AARP article Re: heart disease--long post

[Guest guest]

Hi ;

I agree, this is a good article. Is there a link where I can read

the entire article online? I'd like to learn more about the

inflammation it mentions.

Thanks!

Donna

>

> 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

>