Store in airtightened box.
Actually when i was searching for a quick sweet, i got this Tosha from here, thanks Nivedita for sharing this incredible sweet which gets ready in a jiffy. As i told earlier, with less efforts you can make these cuties if you dont want to spend more time in your kitchen during festival. You dont know how to make badusha and want to make a sweet which tastes similar to it, just makes this toshas and enjoy it.This beauties are going Diwali Delicacies Event, hosted by me and Sangee Vijay of spicy treats and to Gayathris Diwali Special.
1cup All purpose flour or maida
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/2cup Oil
1/2tsp Salt
1/2cup Curd
For sugar syrup:
2cups Sugar
2+1/2cups Water
Take the flour,salt and baking soda, now the oil and curd gradually alternatively and knead the dough as smooth dough.
Knead well until the dough turns smooth (dont add water while kneading)
Make small kababs like rolls from the dough (u can get almost 30pieces)
Heat oil, fry the rolls in medium simmer flame until they turns golden in colour (dont cook in high flame else the interior of the toshas will stay uncook)
Meanwhile make the sugar syrup with sugar and water until they turns thick.
Drop the toshas into the sugar syrup ,stir them well in the syrup.
Remove it,let it cool completely.
Store in airtightened box.
Skipping breakfast may increase coronary heart disease risk
Heres more evidence why breakfast may be the most important meal of the day: Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease in a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-2008) on 26,902 male health professionals ages 45-82. They found:
Men who reported they skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they didnt.
The men who reported not eating breakfast were younger than those who did, and were more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol.
Men who reported eating late at night (eating after going to bed) had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didnt. But researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior.
During the study, 1,572 of the men had first-time cardiac events.
"Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time," said Leah E. Cahill, Ph.D., study lead author and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass.
"Our study group has spent decades studying the health effects of diet quality and composition, and now this new data also suggests overall dietary habits can be important to lower risk of coronary heart disease," said Eric Rimm, Sc.D., senior author and Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.
Men who reported eating breakfast ate on average one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast, implying that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day. Although there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76 percent of late-night eaters also ate breakfast, researchers said.
The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, BMI, and social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past.
While the current study group was composed of men who were of 97 percent white European descent, the results should also apply to women and other ethnic groups, but this should be tested in additional studies, researchers said.
"Dont skip breakfast," Cahill said. "Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. For example, adding nuts and chopped fruit to a bowl of whole grain cereal or steel-cut oatmeal in the morning is a great way to start the day."
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