DrGourmet » stroke http://blog.drgourmet.com Eat Well, Eat Healthy, Enjoy Life! Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:58:06 +0000 en hourly 1 Mediterranean Diet not just for Mediterranean people : Dr. Gourmet’s Health and Nutrition Bites http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-not-just-for-mediterranean-people-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-not-just-for-mediterranean-people-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:41:55 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=2407 There are a lot of misconceptions about the Mediterranean Diet, and of course the biggest one is that you can only eat Greek food. Long-time readers and followers of Dr. Gourmet know that Dr. Gourmet’s mission is translating Mediterranean Diet principles for the American (Western) [...]]]> There are a lot of misconceptions about the Mediterranean Diet, and of course the biggest one is that you can only eat Greek food. Long-time readers and followers of Dr. Gourmet know that Dr. Gourmet’s mission is translating Mediterranean Diet principles for the American (Western) palate. There’s another misconception that I run into frequently, however, and it’s that because the peoples around the Mediterranean Sea are mostly white (debatable), its benefits haven’t been adequately established for non-whites or people who don’t live in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

It’s true that there have been a limited number of studies of the effects of the Mediterranean Diet on blacks and Hispanics in the United States. Fortunately a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011;94:1458-64) seeks to close that information gap with a prospective (following people over time as opposed to asking them to recall past information) study involving over 2500 men and women living in Northern Manhattan in New York City.Mediterranean Diet not just for Mediterranean people

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-not-just-for-mediterranean-people-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/feed/ 0 Mediterranean Diet and Heart Disease http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-and-heart-disease/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-and-heart-disease/#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 19:02:46 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=2078 Win one of five signed copies of Dr. Harlan’s new book by entering the sweepstakes on Facebook! This is a 6-week plan that will have you and your family eating well and eating healthy, while learning how [...]]]> Win a Signed Copy of Just Tell Me What to Eat!

Win one of five signed copies of Dr. Harlan’s new book by entering the sweepstakes on Facebook! This is a 6-week plan that will have you and your family eating well and eating healthy, while learning how to improve your life and your health, one plate at a time.

Sweepstakes ends on June 7, 2011, when the book is released, so don’t wait! Sign up to win your copy of Just Tell Me What to Eat!

Mediterranean Diet and Heart Disease

I’ve reported on dozens of studies that have focused on the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and heart disease, but the vast majority of them have focused on the benefits of specific components of the diet, such as olive oil (Bite, 01/19/07), cereal grains (Bite, 06/16/06) or fish (Bite, 01/22/06). A recent study published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases looks at the effects of the Mediterranean Diet as a whole and its effects on the rates of heart disease and stroke in middle-aged adults (2011;21:237-244). Mediterranean Diet and Heart Disease

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/mediterranean-diet-and-heart-disease/feed/ 0 Pradaxa; Cocoa; Glycemic Index vs. Fiber : Ask Dr. Gourmet http://blog.drgourmet.com/pradaxa-cocoa-glycemic-index-vs-fiber-ask-dr-gourmet/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/pradaxa-cocoa-glycemic-index-vs-fiber-ask-dr-gourmet/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:19:45 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1810 Q: Any comments about the new drug that has just been approved by the FDA and supposedly will take Warfarin’s place – Pradaxa?

A: I don’t normally answer questions not related to diet and [...]]]> Dear Dr. Gourmet,

Q: Any comments about the new drug that has just been approved by the FDA and supposedly will take Warfarin’s place – Pradaxa?

A: I don’t normally answer questions not related to diet and nutrition, but many of our readers are Coumadin (warfarin) users so I will make an exception.

This medication has been approved by the FDA only for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran has been on the market for some time in Europe. I actually had a few patients in the clinical trials before approval (they did well, by the way). It was shown to be slightly more effective than warfarin and slightly lower risk of major bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Pradaxa

Hot ChocolateQ: I was very interested in your article: Hot Chocolate for High Blood Pressure? as I drink hot chocolate after taking innulin every evening at bedtime. I note you state “not hot chocolate mix” and I wonder why this is? I use Nestle Carnation Light brand made with water and this has 45 calories. Skim milk would add 60 calories but this stuff tastes so good I don’t need to use milk.

A: I put this cautionary statement in the conclusion because many hot chocolate products have very little actual cocoa in them. They will often be milk powder combined with artificial chocolate or cocoa flavorings. Because the study was done with real cocoa products, simply saying “hot chocolate” might not offer the same benefit.

Baked PotatoQ: I am watching my glucose numbers. Should I be more concerned about a food’s glycemic index or the amount of fiber in a food? It seems that a food with a good amount of fiber also has a higher glycemic index.

A: This is a fantastic question. There has been a lot of good research about the impact of a higher fiber diet on helping control blood sugars. We have less information about the impact of glycemic index (GI) on diet and diabetics but what we have is getting better. One study in 2008 compared a low glycemic index diet with a high cereal fiber diet and the diabetics on the low GI diet did slightly better. Fiber vs. Glycemic Index

Have a question? Send it to askdrgourmet@drgourmet.com and your question may be answered in this column. Read more Ask Dr. Gourmet questions.

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/pradaxa-cocoa-glycemic-index-vs-fiber-ask-dr-gourmet/feed/ 0 Will More Whole Grains Help You Avoid Heart Disease? http://blog.drgourmet.com/will-more-whole-grains-help-you-avoid-heart-disease/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/will-more-whole-grains-help-you-avoid-heart-disease/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:59:07 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1586 We know from one study that those who eat the most whole grains tend to have a lower Body Mass Index, a lower weight, and a lower waist circumference compared to those who eat the least whole grains. Whole grains have also been [...]]]> We know from one study that those who eat the most whole grains tend to have a lower Body Mass Index, a lower weight, and a lower waist circumference compared to those who eat the least whole grains. Whole grains have also been associated with a lower fasting insulin score (Bite, 12/19/07) and an overall lower risk of death among type 2 diabetics (Bite 05/26/10). These are indirect indicators that more whole grains in your diet can help reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

A group of researchers in Scotland recently published a study focused on the effect of higher whole-grain food intake on fairly healthy individuals. Whole Grains and Heart Disease Risk

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/will-more-whole-grains-help-you-avoid-heart-disease/feed/ 0 Polyunsaturated vs. Monounsaturated : Ask Dr. Gourmet http://blog.drgourmet.com/polyunsaturated-vs-monounsaturated-ask-dr-gourmet/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/polyunsaturated-vs-monounsaturated-ask-dr-gourmet/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 16:29:12 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1337 Q: Isn’t olive oil also poyunsaturated [in addition to being monounsaturated]? Is it as effective in reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke?

A: Certainly polyunsaturated fats are a good choice. Olive oil contains more monounsaturated fat than [...]]]> Olive OilQ: Isn’t olive oil also poyunsaturated [in addition to being monounsaturated]? Is it as effective in reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke?

A: Certainly polyunsaturated fats are a good choice. Olive oil contains more monounsaturated fat than polyunsaturated, however. For instance, a tablespoon of olive oil contains 9.9 grams of monounsaturated fat and 1.4 grams of polyunsaturated. Peanut oil contains 6.3 and 4.3 respectively. Corn oil has even more polyunsaturated fat coming in at 7.4 grams in a tablespoon and 3.8 monounsaturated. Polyunsaturated vs. Monounsaturated

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/polyunsaturated-vs-monounsaturated-ask-dr-gourmet/feed/ 1 Quantifying the Effects of Less Salt : Dr. Gourmet’s Health and Nutrition Bites http://blog.drgourmet.com/quantifying-the-effects-of-less-salt-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/quantifying-the-effects-of-less-salt-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:46:38 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1179 I have said in the past that the typical American eats over 6000 milligrams (or 6 GRAMS) of sodium per day. A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (2010;362:590-9) means I’m going to have to update that figure: the latest estimates, [...]]]> I have said in the past that the typical American eats over 6000 milligrams (or 6 GRAMS) of sodium per day. A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (2010;362:590-9) means I’m going to have to update that figure: the latest estimates, for 2005-2006, estimate that every adult male in the United States eats an average of 10.4 grams of salt per day. Women, on the other hand, only eat a more modest (and I use that term facetiously) amount of 7.3 grams per day.

That’s a tablespoon and a half (4.5 teaspoons), for men, and about 1 tablespoon of salt (3 teaspoons) for women.

We know that reducing the amount of salt we eat can help reduce blood pressure and your risk of heart disease – from stroke to heart attack. If everyone in the United States over 35 years old reduced their salt intake by only 3 grams per day, what kind of impact would that have on our country’s overall health? Quantifying the Effects of Less Salt

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/quantifying-the-effects-of-less-salt-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/feed/ 0 The Effects of Being Healthy: Dr. Gourmet’s Health and Nutrition Bites http://blog.drgourmet.com/the-effects-of-being-healthy-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/the-effects-of-being-healthy-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:05:27 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1100 Most studies that I’ve reported on here in my Health and Nutrition Bites are focused on the risks of negative health factors such as being overweight or obese, having a high Waist to Hip ratio, being inactive or smoking. Those studies tell you that having those risk [...]]]> Most studies that I’ve reported on here in my Health and Nutrition Bites are focused on the risks of negative health factors such as being overweight or obese, having a high Waist to Hip ratio, being inactive or smoking. Those studies tell you that having those risk factors mean you’re more likely to become seriously ill or die and give you all sorts of percentages – 40% more likely to have a heart attack or 30% more likely to die of all causes and so on and so on and so on.

But what about the reverse? If you don’t smoke, get enough exercise, and maintain a healthy weight are you actually less likely to get sick or die? The Effects of Being Healthy

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/the-effects-of-being-healthy-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/feed/ 1 Quitting Smoking and Diabetes : Dr. Gourmet’s Health and Nutrition Bites http://blog.drgourmet.com/quitting-smoking-and-diabetes-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/quitting-smoking-and-diabetes-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:47:53 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=1050 We know that quitting smoking reduces many risks to your health, and not just cancer: heart disease, emphysema and diabetes are also commonly linked to smoking. One of the reasons many of my patients cite for fearing to quit smoking, however, is the weight gain that so [...]]]> We know that quitting smoking reduces many risks to your health, and not just cancer: heart disease, emphysema and diabetes are also commonly linked to smoking. One of the reasons many of my patients cite for fearing to quit smoking, however, is the weight gain that so often seems to follow quitting. And weight gain, as we know, leads to its own health risks, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. So if you quit smoking, is your risk of diabetes lower (because of quitting), higher (because of the weight gain) or does it stay the same? Quitting Smoking and Diabetes

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/quitting-smoking-and-diabetes-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/feed/ 2 Ask Dr. Gourmet: Is this urban myth about butter vs. margarine true? http://blog.drgourmet.com/ask-dr-gourmet-is-this-urban-myth-about-butter-vs-margarine-true/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/ask-dr-gourmet-is-this-urban-myth-about-butter-vs-margarine-true/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:17:05 +0000 admin http://blog.drgourmet.com/?p=923 Q: I recently received this email about “butter and margarine” and since I really like margarine I got very concerned and decided to ask your expert opinion on it.  I eat margarine and butter once or twice a week I use each for different food.  So is margarine [...]]]> ButterQ: I recently received this email about “butter and margarine” and since I really like margarine I got very concerned and decided to ask your expert opinion on it.  I eat margarine and butter once or twice a week I use each for different food.  So is margarine that bad, or is this another one of those emails that exaggeratedly misinforms people? Read the email.

A: There was a time when nutritionists and dieticians recommended avoiding butter and using margarine because of the amount of saturated fat in butter.  We know now that while too much saturated fat can promote heart disease, it is trans-fats that are far more of a problem.  While these types of fats do occur in nature, they do only in small amounts.  Unfortunately, for a long time many products that were produced were very high in trans-fats. The Truth About Butter vs. Margarine

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/ask-dr-gourmet-is-this-urban-myth-about-butter-vs-margarine-true/feed/ 0 Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease : Dr. Gourmet’s Health and Nutrition Bites http://blog.drgourmet.com/reducing-your-risk-of-heart-disease-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/reducing-your-risk-of-heart-disease-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 14:49:58 +0000 admin http://www.drgourmet.com/blog/?p=743 What causes heart disease? Among others, the major culprits are lack of exercise, smoking, obesity and poor diet. These can also cause high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which are also risk factors for heart disease.

Under most circumstances, [...]]]> What causes heart disease? Among others, the major culprits are lack of exercise, smoking, obesity and poor diet. These can also cause high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which are also risk factors for heart disease.

Under most circumstances, research done on lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease focuses on whether risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes numbers are improved – not whether a person’s risk of heart disease itself is improved. In an effort to measure whether that risk is improved or not through lifestyle modification, researchers at Johns Hopkins made use of data collected through a large-scale research study called PREMIER. Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/reducing-your-risk-of-heart-disease-dr-gourmets-health-and-nutrition-bites/feed/ 0 How to Prevent Stroke (and lots of other stuff) http://blog.drgourmet.com/how-to-prevent-stroke-and-lots-of-other-stuff/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/how-to-prevent-stroke-and-lots-of-other-stuff/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:46:53 +0000 admin http://www.drgourmet.com/blog/?p=452 We know that maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, getting some exercise and not smoking is a good way to help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. What about stroke – the third leading cause of death in the United States?

We know that maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, getting some exercise and not smoking is a good way to help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. What about stroke – the third leading cause of death in the United States?

In a study that included over 110,000 people, researchers defined a healthy lifestyle as not smoking, having a Body Mass Index in the normal range, getting at least 30 minutes per day of “moderate” exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation, and following a healthy diet (Circulation 2008; 118:000-000).

Those women who had the healthiest lifestyles were up to 80% less likely….

]]> http://blog.drgourmet.com/how-to-prevent-stroke-and-lots-of-other-stuff/feed/ 0 Body Mass Index and the Link to Heart Disease or Stroke http://blog.drgourmet.com/body-mass-index-and-the-link-to-heart-disease-or-stroke/ http://blog.drgourmet.com/body-mass-index-and-the-link-to-heart-disease-or-stroke/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:38:00 +0000 admin http://www.drgourmet.com/blog/?p=406 Medicine does not follow the algebraic formula many of us learned in school, where if A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. Often the cause of one condition (A equals B) which can lead to another condition (C) does NOT mean [...]]]> Medicine does not follow the algebraic formula many of us learned in school, where if A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. Often the cause of one condition (A equals B) which can lead to another condition (C) does NOT mean that the cause of the first condition is also the cause of the second.

Take heart attacks and stroke, for instance. We know that those who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for high blood pressure, poor cholesterol scores and diabetes, which are all known risks for heart disease and stroke. (For those doing the math at home: A is overweight or obese; high blood pressure, poor cholesterol scores and diabetes are B; and C is heart disease and stroke.) But what we don’t know for sure is if A = C (overweight or obesity are causes for heart disease and stroke). Medicine just isn’t that linear.

On the other hand, sometimes it is – at least statistically.

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