Cured meats linked to exacerbated respiratory illness symptoms: study

AFP Relax

Eating too much cured meats like salami, chorizo and bacon can worsen symptoms of respiratory diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis and lead to a trip to the hospital, says a new study.

Published in the European Respiratory Journal last week, a team of Spanish researchers say they've found a link between the consumption of cured meats and the increased number of hospital admissions among people suffering from chronic pulmonary disease (COPD).

The umbrella term is used for a number of respiratory illnesses caused by inflammation in the lungs.

For their study, researchers worked with 274 COPD patients from their first hospital admission and monitored them for the next two years. Participants also provided information on their cured meat consumption.

Their conclusion? People who eat large quantities of cured meats -- identified as more than a slice of ham or equivalent a day -- were more likely to experience exacerbated symptoms and be admitted to hospital.

Researchers believe the problem lies in the nitrites which act as preservatives and anti-bacterial agents in the meats -- substances which have also been shown to cause a reaction and damage tissue in the lungs.

While previous research has shown that increased consumption of cured meats like hot dogs and salami can lead to an increased risk of developing COPD, the Spanish researchers say theirs is the first to show that eating processed meats can also inflame and worsen symptoms.

Processed and cured red meats, which are high in sodium and nitrites, have also been linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer.

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http://ph.news.yahoo.com/cured-meats-linked-exacerbated-respiratory-illness-symptoms-study-143050895.html

Red meat boosts risk of dying young: study

 

WASHINGTON: Eating a portion of processed red meat daily can boost a person's risk of dying young by up to 20 per cent, said a long-running US study of more than 120,000 people released on Monday.

While the research by Harvard University experts offers more evidence that eating red meat increases the risk of heart disease and cancer, it also counsels that substituting fish and poultry may lower early death risk.

"This study provides clear evidence that regular consumption of red meat, especially processed meat, contributes substantially to premature death," said Frank Hu, senior author of the study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers gleaned their data from a study of 37,698 men who were followed for 22 years and 83,644 women who were tracked for 28 years.

Subjects answered surveys about their eating habits every four years.

Those who ate a card-deck-sized serving of unprocessed red meat each day on average saw a 13 per cent higher risk of dying than those who did not eat red meat as frequently.

And if the red meat was processed, like in a hot dog or two slices of bacon, that risk jumped to 20 per cent.

However, substituting nuts for red meat lowered total mortality risk by 19 per cent, while poultry or whole grains lowered the risk 14 per cent and fish did so by seven per cent.

The authors said between seven and nine per cent of all deaths in the study "could be prevented if all the participants consumed fewer than 0.5 servings per day of total red meat."

Processed red meat has been shown to contain ingredients such as saturated fat, sodium, nitrites and some carcinogens that are linked to many chronic ailments including heart disease and cancer.

"More than 75 per cent of the $2.6 trillion in annual US health care costs are from chronic disease," said an accompanying commentary by Dean Ornish, a physician and dietary expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Eating less red meat is likely to reduce morbidity from these illnesses, thereby reducing health care costs."

A separate study, also led by Hu but published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal, found that men who drank sugar-sweetened beverages daily faced a 20 per cent higher risk of heart disease than men who did not.

The study tracked more than 42,000 men, most of them Caucasian, over 22 years and found higher heart risks, as higher levels of inflammation and harmful lipids known as triglycerides in daily sweet-drinkers.

The effects were not seen in men who drank as many as two sugar-sweetened beverages per week.

According to Hu, the research "provides strong justification for reducing sugary beverage consumption among patients, and more importantly, in the general population."

Heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States and top risk factors include obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, diabetes and poor eating habits.

-AFP/ac


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/1188612/1/.html

10 Best Foods for Your Heart

10 Best Foods for Your Heart

By Alana Brager, Life2PointOh.com 

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States? Scary! Luckily, we have tasty ways you can keep that heart of yours pumping longer!

1. Oatmeal contains a certain element of fiber called beta-glucan, which has been shown to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. It also contains a special antioxidant called avenanthramides, which prevents free radicals from attacking good cholesterol and helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Oatmeal also helps keep your arteries clear and contains calcium, omega-3's and fiber, which have been proven to stabilize blood sugar. Just skip the instant oats, since they're loaded with hidden sugars and sodium!

2. Salmon is the premiere source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that the human body cannot produce on its own. Omega-3's are known to minimize symptoms of inflammatory diseases and reduce blood pressure. Salmon is very high in protein, low in cholesterol and also contains astaxanthin, a very powerful antioxidant that's converted to vitamin A in the body.

3. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help lower bad cholesterol. They're high in potassium, which can help ward off high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. They also contain a heart healthy fat that contains lycopene, a potential cancer-fighting agent.

4. Olive Oil oil is full of monounsaturated fats, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and help normalize blood clotting. The antioxidants found in olive oil can also help protect against some cancers while boosting your HDL (good) cholesterol.

5. Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, are full of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, a fat that's mostly found in plant based foods and oils. They are also full of protein and omega-3's, which are great for the heart. About a handful a day is enough to do the trick.

Heart Healthy Month may be coming to a close, but it’s vital that you follow healthy practices year-round to prevent heart disease. Here’s Part 2 of our list of foods that make your heart happy! 

6. Berries are full of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been known to lower the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that eating a moderate amount of berries may increase HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. They’re also rich in disease fighting phytochemicals that can help prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

7. Legumes, or beans, are incredibly low in fat and contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. Beans are a high plant based protein that also have fiber, iron, folic acid and the heart healthy omega-3’s. Red and black beans also contain eight types of flavanoids, which reduces the risk of a stroke.

8. Spinach is an antioxidant rich super food that’s high in vitamins A, C and K, all of which are good for your bones and heart. It has been shown to lower the risk of some cancers while also being incredibly rich in fiber and folate, a water soluble B vitamin that’s important for building and maintaining healthy cells.

9. Soy is a nutrient dense, heart healthy food. It contains B-vitamins, unsaturated fats, calcium, zinc and fiber. It’s cholesterol free and a healthier, leaner protein, compared to meat. Soy is a complete protein, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids that the body cannot produce. Studies have shown that soy protein could lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, which can help prevent heart disease.

10.  Tomatoes are packed with vitamins and lycopene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. When lycopene is combined with other antioxidants found in tomatoes, such as beta-carotene or vitamin c, the body works to neutralize free radicals that could damage cells. Studies have shown that tomato products prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

http://life2pointoh.com/2012/02/heart-healthy-foods/