Dairy products don’t raise heart attack risk

LONDON: Cheese and butter eaters worry no more as researchers found that eating dairy products do not raise the risk of heart attack. The nutritionists examined thousands of old-aged people and came to know that even those who ate more than half a kilo of cheese did not put them under increased risk. Things like milk and cheese are very complex substance, explained researcher Stella Aslibekyan from Brown University, Rhode Island, where the study was carried out. The study suggested that nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and potassium present in the dairy products may protect against heart disease for all but those who ate the most of th...

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Common drug combo spikes blood sugar:

WASHINGTON: An anti-depressant and a cholesterol lowering drug, taken together by as many as one million people in the United States, may cause a spike in blood sugar levels, researchers said Wednesday. Paxil and the anti-cholesterol drug Pravachol do not have this effect when taken independently, said researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University and Harvard Medical School. The interaction was uncovered by analyzing voluntary reports of adverse events in a database maintained by the US Food and Drug Administration, and comparing that to electronic medical records held by the three medical institutions. The study used "data-mining techniques to identify patterns of associations in large populations that would...

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Drug may take the edge off bad memories

NEW YORK: Blocking a hormone involved in the body's stress response may change the way people remember negative memories, according to a new study. But it's still unclear exactly how the drug involved works, and if the finding has implications for the treatment of people with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The drug, metyrapone, blocks the stress hormone cortisol and has been used to treat people with diseases related to cortisol production. But cortisol is also involved in storing and retrieving memories, leading researchers to wonder if tinkering with its levels in the body could change how people recall past events. "We know that (cortisol) is important for memory," Marie-France Marin, the study's lead author from...

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Less childhood sleep has fat risk

LONDON: Children who get insufficient sleep at night are more likely to become overweight, according to researchers in New Zealand. A study followed 244 children between the ages of three and seven. It said more sleep was linked to a lower weight, which could have important public health consequences. UK experts said there was "no harm" in drawing attention to the link between reduced sleep and ill health. The children were seen every six months when their weight, height and body fat were measured. Their sleeping habits and physical-activity levels were recorded at ages three, four and five. The researchers found that those children who had less sleep in their earlier years were at greater risk of having a higher Body Mass Index at age seven. This...

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Top 10 Healthy Foods Under $3

Eating well doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. Your health is always a good investment and you don’t have to break the bank. Here is a top-10 list of nutrient-packed foods that both your wallet and body will love! Don't be tricked into purchasing that 2-for-1 sugary snack pack. Instead, stretch your dollar and invest in these heart-healthy items. 1. Yes to Yogurt Cost: about $1 per 6 oz. container For a thicker, creamier texture, choose low-fat, unsweetened Greek yogurt. Loaded with protein, calcium, and natural probiotics, it makes for a tasty snack any time. Enjoy it with fresh or dried fruit, blend it into smoothies, or add a delicious dollop onto a baked sweet potato. Budget-friendly Tip: Buy larger containers for even more savings. 2....

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8 Worst Appetizers in America

#1: Worst SamplerApplebee’s Appetizer Sampler2,590 calories173 g fat (54 g saturated)6,830 mg sodium Here's a rule you can live by: Never order an appetizer sampler. Most restaurants use them to unload cheap fats and oily dips and sauces. Case in point: This abominable appetizer from Applebee's. It combines spinach artichoke dip, mozzarella sticks, bacon quesadillas, and boneless buffalo wings for an absurd amount of fat and roughly three days' worth of sodium. Your better option is to order a platter of wings and split it. Remember: You still have dinner coming. All you need are a few bites to get you started. Eat This Instead!Applebee’s Classic Wings with Southern Barbeque Sauce660 calories35 g fat (9 g saturated)1,070 mg sodium #2: Worst...

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The Worst Late Night Snacks

WORST LATE-NIGHT DINNER Beef Ribeye (8 oz) 565 calories 33.5 g fat (13 g saturated)If you eat dinner late, avoid big, fatty beef cuts. They digest slowly, which means your body has to keep active when you want it to be in shutdown mode. Plus, the heavy dose of protein will pump you full of tyrosine, an amino acid that triggers neurons in your brain to become more active. That's not something you want before you nod off. If you must appease your grumbling, stick with poultry as your main meat. The tryptophan in turkey and chicken induces serotonin, a compound that plays an instrumental role in regulating sleep cycles. And the bun that holds the chicken? That helps, too. An Australian study published in the American Journal of Clinical...

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The Saltiest Foods of 2011

1. WORST PASTA  Ruby Tuesday Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta 3,933 mg sodium 1,086 calories 63 g fatSodium Equivalent: 11 Large Orders of McDonald’s French FriesSomebody needs to tell Ruby Tuesday that to make “Mediterranean” pasta, you don’t need to actually boil the noodles in Mediterranean seawater. Ruby Tuesday makes only one pasta dish with fewer than 2,000 mg of sodium (almost an entire day's worth!), and it has only two pasta dishes with fewer than 3,000 mg. The other four pasta dishes on the menu each have more than 3,000 mg. Eat This Instead! Ruby Tuesday Plain Grilled Petite Sirloin with Steamed Broccoli and White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes 987 mg sodium 460 calories 22 g fat 2. WORST BREAKFAST IHOP Thick-Cut Bone-In...

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5 Worst Drive-Thru Foods

1. WORST SIDE DISH Taco John’s Potato Ole’s (Large) 770 calories 46 g fat (6 g saturated, 1 g trans) 2,200 mg sodiumInterspersed throughout the menu in various permutations, these glorified tater tots pack a serious one-two punch. The combination of saturated fat and sodium puts a heavy strain on your heart, and the 770 calories test the durability of your belt buckle. Not even the indulgent Meat and Potato Burrito touts numbers this abysmal. Instead, opt for a side of Refried Beans. Order it without cheese and you'll cut 60 calories, but you'll hold on to the amazing 11 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein.Eat This Instead! Taco John’s Refried Beans (without cheese) 260 calories 1.5 g fat (0.5 trans) 940 mg sodium 2. WORST DESSERT Dairy...

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The 6 Snacks You Should Eat Every Day

1. BEST YOGURT Fage Total 2% Plain Greek Yogurt (7 oz container) 130 calories 4 g fat (3 g saturated) 17 g protein 8 g sugars Yogurt is teeming with calcium, which promotes muscle growth; and probiotic bacteria, which bolsters your immune system. What's more, study participants who ate yogurt daily lost 81 percent more belly fat than those who didn't, according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity. So why Greek? Because the Greek stuff has more than double the protein of standard American-style yogurt-and far less sugar. Want to make it even healthier? Add a few berries along with some nuts or seeds.Not That! Dannon Fruit on the Bottom Strawberry (6 oz container) 150 calories 1.5 g fat (1 g saturated) 6...

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8 Best Supermarket Sweets

1. BEST DONUT Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut 190 calories 11 g fat (5 g saturated) 10 g sugarsDonuts: Everybody loves them. Unfortunately, there is nothing nutritionally redeeming about these circles of dough. That said, having a good go-to doughnut can be a lifesaver if it prevents you from eating something worse. So, when you need a fix of sweet, fried dough, look no further than the Krispy Kreme's original glazed doughnuts, which are now sold in grocery stores. Pop one in the microwave for a few seconds and you’ll have a melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s as good as swinging by the actual store when the hot sign is on. (Krispy Kreme fanatics know what I’m talking about.)Not That! Entenmann’s Frosted Devil’s Food Doughnuts 310 calories 18...

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