If all the mixed messages about soy products have you confused, you're not alone. Recent studies have certainly found mixed evidence on the benefits. I've been hearing mostly about soy's effect on heart disease and breast cancer, so here's the latest research on the topic. Heart Disease A recent comprehensive update of soy research by the American Heart Association's nutrition committee found Read more

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering questions about cardiovascular health for women. Dear DrSugar, I hear stats about heart health all the time, but don't know what I should be doing to stay on the right track. What should women in their 20s and 30s do to protect their hearts? Thanks! — Hoping to stay heart-healthy Heart disease has historically been viewed as a man's disease, Read more

Being that February is heart health month, it's a good time to review how to keep your ticker ticking properly. Ditching artery-clogging meat and dairy products, which increase risk for heart disease, sounds like a step in the right direction, but unfortunately going vegan like Alicia Silverstone doesn't automatically put you on the safe list. According to research, vegans may not be getting Read more

Put that lollipop, cupcake, or chocolate-covered whatever down! I have some bad news for those of you born with a major sweet tooth. Aside from the fact that eating too much sugar leads to bigger sized jeans and more trips to the dentist, here's another con to add to the list associated with eating sugar — an increased risk of heart disease. A recent study found that those who ate an average of Read more

With American Heart Month coming to an end, I'd like to urge you to get your blood pressure checked. According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, hypertension — aka high blood pressure — is becoming a neglected disease. When the doctor slips the Velcro cuff on and off of our arm, it's easy to zone out, but consider this: one in three American adults has hypertension and one in Read more

I was shocked when I first heard that heart disease is the leading cause of death amongst women. It's not something many people talk about, at least not in the same way as breast cancer or obesity. Since I associate heart attacks more with men, I wasn't too surprised to hear that a lot of other women are misinformed too. A study found that almost half of 2,300 women surveyed wouldn't call 911 if Read more

I was vegan for a short time in college, and was shocked when I had my cholesterol tested and found it was high. I wasn't even eating cholesterol! The thing is, your liver makes cholesterol and it's actually essential for your body to function normally. Cholesterol is also found in food and appropriately called dietary cholesterol. Since your body produces enough, you don't need to worry about Read more