An analysis of data from the Brisighella Heart Study has identified an association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and increased arterial stiffness. Past research has linked hardening of the arteries with an elevated risk for poor cardiovascular outcomes. Nutrients, November 2019

Past research has shown that type 2 diabetics with high blood pressure have an elevated risk for heart disease. A new study that involved 200 hypertensive type 2 diabetics revealed that those who consumed a high-fiber diet for six months experienced improvements with respect to their cholesterol and blood lipid levels, systolic blood pressure, and…

The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and whole grains, while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats, and refined sugars. An analysis of data concerning 3,135 older women found that those who most closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet were less likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss during the…

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption, and it can increase the risk for cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Among a group of 789 adults in their late 50s, researchers observed that those with a higher…

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is common among seniors and is linked to a number of negative health outcomes. In a study that looked at the dietary intake of 128 older adults, researchers identified an association between higher added-sugar intake and elevated blood pressure readings. Nutrients, September 2019

The ketogenic diet triggers ketosis, which is a metabolic process in which the body breaks down fats and proteins and transforms them into energy for the body. This particular diet has been documented to be an effective treatment for school-aged kids and adults with epilepsy, but what about younger children? In a recent study involving…

Over the course of a twelve-year study involving 5,432 adults, researchers observed that participants who ate nuts at least twice a week had a 17% reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Study author Dr. Noushin Mohammadifard explains, “Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat… They also have protein,…

Rats fed a diet that included pumpkin pulp and seeds for eight weeks had blood pressure 20% lower than rats on a control diet. Researcher Dr. Soweto Thomas notes, “With the animal model we can never really fully say that what we see is exactly what is going to happen in a human trial… But…

According to a new study involving 34 seniors, participants who drank 16oz of tart cherry juice daily for twelve weeks experienced improvements related to both cognitive function and subjective memory. Lead author Dr. Sheau Ching Chai writes, “The potential beneficial effects of tart cherries may be related to the bioactive compounds they possess, which include…

The results of a twenty-year study involving nearly 10,000 Chinese adults suggest that having a resting blood glucose reading that is either too high (≥126 mg/dl) or too low (<60 mg/dl) is associated with double the risk for cardiovascular disease-related mortality. Chronic Diseases & Translational Medicine, June 2019