Newsbites July 2022: Extreme Heat Associated with Higher Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
A recent review article called attention to the connection between extreme heat and cardiovascular health. Research suggests individuals with cardiovascular disease are at four to seven times greater risk of dying from a cardiovascular event (heart attack, stroke, or heart failure) during extreme heat events. While the reasons behind this relationship are not fully understood, […]
Newsbites: April 2022
Less Sodium, More Potassium Associated with a Lower Heart Attack and Stroke Risk A study released at the end of 2021 found that higher intake of sodium was associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke over nearly nine years among more than 10,000 healthy participants. Higher intake of potassium was associated with lower […]
Move More, More Often to Maintain Weight Loss
Move More, More Often to Maintain Weight Loss A study provided six months of mediated behavior change and dietary counselling for weight loss to relatively inactive older adults (65 to 86 years) with obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups for physical activity. One group participated in a guided walking program with […]
Daily Walnut Intake Improves Cholesterol Makeup
A new randomized controlled trial increases our understanding of why regular nut consumption is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease and deaths. The Walnuts and Healthy Aging study, with study groups in both Spain and the U.S., randomized 708 healthy adults ages 63 go 79 to either eat a walnut-free diet or consume 30 […]
COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Increase Risk of Non-COVID Deaths
Data are overwhelming that vaccination reduces risk of death from COVID-19. Now new research provides clear evidence to combat rumors vaccines themselves could be dangerous or even deadly. Researchers compared medical records from 6.4 million U.S. adults who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines to those of 4.6 million unvaccinated […]
Q. I know a healthy diet can help prevent some chronic diseases. Can good...
A. Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, Stanley N. Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at the Friedman School and executive editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “As of this writing, COVID-19 has already killed one in 500 Americans. The best way to protect yourself and everyone you come in contact with from this […]
Vitamin E and Beta-Carotene Supplements Not Recommended
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a draft report stating that the risks of beta-carotene supplementation outweigh the benefits for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Beta-carotene supplements have previously been linked to increased risk of lung cancer in smokers and may increase risk of dying from heart disease or stroke. Additionally, the […]
Switch from Refined Grains to Whole to Improve Cardiometabolic Health
Greater whole grain consumption is known to be associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. A recent study by Tufts researchers looked at the...
Step Counters and Fitness Trackers May Boost Activity Levels
A study that analyzed data from 38 randomized clinical trials involving over 4,200 participants concluded that activity trackers do improve physical activity levels among...
Fermented Foods Can Support Health
The microbes that live in our intestines help break down food, and they create byproducts that can impact the immune system and inflammation.
A study...