Topic: heart health

Yikes! How Energy Drinks Could Be Causing Heart Disease

Carnitine, found naturally in red meat and often added to energy drinks, was found to interact badly with gut bacteria and produce artery-hardening compound TMAO. More »

Mediterranean Diet Decoded: What’s On The Menu For Mediterranean Dieters

Because no one “created” the Mediterranean diet, it doesn’t contain the kind of strict rules and exclusions that many diet plans do. So what does one on a Mediterranean diet actually eat? Here’s a look at the daily diet regiment used in a new Spanish study on the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits. More »

5 Heart Health Facts You Probably Haven’t Heart Yet, In Honor Of Heart Health Month

February is American Heart Health Month, so you’re probably about to hear a lot of advice like “eat more vegetables” and “get more exercise.” But you know this, right? We all do. So to help you learn something new (and get you on the best path to lower your risk of heart disease), we compiled some of the best new research and findings on cardiovascular health from the past year. More »

Go Red For Women Day: Good & Bad In Heart Disease Awareness Campaign

Tomorrow, Feb. 1, is Go Red For Women Day, the American Heart Association’s helpful but flawed public health campaign to raise awareness about women and heart disease. More »

Why Women Should Eat More Berries (If You Want To Prevent A Heart Attack)

We all know that berries can pack a potent punch of vitamin C, fiber and cancer-fighting antioxidants. But according to a new study, there’s another reason that women, in particular, should down these colorful fruits if we want to prevent heart attacks (which, of course, we do). More »

Hamburgers Healthier When You Add Avocado

You’re at a burger joint, trying to decide whether to pay the extra 75 cents it costs to add avocado. Do you do it? You should! Avocado benefits heart health & vascular function, and a new study found that adding fresh Hass avocado to burgers can reduce inflammation and narrowing of blood vessels after the meal. More »

Why Only 3% Of Americans Have Healthy Hearts

This is pretty shocking…according to a new study, just 3% of Americans have optimal heart health. Even if you think you’re doing everything right, check out the list of nine heart-healthy items and see where you rank–and why so many of us fall into the other 97%. More »

Another Reason Why Running Is Awesome: Study Says It Can Reverse Heart Damage

The New York City Marathon was (rightfully) cancelled, but there’s other news in the running world: researchers found that running or other vigorous exercise can reverse heart damage caused by heart attacks. More »

Yes, Even Fit People Can Be ‘Scared To Death’ (It’s Called Stress Cardiomyopathy)

Did you know that it’s actually possible to be “scared to death?” In the past few years, doctors have learned much more about the condition of stress cardiomyopathy, which occurs when otherwise healthy people suffer a sudden stressful incident, a traumatic experience or a sudden fright. Something to keep in mind this Halloween? More »

What We're Reading:

Alex Trebek Had A Mild Heart Attack–What Does That Even Mean?

Over the weekend, news broke that Alex Trebek, the slightly-awkward, sometimes mustachioed long-time host of “Jeopardy!” suffered what is being called a “mild heart attack.” Which lead me (and probably a few other people in America, as heart disease remains our number one killer) to ask, in the form of a question: what is a “mild” heart attack? Aren’t all heart attacks pretty serious? More »

7 Heart Healthy Habits (Which Only 1.2% Of Americans Follow)

In the past few decades, we’ve learned a lot about how habits like smoking and poor diet can lead to problems like heart disease, heart attack and stroke. But less than 2% of Americans meet the 7 criteria recommended for avoiding these cardiovascular problems, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. More »

Plant Sterols: The Next Heart Healthy Food Fad

Plant sterols are a type of heart-healthy phytochemical thought to lower bad cholesterol when consumed regularly. They’re in a group of micronutrients with sulfur compounds and flavonoids (another nutrition buzzword you’ve probably heard) that may be important in reducing the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. According to the American Heart Association, “substantial evidence” exists that these micronutrients can lower heart disease risk. In honor of February being American Heart Month, I interviewed Ramona Cappello, CEO and founder of Corazonas Foods, which makes snacks like oatmeal squares, tortilla chips and potato chips that are fortified with plant sterols. More »

Diet Coke, #ShowYourHeart By Owning Your Link To Heart Attacks

Fashion Week in New York City just wouldn’t be the same without its staples: big designers, scary-skinny 17-year-olds, and copious cans and cups brimming with Diet Coke. So it makes sense that the company who has made its millions as a zero-calorie meal replacement for hoards of disordered eaters is teaming up, yet again, with America’s biggest week in style. What makes less sense, though, is Diet Coke’s joint project with The Heart Truth® , which combat’s America’s biggest killer: heart disease. Because, you know, Diet Coke has been linked to heart attacks. More »

Back to Fitness: Cycle Harder, Not Longer

Bike rides don’t have to be punishing to be good for you, but more intense cycling will maximize health and weight-loss benefits. As with walking, it’s the intensity of the ride that matters more than how long you ride for or how far you go. More »

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