Several recent studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are tied to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. With statistics showing that three out of four Americans are not getting enough vitamin D in their diet, many people can benefit from taking this issue seriously.
One survey measured vitamin D levels from the same patients for up to 12 years. Compared to everyone in the study, the quarter with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 40% higher risk of dying from heart attacks, strokes, and other heart-related events.
The survey also delivered an additional variable that darker skinned people produce less vitamin D from sunlight than those with lighter skin tones; revealing that African-Americans are more likely than whites to die from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
In another recent study, conducted in order to examine the racial disparity in cardiovascular death, researchers analyzed data from a national health and nutrition survey that included more than 15,000 people; and found that African-Americans were 38% more likely to die from these heart-related events than non-Hispanic whites due to their lower vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D can be naturally produced by the human body with 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight exposure a few times a week; or it can be found in the following foods: butter, cheese, fortified milk and cereal, and margarine. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that adults under 50 years old get 400 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day and that adults over the age of 50 get 800 to 1,000 IU. Darker skinned people may need even more.
For more information on heart healthy benefits of vitamin D, visit http://northshore.org
Many adults in America suffer from high cholesterol, which is strongly associated with heart disease, and can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Some cholesterol is necessary because it is an important precursor to body’s production of Vitamin D. Fortunately, The American Heart Association says that consuming 25 to 50 grams of soy per day can help lower cholesterol.
Doctors say that consuming soy products such as tofu, soy butter, soy nuts, and soy milk could be beneficial in reducing low-density lipoproteins, or “bad cholesterol”. Here are some additional ways to sneak soy into your everyday diet. Green soybeans called edamame are found in the frozen food section can be heated in the microwave and enjoyed with a dash of salt. Plain or baked tofu can be found in a variety of flavors like spicy or sesame. Soymilk is usually available in plain, vanilla, and chocolate and can be consumed plain, or added it to cereal, oatmeal, shakes, and smoothies.
Enjoy soy carefully, however, if you completely eliminate regular milk products from your diet your body may develop lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest and absorb the sugar in milk, called lactose. Developmental lactose intolerance, the most common form of lactose intolerance, is caused by a decrease in the amount of lactose consumed in the body. Try adding soy into your diet while still consuming regular milk, yogurt, and cheese in order for your body to obtain soy’s benefits, while maintaining its ability to digest lactose.
For more information and some great heart healthy recipes, go to NorthShore.org.
Research is showing links between people who consume high fructose corn syrup and high blood pressure. According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, Dr. Diana Jalal, of the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, and colleagues studied 4,528 adults without a history of high blood pressure. They examined their fructose intake and found that those who consumed more than 74 grams of fructose per day — that’s the equivalent of the amount in 2.5 sweetened soft drinks — boosted their risk of high blood pressure by 28 percent to 87 percent, depending on the level of hypertension.
WebMD writes that while previous researchers have linked drinking sugary soft drinks and high blood pressure, this is one of the first studies to look at fructose consumption from the total diet and associate it with higher blood pressure.
For the full report, visit NorthShore University HealthSystem’s news section.
As previously researched, PVD is the most common disease of the arteries and affects millions of Americans. NorthShore University HealthySystem held a PVD online live chat and discussed some of the questions about PVD.
Read more
Below is more information on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Also, be sure to sign up for NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Live chat on PVD.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD), includes all diseases caused by the obstruction of large arteries in the arms and legs. While PVD is a very serious disease, it is a disease that is not regularly discussed, thus leaving people uninformed about its dangerous nature. Fortunately, NorthShore University HealthSystem has published a page addressing the major issues and the common questions associated with PVD. Their major topics of discussion include: pinpointing symptoms, offering possible treatments and identifying who is at risk. Read more
