Heart-healthy diet

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Dietary Changes
• Lifestyle Changes
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights General Dietary Guidelines

• In 2006, the American Heart Association (AHA) revised its dietary and lifestyle recommendations. The new guidelines specifically recommend limiting daily saturated fat intake to less than 7% and trans fats to less than 1% of total daily calories.
• The AHA recommends consuming plenty of deep-colored vegetables and fruits, eating oily fish at least twice a week, and including whole grains in your daily diet.

Fish

• Women with existing heart disease may consider taking fish oil supplements, suggests 2007 AHA guidelines. Women should include a variety of low-mercury fish in their diet. - 3 Comments
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Diabetes diet

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• General Dietary Guidelines...
• Major Food Components
• Weight Control for Type 2 D...
• Heart-Healthy Diets
• Diabetic Exchange Lists
• Exercise
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights Lifestyle Changes Essential for People at Risk for Diabetes Lifestyle interventions that include weight loss, dietary changes, and increased physical activity can definitely help prevent or delay the progression to diabetes among at-risk people, suggest several recent studies. Weight loss through diet and exercise is especially important for overweight people with pre-diabetes. Grain Fiber Important for Diabetes Prevention Eating whole-grain, fiber-rich, cereal foods may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, indicates a 2007 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. - 5 Comments

Vitamins

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Carotenoids
• Phytochemicals
• Healthy Foods
• Dietary Health Benefits
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights Cancer Growing evidence suggests that vitamins and micronutrients, especially from foods, may play important roles in the prevention or treatment of certain cancers:

• One study found that the risk of prostate cancer risk dropped as consumption of vegetables high in vitamin C, such as broccoli and bell peppers, rose.
• A diet high in cruciferous vegetables has been found to reduce the risk of kidney cancer; low consumption of cruciferous vegetables increases the risk.

On the other hand, high amounts of folic acid (a B vitamin) may be associated with colorectal cancer, and beta-carotene supplements are associated with increased lung cancer risk in smokers and people exposed to asbestos. Macular Degeneration In 2007, the National Eye Institute recommended that people with intermediate or advanced macular degeneration in one eye take a vitamin formula shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration in the other eye by 25%. The formula contains vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc. - 0 Comments

Weight control and diet

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Biological and Medical Caus...
• Cultural and Emotional Caus...
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Weight Loss and Maintenance...
• Weight Management
• Medications
• Other Treatments
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights Cancer and Weight Control:

• Cancer prevention guidelines from the American Cancer Society stress the importance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout life. A healthy weight is even more important than eating specific healthy foods, when it comes to cancer prevention.

Drug Warning:

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to buy a product known as the "Brazilian diet pill." This product is labeled as a dietary supplement, but contains several chemicals found in powerful prescription drugs. - 1 Comment
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Cholesterol

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Cholesterol's Effect on the...
• Cholesterol's Effect on the...
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Lifestyle Changes
• Treatment
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights New Guidelines for Children and Adolescents In 2007, the American Heart Association (AHA) established new guidelines for assessing and treating high cholesterol in children and adolescents. According to the AHA’s scientific statement:

• LDL (“bad") cholesterol goals for children should be 190 mg/dL or less for children without heart disease risk factors and 160 mg/dL or less for children with heart disease risk factors.
• Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, should get their cholesterol levels checked.
• For overweight and obese children with cholesterol imbalances, diet changes and exercise should be tried before drug treatment. For children with cholesterol imbalances who have a family history of cholesterol and heart problems, statins are the best first-line drug therapy.

Herbs and Supplements

• Garlic, whether raw or in supplement form, does not help lower LDL in patients with moderately high LDL levels, according to a 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine Study.
• Policosanol, a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane, has no effect on cholesterol, indicates a 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study.

Diet Plans

• In a 2007 JAMA comparison study of four diet plans (Atkins, Ornish, Zone, and LEARN), the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet was best at raising HDL (“good cholesterol”) levels and lowering triglyceride levels, but did not affect LDL levels. - 0 Comments
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Omega-3 fatty acids

Oct 08, 2008 - Overview

• Overview
• Uses
• Dietary Sources
• Available Forms
• How to Take It
• Precautions
• Possible Interactions
• Supporting Research

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Overview Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. - 0 Comments

Smoking

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Nicotine Addiction
• Health Risks
• Secondhand Smoke
• Smoking Bans
• Quitting Smoking
• Symptoms of Withdrawal
• Failure to Quit
• Lifestyle Changes
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights Smoking and Your Health

• Smoking may worsen knee osteoarthritis in men. A study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease found that male smokers have more pain and cartilage loss than men who do not smoke. Previous studies have not found such a link.
• Smoking greatly increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration. - 0 Comments
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Alzheimer's disease

Oct 08, 2008 - In This Report

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Prevention
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Medications
• Stages
• Resources
• References

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M Highlights Alzheimer’s Disease Toll Increasing More than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number could increase to 16 million by mid-century, according to a 2007 report from the Alzheimer’s Association. New Drug Indication In 2006, the FDA expanded the use of donepezil (Aricept) to include treatment of people with severe dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Donepezil was previously approved only for people with mild-to-moderate dementia. - 1 Comment