Word: hdl
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...snack foods are nutritional powerhouses. That's because the types of fat found in nuts--monounsaturated and polyunsaturated--are the good fats. When eaten instead of junk food high in saturated fats (like potato chips and doughnuts), nuts lower blood levels of triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol--a perfect formula for preventing heart disease. Many nuts, such as pecans and walnuts, also contain a phytochemical called ellagic acid. In preliminary laboratory studies, ellagic acid seemed to trigger a process known as apoptosis, in which cancer cells kill themselves. Nuts provide another benefit: they contain vitamin...
...diet rich in cheese and buttery sauces and still suffer less heart disease than Americans? The answer to the famous French paradox, say nutritionists, is French wine. The skins of the grapes used to make red wine contain supercharged antioxidants known as polyphenols, including one called resveratrol, which boosts HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Polyphenols, according to the latest research, may also inhibit the production of endothelin 1, a peptide that contributes to hardening of the arteries. But be careful. Wine may be great for the heart, but it's been blamed for everything from cirrhosis of the liver...
...mouth, its tightly bundled molecules immediately get turned into sugars, which make a beeline for the blood. "You ate a potato," says Stampfer, "but your body is getting pure glucose." The flood of blood sugar sets off a chain reaction. Insulin pours out of the pancreas. Triglycerides shoot up. HDL (good) cholesterol takes a dive. "It's a perfect setup for heart disease and diabetes," says Stampfer...
GOOD IS GOOD As if we needed another reason to exercise, eat well and quit smoking, new research shows that people with high levels of HDL--the "good" cholesterol that can be increased by living right, drinking moderately, perhaps even taking prescription drugs--have a 47% reduced risk of the most common kind of stroke. About 600,000 strokes are suffered in the U.S. each year, making it the country's third leading cause of death...
...last time guidelines were issued was eight years ago; since then we've learned a great deal about the role of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. A level of 60 or more is still considered to be protective against heart disease, but now we know low levels can also be dangerous. Before, doctors believed we should have a minimum level of 35. Now the bar has been raised...