Unseen Threat

How environmental contaminants affect heart health From asthma to cancer risk, environmental contaminants affect human health in major ways. And research suggests that pollution also poses a significant threat to heart health specifically, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Pollution (including noise pollution), chemical exposure, and the weather all affect the heart in different ways. “The […]
Good News for Those with Type 2 Diabetes: Healthy Lifestyle Matters

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder of insulin resistance — a reduced sensitivity to the action of insulin — which leads to high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. Approximately 12% of American adults have type 2 diabetes, and more than one-third of Americans have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. This is a major […]
The Good Egg?

The research on eggs over the years has been confusing, to say the least. One year, they’re “bad” because they contribute to dietary cholesterol, which has been associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But then, the next year they’re back on the sunny side of the plate when researchers determine the link between […]
Is It Time to Stop Skimming over Full-Fat Dairy?

Americans consume about 150 pounds of milk and eat nearly 40 pounds of cheese and 20 pounds of ice cream per person per year, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. Yogurt and butter intakes are lower, but growing. But should the dairy we’re consuming be low-fat or full-fat? That debate has become increasingly […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: For Some, Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Can Reduce Risk of Heart Attack

Q: In general, I eat a well-balanced diet and consider myself to be healthy. Should I be taking a daily omega-3 supplement? A: Recent studies do suggest that some people can reduce their risk of heart attack and heart-related death by taking a marine omega-3 fatty acid supplement. However, the study results do not provide […]
Why (and How) to Cut Saturated Fats From Your Diet

The 411 on limiting saturated fats. Chances are, nothing good comes to mind when you hear those words. That’s because research has proven again and again that diets high in saturated fats increase LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in blood, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association began recommending in 1961 that we […]
Heart disease is a woman’s disease

Environmental Nutrition In the U.S., 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease — almost half a million deaths each year — yet the perception that heart disease is primarily a man’s disease persists. An American Heart Association survey found that fewer than one-half of American women are aware that heart disease is their […]
An Aspirin a Day May Keep Heart Attacks and Strokes Away

Aspirin is like the Swiss army knife of medications—it can relieve pain, fever and inflammation and can also help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Earlier this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that adults aged 50 to 59 who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (but not prone to bleeding) take a […]
Sugar isn’t sweet for your heart

Environmental Nutrition: By Judy Thalheimer, R.D., L.D.N., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter People who consume more added sugars have a higher risk of death from heart disease. Researchers used to think it was the calories in sugary foods that were the problem: sugar made us fat, and obesity raised our risk of heart disease. But a 2014 […]