Lycopene is the signature carotenoid of the tomato. Carotenoids are a family of phytochemicals, abundantly present in green and yellow and orange vegetables and fruits. The levels of carotenoids in your skin are a good indicator of your overall health. In a study of over 13,000 American adults, low blood levels of carotenoids were found to be a predictor of earlier death. Lower total carotenoids in the blood were all linked to increased risk of death. Of all the carotenoids, very low blood lycopene was the strongest predictor of mortality.
Category Archives: Eating Smart for a Healthy Heart
To Prevent Heart Disease, Follow a Mediterranean Lifestyle
Southern Europeans are among the healthiest and longest living humans on the planet, according to studies on quality of life and longevity in different parts of the world. Considering the economic crisis that has taken hold of the region over the past few years, this seems almost a paradox. Experts have long suspected that good eating habits as well as a slower-paced lifestyle are largely responsible for these advantages.
Reducing Salt Intake Even by Small Amounts Could Save Thousands of Lives Every Year, Experts Say
Less salt in our food supply could save at least half a million Americans from dying prematurely over the next ten years, according to separate studies conducted at three universities, two American and one Canadian. If the average daily salt intake were to drop to 1,500 milligrams, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the number of lives saved could more than double. Americans currently consume on average 3,600 milligrams of salt daily, mostly in form of sodium, widely used as an ingredient in processed foods. Sodium is considered a significant contributor to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke, all leading causes of death in the U.S. today.
Heart Disease, the Silent Killer of Women
February is “Heart Health Awareness Month.” Many Americans wear red to celebrate the occasion and to help increase awareness of the danger of heart disease, especially for women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, six times more than breast cancer. Among women who experience a heart attack, 42 percent die within one year.
Heart Health Awareness Has a Long Way to Go
February is “Heart Health Awareness Month.” The American Heart Association (AHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations want to remind the public to pay more attention to the issue of heart health – and for good reason. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, ahead of cancer and respiratory diseases. Well over half a million Americans die every year from heart problems, according to data collected by the CDC. Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, sleep disorders as well as smoking and alcohol/drug abuse are among the contributing factors.
Go Red for Women!
February is “Heart Health Month,” meaning this month is ablaze with the color red. The purpose of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” movement is to call attention to the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women and men. Here is how to take care of your heart by tapping into the heart-healthy power of “eating red.”