Skipping breakfast increases Heart disease risk

Skipping breakfast increases the risk of potentially deadly heart disease, says a new research. It shows that regularly skipping breakfast leads to obesity, larger fat stores around the stomach and higher cholesterol levels – all major risk factors for heart disease, reports the Daily Mail.

It also triggers higher insulin levels in the blood, a warning sign that diabetes could soon set in. The study showed the greatest risks are among adults who regularly went without breakfast when they were children and carried on the habit when they grew up.

The results show that, by the time they are in their late twenties, those who rarely have breakfast as children or adults are already on the way to developing heart disease. Scientists think one reason is they are more likely to snack on sugary foods and less likely to exercise while having a lower intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

It can also leave people less likely to eat at typical mealtimes, said researchers at the University of Tasmania, who tracked 2,184 volunteers over 20 years. Leading dietician Catherine Collins said missing breakfast was a ''marker'' for an unhealthy or chaotic lifestyle. The result has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Health Benefits of Pears

• The anti-oxidant nutrients in pears are critical in building up your immune system.
• Pear is good for diabetics because its sweetness is supplied in large part by levulose, fruit sugar that is more easily tolerated by diabetics.
• ears high vitamin C and copper content act as good anti-oxidants that protect cells from damages by free radicals.
• Pear is good in relieving fever because of its cooling effect. Best way to bring a fever down quickly is by drinking a big glass of pear juice.
• Pear can help prevent Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
• It can help against Acidosis (deficiency in alkalinity of the blood)
• It helps prevent allergies and other skin problems.
• It can help prevent colitis (inflammation of the colon).
• Pear is high in vitamin B-complex and potassium, which is beneficial for the heart and for blood pressure
• Pears are excellent source of pectin (an important aid in digestion and cleansing the body of toxins and other waste) so they help prevent and treat constipation.
• Pears are excellent source of water-soluble fiber.Drinking pear juice regularly helps regulate bowel movements.
• Boil two Chinese pear juice with some raw honey and drink warm. This is extremely healing for the throat and the vocal cord.

Healthy eating habits

• Vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and nuts all should be part of a balanced diet.
• See that you include quality protein from vegetable sources, especially if you are vegetarian.
• Raw foods should be part of your daily diet as they are completely nutritious in the uncooked state.
• Foodstuffs that are high in sulphur, like garlic, onions, eggs and asparagus will help to keep the skin smooth and youthful.
• Yellow and orange vegetables (especially carrots) are high in beta carotene, an anti oxidant.
• If you are suffering from excessive dry skin, consume plenty of carrots, cantaloupes and apricots as these are rich in vitamins A and C which contribute to a glowing skin.
• Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is found in foods like milk cheese, natural yogurt, green leafy veggies, yeast and wheat germ. Vitamin B5 is essential for the synthesis of fats and oils used by the skin.
• Eight glasses of water is a must to keep your skin hydrated and fresh-looking.
• See that you get your quota of eight hours of sleep as the skin cells undergo repair activity during your period of rest.
• Exercise regularly. It will boost circulation and encourage free flow of blood.

Watermelon effectively lowers Blood Pressure

Watermelon, which is rich in nutrients, has been found to lower pre-hypertension, a precursor to cardio diseases.

Assistant professor Arturo Figueroa and Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi of the Florida State University carried out the study on the health benefits of watermelon.

They found that extracts of watermelon, given daily for six weeks, lowered blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive men and women aged between 51 and 57 years, reports the American Journal of Hypertension.

`Watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the formation of nitric oxide essential to regulate blood pressure,` Figueroa said.

Consuming L-arginine as a dietary supplement isn`t an option as it can cause nausea, gastrointestinal tract discomfort, and diarrhoea, Figueroa said.

Consuming watermelon caused no such problems, study participants reported. Watermelon is also rich in vitamin A, B6, and C, apart from fibre, potassium and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.

Health Tip: Cut down the intake of Sodium

Many foods and recipes comprise lots of salt (sodium), which can raise your blood pressure. The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggest how to cut down on sodium in your diet:

• Buy vegetables that are fresh, canned or frozen without any added salt.
• Stick to fresh meat, fish and poultry instead of processed or canned products.
• Season foods with salt-free seasonings, spices and herbs. Avoid instant pastas, rice and other foods with prepackaged seasonings.
• If you do eat canned foods, rinse the contents to wash off some of the sodium.
• Avoid prepared foods such as frozen pizzas or entrees.
• Buy lower-sodium varieties of your favorite foods.

Red onion helps prevent Heart Disease

Scientists have stated that the humble red onion could help prevent heart disease.

They have discovered that the vegetable - commonly used in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine - helps remove bad cholesterol from the body, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.

At the same time red onions retain the body's good cholesterol, which help protect against heart disease.

Scientists in Hong Kong fed crushed-up red onions to hamsters, which had all been put on a high-cholesterol diet.

They found that after eight weeks levels of bad cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein (LDL), had dropped by an average of 20 per cent.

"This results support the claim that the regular consumption of onion reduces the risk of coronary heart disease," the Daily Mail quoted Zhen Yu Chen, who was in charge of the research carried out at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as saying.

Walnuts aid to fight stress, lower BP

A new study says that Walnuts can help you to fight stress and reduce blood pressure.

"We wanted to find out if omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources would blunt cardiovascular responses to stress," said Professor Sheila West from the Penn State University in the US.

The researchers found that including walnuts and walnut oil in the diet lowered both resting blood pressure and blood pressure responses to stress in the laboratory.

"This is important because we can't avoid all of the stresses in our daily lives. This study shows that a dietary change could help our bodies’ better respond to stress," she said. Results also showed that adding flax oil to the walnut diet significantly improved the test of vascular health. It means Walnut could also reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

Walnuts are a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids, particularly alpha linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.

"These results are in agreement with several recent studies showing that walnuts can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure," noted West.