In honor of International Omega-3 Awareness Day, the third day of the third month of the year, it’s time to set the record straight about the wonder nutrient Omega-3s. The first research finding correlation between lower risk of heart disease and omega-3 fatty acids goes back to the 1970s when two Danish scientists discovered that Eskimos in Greenland had an extremely low rate of heart attacks—about one-tenth the U.S. rate—despite eating a diet high in fish, seal, and whale fat.  Now 40 years later, researchers still agree that omega-3s play a key role in shrinking risk of coronary diseases.

However, there is a critical disclaimer to that statement. All omega-3s are not the same; only fatty acids from fish known as DHA and EPA are known to deliver a large heart benefit. The ALA acids found in plants such as flaxseed, walnuts, and canola oil have a shorter carbon chain that has to be converted to DHA and EPA by your body; and human bodies are not efficient at turning plant omega-3s into the fish kind.

Additional claims about omega-3s should be taken with a grain of salt. Studies have suggested that the EPA and DHA might help battle dementia, ADHD, and cancer. But there’s a problem. The research mostly looked at the improvement rates of these conditions among people who ate a lot of fish. The type of person who goes out of their way to eat fish several times per week is most likely doing other things to take care of their health; like eat less red meat and exercise more. This alone does not prove that omega-3s are responsible, but it could be the combination of fish consumption along with regular exercise.

Click here for more information on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Check out this list for some of the best heart healthy foods filled with fiber, protein, antioxidants and more!

Fresh Herbs: these flavor power-houses can make other foods even better for you because they can replace salt, fat, and cholesterol.

Black Beans: are filled with heart healthy nutrients such as folate, antioxidants, magnesium for lowering blood pressure, and fiber which helps control cholesterol and blood sugar

Red Wine: for those that consume alcohol, red wine may be the best choice; two antioxidants found in red wine can help raise levels of good cholesterol.

Salmon: one of the top best foods for heart health, salmon is rich in omega-3s which help lower the risk of sudden cardiac death.  Tuna is another great option that is rich in omega-3s; albacore tuna contains the most out of other tuna varieties.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: this oil, made from the first press of olives, is rich in heart healthy antioxidants that can help lower cholesterol.  Add it to just about anything for a boost of flavor and help your heart at the same time!

Almonds: are full of vitamin E, fiber, and heart healthy fats that can help lower bad cholesterol.  Just add a handful of slivered almost to vegetables, chicken, yogurt, and even desserts!

Soy Protein: edamame and tofu are both soy protein products that contain cholesterol lowering fiber that help you avoid a load of artery clogging saturated fat.

Oatmeal: oats in different forms can help boost your heart health by lowering levels of bad cholesterol.  Plus, a warm bowl of oatmeal will fill you up for hours helping you curb snack cravings.

• Tasty Tip: swap oats for one-third of the flour in pancakes muffins and baked goods for a texturally unique breakfast or snack!

For more heart healthy tips, participate in one of these heart month online chats.



Saturated fats found mainly in meat and dairy products have garnered a bad reputation in the health industry for quite some time. A new analysis of published studies finds no clear connection between people’s intake of saturated fat and their risk of developing heart disease.

Research has previously shown that saturated fat can raise blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and this is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Because of this relationship, experts have generally advised people to limit their intake of fatty meat, butter, and full-fat dairy.

In the new analysis, which combined the results of 21 previous studies, researchers found no clear evidence that higher saturated fat intakes led to higher risks of hear disease or stroke. These findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may sound like good news for steak and dairy lovers, but a past American Heart Association president cautioned against “over interpreting” the results. These new analyses are not going to change recommendations to keep saturated fat intake in check.

Perhaps the best take-away from the new interpretations is heart health is moving away from focusing on single nutrients and more toward “dietary patterns.” For example, a “Mediterranean” diet described as one rich in whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats from vegetable oil, may help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Opposed to a so-called “Western” diet high in red and processed meats, saturated fats, and sweets would not be good in promoting heart health.

Click here for more Fat Facts.

Chocolate is commonly known today as a rich and tasty treat and is often given as a gift on Valentine’s Day. The main ingredient cocoa, also known as the cacao bean, comes from the cacao tree is native to the Americas. It was originally found in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and the Amazon basin of South America.

Cultures throughout history have valued the cacao been for many reasons including: using it as a form of currency and recognizing the consumption of chocolate to be good for strength, health, faith, and passion. The St. Valentine’s Day tradition of sending chocolate was started because certain properties of chocolate were said to seduce your lover’s heart, but now science is reporting that chocolate may actually protect their heart!

Researchers today have discovered that chocolate contains oleic acid and mono-unsaturated fat, which is also found naturally in olive oil and is believed to raise good cholesterol levels. Chocolate also contains protein, riboflavin (also known as vitamin B2 which helps prevent skin lesions and increases red blood cell production), calcium, and iron.

In addition, chocolate has been found to contain flavanoids which are also found in fruits, vegetables, red wine, and tea; which all help boost the human immune system and prevent illness. Chocolate also contains anti-oxidants which help prevent or postpone damage to the body.

So this Valentine’s Day help your heart and don’t hesitant for grabbing another piece of chocolate!

Click here for more information on how chocolate may be good for the heart.

Pain in your legs can be caused by minor leg problems such as sore muscles. This type of pain commonly occurs during sports or recreational activities, and physical work-related projects. Leg problems can be minor or serious and can include symptoms such as: pain, swelling, cramps, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in temperature or color.

Older adults have an increased risk for leg problems because they lose muscle mass as they age. Children can always have leg problems for the same reasons as adults or for other reasons like overactivity or the rapid growth of bone and muscle.

More serious pain in your legs could be a problem with blood vessels, and a sign of a cardiovascular disease. Some of these include peripheral arterial disease, inflammation of a vein (phlebitis), or a blood clot (thrombophlebitis). A blood clot near the surface of the skin may cause only minor problems, while a clot in a deep vein may be more serious.

There are many other problems that cause leg pain, see WebMD’s article on leg pain not caused by injury.

To chat with a doctor about leg pain, sign up for NorthShore HealthSystem’s live chat on February 11, 2010 at 12 Noon (CT).

Does your heart race for no apparent reason at all? It could be a sign of Supraventricular Tachycardia, also known as SVT; which is when your heart occasionally beats very fast for a reason other than exercise, stress, or high fever

When experiencing SVT the heart’s electrical system doesn’t work right, causing the heart to beat very fast. A normal heart beats around 60-100 times per minute, but during an SVT episode, the heart can beat anywhere from 100-300 times per minute.

Most episodes of SVT are caused by faulty electrical connections in the heart, but what causes the poor connections is unclear. SVT can also be caused by high levels of the heart medicine Digoxin, or the lung medicine Theophylline. Also, some types of SVT may be hereditary, as in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, or be caused by a lung problem like pneumonia.

To treat sudden episodes of SVT a doctor may prescribe a medicine to take when an episode occurs, or show you some techniques to try and slow your heart rate on your own like coughing, gagging, or putting your face in ice-cold water. These techniques are known as vagal maneuvers.

To ask questions to a doctor directly, request a reminder for NorthShore HealthSystem’s online chat about SVT on February 25, 2010 at 11AM (CST).

Or for more information visit, WebMD.com