Tag Archives: heart disease

How reliable are the findings that suggest emulsifiers in processed foods may increase cardiovascular risk, and what further research is needed to confirm or refute this association?

A ground-breaking study by The BMJ sheds harsh light on the potential dangers lurking within our favorite processed foods in a shocking revelation that could shock the food industry. Brace yourself for this unsettling truth: those seemingly harmless emulsifiers, the very substances that make our indulgent treats extra mouthwatering, might actually be silently plotting against our cardiovascular health. Yes, you read that right. The very same additives found in pastries, ice cream, and ready meals could be putting our hearts at risk. It’s time to take a closer look at what we’re really consuming.

Food additives, including emulsifiers, undergo regular safety assessments based on the scientific evidence available. However, recent studies indicate these emulsifiers may disrupt gut bacteria and heighten inflammation levels, potentially increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular problems.

To investigate the potential health risks further, researchers in France undertook a study to establish possible links between exposure to emulsifiers and the risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. These diseases affect blood flow and blood vessels in the heart and brain. The study involved 95,442 French adults with no history of heart disease and averaged follow-up records for seven years. Participants provided detailed dietary records and any major CVD events they experienced.

The study revealed that higher intake of specific types of emulsifiers—total celluloses (E460–E468), cellulose (E460), and carboxymethylcellulose (E466)—was positively correlated with higher risks of CVD and, specifically, coronary heart disease. In addition, higher intakes of monoglycerides and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471 and E472) were related to higher risks across all studied outcomes. Among these emulsifiers, specific types were associated with higher risks of CVD and cerebrovascular diseases.

It is essential to note that this is an observational study and cannot definitively establish causality. The researchers acknowledged limitations such as the high proportion of women and the generally higher educational background of the participants, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Despite these limitations, the study could prompt a reevaluation of regulations concerning the use of food additives in the food industry to protect consumers.

Given these findings, several public health authorities recommend reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods to limit exposure to these potentially harmful additives. This study serves as a cautionary note, urging both the public and regulatory bodies to scrutinize the long-term effects of substances that are so widely incorporated into modern diets.

According to the text, the specific types of emulsifiers that are positively correlated with higher risks of CVD and, specifically, coronary heart disease are total celluloses (E460–E468), cellulose (E460), and carboxymethylcellulose (E466). The text also mentions that recent studies indicate these emulsifiers may disrupt gut bacteria and heighten inflammation levels, potentially increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular problems. To limit exposure to these potentially harmful additives, several public health authorities recommend reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Cited Works:
News-Medical.net. “High Intake of Emulsifiers May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease,” September 7, 2023 https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230907/High-intake-of-emulsifiers-may-increase-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease.aspx.

Komulainen, Pirjo. “The Association of Vascular and Neuroprotective Status Indicators with Cognitive Functioning: Population-Based Studies (Verisuonisairauksien RiskitekijöIden Ja AivoperäIsen HermokasvutekijäN Yhteys Kognitiiviseen Toimintakykyyn – VäEstöTutkimus)” https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/15167220.pdf.

Filter-less coffee contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol

These types of filter-less coffee contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol, which are found in oil droplets floating in the coffee and the sediment, Lisa Drayer, RD, told CNN. Drip coffee is already known to raise triglyceride and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. Drink filtered (paper) coffee to reduce the levels. For the research document published in The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the researchers began to investigate whether any particular brewing method for coffee was associated with a higher risk of premature death, heart disease, and stroke.

People who drank between one and four cups every day had the lowest death rates overall, including abstainers.

The study analyzed claims that the moderate consumption of unfiltered coffee is beneficial.

The theories regarding the connection between coffee and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease abound among scientists.

According to a Harvard School of Public Health study, drinking coffee causes a lowered risk of depression in women.

If you want to be well informed of your favorite morning beverage, make sure you are fully informed of coffee.

Reference

The Most Dangerous Way to Drink Your Coffee, According to Science. https://www.eatthis.com/the-most-dangerous-way-to-drink-your-coffee-according-to-science/

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new report. The research followed almost 166,000 women and 44,000 men over a span of 24 to 30 years. Red meat, organic meat, processed meat, refined grains, sugary drinks are associated with increased inflammation. Leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, whole grains, berries, nuts, fatty fish, and olive oil may provide a safe inflammatory response, according to the report. “When selecting food in our diet, we should take care of their pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory capacity,” says the editorial. The analysis cannot determine cause and effect, says the Food Information Council official. These results are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 
Reference
Choose anti-inflammatory foods to lower heart disease and stroke risk, study says.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/anti-inflammatory-foods-heart-disease-wellness/index.html

Processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Nearly 166,000 women and 44,000 men followed the study for 24-30 years. Red meat, organ meat, processed meat, refined grains, drinks are associated with increased inflammation. Leafy greens, carrots, onions, whole grains, fruits, nuts, fatty fish, and olive oil, experts claim, will promote the safe inflammatory reaction. Mediterranean diet is one of the world’s healthiest diets, the International Food Knowledge Council stated.

The western diet is full of over-processed, fat-laden foods, sugar beverages, and red and processed meats. Chronic inflammation is related to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and many other conditions. Ninety percent of Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, he says. Many unhealthy, “ultra-processed” foods can also shorten your life, studies have shown. The good news is that anti-inflammatory elements like vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids can neutralize free radicals.

Reference
Choose anti-inflammatory foods to lower heart disease and stroke risk, study says. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/anti-inflammatory-foods-heart-disease-wellness/index.html

Guidelines prescribe that one or more antiarrhythmic medications

Guidelines prescribe that one or more antiarrhythmic medications be tested before catheter ablation is considered in patients with atrial fibrillation. First-line ablation could be more effective in preserving sinus rhythm, we’ve discovered. Severe adverse effects resulted in 5 patients who underwent ablation and 6 patients who prescribed antiarrhythmic drug treatment. Patients undergoing initial care for symptomatic, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation had a slightly lower risk of recurrence with catheter cryoballoon ablation than with antiarrHythmicDrug, as measured by continuous heart rhythm testing. The median ratio of time of atrial fibrillation was 0 per cent (interquartile scale, 0 to 0.08) with ablation and 0.13 per cent with drug treatment compared to 0.60 per cent with ablated therapy.

Reference

Cryoablation or Drug Therapy for Initial Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029980

Synthetically sweetened beverages may not be a more healthy alternativ

Synthetically sweetened beverages may not be a more healthy alternative after all, with a latest study finding an increased danger of heart problems.

Outcomes stemmed from the French NutriNet-Santé research with over 104,000 respondents and their nutritional data, concluded every six months, corresponding to a news release. Results were released in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.

“Compared to non-consumers, both higher customers of sugary beverages and of synthetically sweetened drinks had increasing concerns of first occurrence cardiovascular condition, after taking into account a extended array of confounding aspects,” research experts published.

Reference

Diet drinks linked to same heart issues as sweetened beverages, study says. https://www.foxnews.com/health/artificially-sweet-beverages-heart-issues-study-says

Heart Disease the Silent Killer

The heart is the cause of the body’s cardiovascular system. Throughout the entire body’s blood vessels, the heart pumps blood to all or any of the body’s cells. Your blood carries oxygen, where the cells need. Cardio disease serves as a category of medical problems that occur when the heart and arteries aren’t working the same way as they ought to.

Not a single person is immune to this silent and many times deadly killer. Anyone can be handed down a heart defect or disease and have no clue till they have a very a heart attack, symptoms concerning a stroke, as well as the bad thing case scenario, sudden death.

Young kids are often victims because they could have a heart defect that event occurs as they are growing in the womb. Often this truth is well before the mother knows she is pregnant. These heart defects and diseases can easily be treated efficiently utilizing a variety of medical miracle breakthroughs involving surgery along with other treatments.

Heart problem is a problem that adversely affects any culture, any race for each age. Some people are more likely to develop heart disease; overall, nobody is entirely safe from a heart condition.

Lifestyle choices often play a massive aspect in the development of the cardio disease. Extra weight, absence of exercise, diets loaded with fat tend to make anyone an aspirant for getting a heart problem. Smoking active or passive could cause the buildups stuck inside the heart, which makes it not work as efficiently since it should.

The term Heart disease covers abundant diseases that directly influence the heart as well as having the blood vessel system. It affects the veins and arteries that produce and from the heart. Research has suggested that females who suffer from heart disease usually are affected by forms that reduce the veins and arteries. At the same time, men are generally afflicted byways that influence the heart muscle itself.

Author Resource Box:

Did you know taking aspirin three times a week may cut the risk of dying of cancer by fighting inflammation, study suggests?

Using aspirin 3 times a week or more may give cancer sufferers a much better shot at surviving the condition, a brand new study recommends.

A national Institutes of wellness (NIH) research that followed over 140,000 Americans unearthed that those who stuck to an aspirin regimen had been at lower dangers of developing prostate, colorectal, lung or cancers that are ovarian.

Nevertheless, the advantages appear to just apply to those who are within the normal weight range. Using aspirin had no effects for underweight or people that are overweight.

Specialists state that so many people had been contained in the analysis is promising – but care that other factors may contribute, like the likelihood that the same type of people who just take aspirin on a regular basis are healthier overall.

Author’s resource box: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7755641/Taking-aspirin-three-times-week-cut-risk-dying-of.html

Can you believe that millions of deaths may be tied to not eating enough fruits and vegetables?

apples
© andy0man

New research finds that inadequate intake produce may make up for 2.8 million deaths annually.

I will now put on my mother hat and tell you this: Eat your fruits and vegetables.

Here’s why. A new study finds that inadequate intake of produce may make up for 2.8 million deaths, globally, from heart condition and strokes annually. The researchers concluded that low fruit intake resulted in 1.8 million cardiovascular deaths in twenty ten. I believe that not eating enough vegetables resulted in 2 million deaths.” Fruits and vegetables certainly are a modifiable factor of diet that can impact preventable deaths globally,” said lead study author Victoria Miller, a postdoctoral researcher along at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. “Our findings indicate the call for population-based efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption through the entire world.”

The researchers used data from 2010 and found:

  • Suboptimal fruit consumption generated in nearly 1.3 million deaths from stroke and even more than 520,000 deaths from the disease of the coronary artery.
  • Suboptimal vegetable consumption brought about around 200,000 deaths from stroke and more than 800,000 deaths from the condition of the coronary artery.

For the study, the researchers used dietary guidelines and studies of cardiovascular risk factors to come up with a fruit and vegetable standards, they defined:

Optimal fruit intake: 300 grams per day, equivalent to roughly two small apples. 
Optimal intake of vegetables: Including legumes, 400 grams per day, equivalent to about three cups of raw carrots.

The data they used came from 113 countries, comprising around 82 percent of the world’s population.

Countries in South Asia, East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa had low fruit intake and high rates of associated stroke deaths. Countries in Central Asia and Oceania had low vegetable intake and high rates of associated coronary heart disease.

The maps below show the percentage of cardiovascular deaths (CVD) attributable to suboptimal vegetable and fruit intake in countries around the world.

fruit map

Global Dietary Database 2010/Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University/CC BY 4.0

vegetable map

Global Dietary Database 2010/Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University/CC BY 4.0

Perhaps the United States, with all of our relative abundance and free natural resources, did not fare that well. Inside the U.S., avoiding food enough vegetables defined 82,000 cardiovascular deaths while suboptimal fruit was linked to 57,000 deaths regarding the year.

Reference

Millions of deaths tied to not eating enough fruits and vegetables.https://www.treehugger.com/health/millions-cardiovascular-deaths-attributed-not-eating-enough-fruits-and-vegetables.html

Do you believe that drinking coffee, even 25 cups a day, not bad for the heart?

A brand new study published Monday claims that coffee is not as bad for the human heart as formerly believed.

Researchers with the William Harvey Research Institute at the Queen Mary University of London replied they debunked prior studies that reported drinking coffee — even up to 25 cups a day — could stiffen arterial blood vessels.

Despite the huge popularity of coffee worldwide, different reports could put people off from taking pleasure in it. While we cannot show an irregular connection in this study, the research implies coffee is not as bad for the arteries as prior studies would suggest.

Evaluating more than 8,000 men and women in the United Kingdom, the research divided individuals into three groups dependant on their coffee intake. The research study did incorporate people who consumed up to 25 cups per day, the average quantity of coffee respondents drank was five cups per day.

Reference
Baltimore Jewish Life | Drinking Coffee, Even 25 Cups A …. https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=118967