AARP article Re: heart disease--long post

[Guest guest]

Okay, yes, we get AARP magazine, so I am over 50. Just wanted to say

there is a terrific article in the Jan/Feb issue about how low levels

of inflammation can cause damage to coronary arteries, and cause

plaque to be released when the body attackes it as if it were an

intruder.

Here is a quote about the inflammation: " Inflammatory conditions such

as rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma, long-term infections, persistent

insults such as smoking, obesity and high blood pressure, or even a

genetic predisposition can trigger a state of chronic inflammation.

When the immune system doesn't get to shut down, it does damage to

the body--including your cardiovascular system. "

The article lists and discusses 7 ways to reduce your C-reactive

Protein (CRP), a molecule produced by the liver in response to an

inflammatory signal. (A CRP reading above 3.0 milligrams per liter

means a tripled risk of heart attack, even when cholesterol levels

are normal.)

#4 RETHINK YOUR DIET

" You already know fatty, cholesterol-laden foods can clog your

arteries. And scientists are coming to believe white bread, baked

potatoes, and other foods with a high glycemic index--that is, the

foods that are digested and converted to glucose most quickly--can

harm them, too, contributing to inflammation by causing quick,

dramatic spikes in blood sugar, increasing the production of free

radicals that damage cells and trigger inflammation. "

It goes on to recommend foods rich in inflammation-fighting omega-3

fatty acids such as olive oil, walnuts and cold-water fish such as

salmon, mackerel, and herring. Also, food that have natural

chemicals that possess potent anti-inflammatory effects are tomatoes,

blueberries, eggplant, and fiber rich grains.

" For optimal heart health, choose whole grains over processed white

flour, and eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily.

Also, eating smaller, more frequent meals causes a slower spike in

blood glucose--and therefore less inflammation--than having one or

two larger meals a day. "

#3 BANISH THE BELLY "

Any excess poundage is a possible inflammation inducer, because fat

cells are a virtual factory for producint inflammatory molecules.

But belly fat is particularly dangerous. Fat tissue inside the

abdominal cavity is especially metabolically active--secreting even

more harmful proteins into the bloodstream. And recent research

finds that women ages 50 to 70 whose waists are larger than 65 inches

also had lower levels of a specific inflammation-fighting hormone. "

The whole article is really good, but these two steps are so

effectively accomplished by being on the SBD, I don't understand why

anyone would even consider another diet. Guess Agatson might have

been a little before his time, or else science is finally catching

up.

Sorry this is so long, but found it interesting.

in NC