Obesity Not Always Cause Heart Disease

Obesity has been frequently associated with an increased risk of death and other cardiovascular health problems. But the scientists in the UK in the latest findings said that obese people do not always have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

"They are truly at risk are individuals who have obesity in combination with poor metabolic health," said Mark Hamer, a researcher from University College London.

"People with good metabolic health is not at risk of heart disease later in life - even if they are obese," said Hamer.

Meanwhile, those who are not obese but have poor metabolic health conditions, had the same risk as those with obesity is not healthy, the researchers concluded.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism is based on the results of a study of more than 22,000 middle-aged participants, who took part in a national health study in England and Scotland. The researchers concluded that metabolic factors may be more important in predicting whether a person's risk of cardiovascular disease or not, rather than being overweight itself.

"We encourage people with obesity to lose weight for their health. But some provision should be made about how the way we look for people at risk of metabolic disorders," says Hamer.

Adults who have a body mass index (BMI) 30 or higher categorized as obese. Said to nomal when body mass index 18.5 and 24.9 whereas a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.

Over the past 20 years, obesity has increased significantly in the United States. More than a third of American adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Poor metabolic health

In his latest research, Hamer and his colleagues collected data related among body mass index (BMI) and metabolic profile. Each participant was observed for an average of seven years. Then see how many participants who died during the study and find out what caused it.

Researchers say that none of the participants had cardiovascular disease at baseline. Nearly a quarter of participants were obese, and nearly a quarter of them are considered "metabolically healthy obese" - which means they have normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar normal awake.

During the study period, more than 600 participants died from heart panyakit and 1,800 from other causes. The findings showed that those who are obese but not good metabolism at greater risk of dying from heart disease. But those who are obese but metabolically poor health have 59 percent and 64 percent increased risk of death from heart disease compared with healthy participants without obesity.

Among those who were not obese and metabolically unhealthy, have high levels of hypertension and inflammation are higher - comparable to an unhealthy obese participants.

Researchers say the results of this study taking into account other relevant factors such as participant age, gender, smoking, physical activity and socioeconomic status.

Foods as a Source of Good Cholesterol

Poor perception often comes when a person hears the word fat. Fat is not always bad for the body. After all, the consumption of fat is still needed as an energy source.

Types of fats in foods such as trans fats, hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and some tropical oils, can cause imbalances, chronic inflammation and disease. This type of fat that should be avoided.

While olive oil, nuts, grains and oil seeds, unprocessed vegetable oils and non-hydrogenated oils are the best choice of fat you should consume each day.

Here is a source of food that can raise levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in your body:

1. Avocado

Avocado is a fruit that has a high content of fat. But you need not worry, because in addition to the tasty fruit, avocados have the good fats (HDL). The content of lutein in avocados is believed to help improve the quality of eye health and chlorophyll content is a source of antioxidants.

2. Virgin coconut oil

Coconut oil may be the best choice as a healthy dessert menu. Although the use of palm oil continues to be studied, but the benefits have been recognized as a potent anti-bacterial, rich in vitamin C and E and iron. Some research even indicates, coconut oil can help weight management, because it reduces stress on the endocrine system.

3. Fish

Some types of fish contain fat that is good for Health Care. Salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and tuna are the types of fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Fats in fish are needed to help the growth, development of brain function, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in marine plants such as krill, algae, some plants and nut oils. Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), increase good cholesterol (HDL), reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a type of omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fish oil to reduce the risk of abnormal heart rhythms that cause sudden death and heart disease, according to a study at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

4. Beans or legumes

Nuts are a source of nutrients that protect your health. People who eat nuts regularly lower risk of dying from heart attacks and strokes than those who ate little, according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health. Agency for Food and Drug Administration, United States (FDA) even claimed, "eat-food that includes one ounce of nuts every day can reduce the risk of heart disease."

Most types of nuts mengandungan levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) is low and can increase good cholesterol. Walnuts, for example, contains omega-3 fatty acids that protect you from the deadly abnormal heart rhythm and blood clotting. Some examples of types of nuts that contain omega 3 is peanuts, red beans, almonds and walnuts.

Folic Acid Reduce Risk of Cancer in Children

One more proof of the importance of folic acid for pregnant women and fetuses. A latest research indicates, the consumption of fortified foods or fortified folic acid can reduce the incidence of kidney cancer and brain tumors in children.

Thus the results of the study Kimberly J. Johnson, PhD, assistant professor at Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, and Amy Linabery, PhD, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota.

Reduction in cancer risk, especially on the type of Wilms tumor (a type of kidney cancer), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of brain cancers.

Since 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated the fortification of foods with folic acid because previous research suggests that prenatal consumption of folic acid significantly reduced the incidence of neural tube defects in babies.

"Our study is the largest to date to suggest that folic acid fortification can also lower the incidence of some types of childhood cancer in the United States," said Johnson.

"We found that there was an increase in cases of Wilms tumor (kidney cancer) in 1986-1997, but subsequently declined. Decline is apparently coincided exactly with folic acid fortification," he explained

Whereas in the case of PNET (brain cancer) also decreased after the year 1986-1993 has increased. Changes in the trend does not coincide exactly with folic acid fortification, but it coincided with the introduction of a recommendation in 1992 for women of childbearing age to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

In his study researchers used data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results Program (SEER) since 1986-2008. The data includes information about cancer cases in the various fields in the U.S. since 1973. The study involved 8829 children, from birth to age four years was diagnosed with cancer.

"There is a decrease in Wilms tumor and PNET in children detected by the analysis of some data. Most importantly, the pace of decline in Wilms tumor is found in a small study conducted in Ontario, Canada, published in 2011," said Johnson.

"Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to rule out other explanations," he added.

Johnson noted that one concern is facing a country to decide whether or not to enrich foods with folic acid to reduce neural tube defects in newborns. The reason is there is a possibility that fortification can cause unwanted damage, such as causing a new cancer or pre-cancerous.

"Here (in this finding), we show that folic acid fortification would not increase the incidence of cancer in children, which is good news," he said.

Calcium is important for bones, but do not too much

To strengthen bones, the consumption of foods and supplements that contain calcium is very important. But in fact one study found that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack.

Research of the Swiss scientist who published in the British journal Heart that 24,000 people watched participants in terms of nutrition and cancer study in Europe for over 11 years. The result, though no increase in the number of cases of heart disease in the overall population, but there are some participants who were taking calcium supplements in large quantities and the researchers found an increase in cases of heart attacks in the group of participants.

Previously, many studies that raise concerns related to excessive consumption of calcium supplements may lead to heart disease because heart disease can be caused by a buildup of calcium in the arteries. However, a number of studies related to this issue led to different conclusions.

It's just that all these studies agree and have no doubt that calcium is actually consumed in the right amount is good for bone health, but if there's too much, of course given the risk of heart disease, kidney stones and other health problems.

"Many people think the more the better, but in this case more is not better," commented Dr. Ether Siris of New York-Presbyterian Columbia as reported by MSNBC, Thursday (24/05/2012).

Getting the right amount of calcium intake is a challenge for everyone. All this has been recommended that adults consume 1000 mg of calcium per day and women over 50 years need to consume 1200 mg per day. But no one ever claimed that adults over 50 years of age should consume more than 2000 mg per day.

In reality, it's easy to consume excessive calcium because 22 percent of the adult population in the United States himself admitted regularly taking calcium supplements.

In addition to supplements, foods that contain calcium such as milk, cheese and yogurt can also be an alternative. The amount of calcium three types of food itself is more than 300 mg. Even some types of cereals contain up to 1000 mg of calcium per serving.

Even so for bone health, people do need calcium, including in the form of supplements, it's just advised not to consume excessive amounts

Threat Bacteria C. Diff in America Malignant

Populations of bacteria Clostridium difficile, known as C. Diff is increasing and causing a lot of people are infected. This bacterium usually attacks the elderly, but recently, many children in America who are also suffering from a bacterial infection C. Diff.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that cases of bacterial infection due to C. Diff in children that occurred in 2004-2009 was 12 times higher than in the case between 1991-1997.

"It has been believed that patients with bacterial infections caused by C. difficile is the older patients, antibiotics drinkers, and people who work in hospitals." Said Sahil Khanna, MBBS, researchers from the Mayo Clinic Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as reported from huffingtonpost, Thursday (5/24/2012).

C. diff has always been known as an infection experienced by older people in hospitals or in people who use antibiotics for long period of time. But recently, someone younger, healthier and do not work in a hospital can be infected with bacteria even C. Diff.

Symptoms of infection C. diff including diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but if the infection worsens, symptoms can include dehydration, fever, bloody stools and weight loss.

Research on this subject were presented at Digestive Disease Week 2012.

To avoid bacterial infection C. diff, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends to perform the following steps:

1. Washing hands with soap and water regularly

2. Disinfection when you make contact with people with infectious C. diff

3. Wash clothes that may have been in contact with feces

4. Avoid the use of antibiotics unless recommended by a physician

5. Use disposable gloves around people who are infected with C. diff.