The Anti-inflammation Mediterranean Diet
At the 46th annual conference of the American Heart Association two weeks ago researchers reported on the anti-inflammatory affects of the Mediterranean diet. They noted that in their study of healthy people, 326 women and 585 men ate a Mediterranean diet, which is high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat.
Adherence to the diet was measured by scoring the frequency with which participants ate certain foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, and alcohol. They also noted the mono-unsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio in the participants' diets.
The study group was monitored for 23 months in 2002-2003 and their blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured periodically during the study. CRP is a non-specific marker of inflammation that has been tied to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Researchers observed lower levels of CRP in individuals in the study; they speculate that this lower CRP level will translate into a decreased cardiovascular disease risk.
When I was working in a cardiac rehab program ten years ago a group of our patients participated in a study the measured a traditional, American Heart Association endorsed low-fat diet against the Mediterranean diet for their affects on blood lipid profiles and weight loss.
Many of the participants who were lucky to be randomly assigned to the Mediterranean diet group were happy to see a significant improvement in their lipids and waistline when compared to their counterparts eating a more traditional heart healthy diet. Even greater was the fact that they enjoyed what they were eating more and found it easier to continue to eat this way for the long-term.
The Mediterranean diet isn't actually a single diet, but more accurately it is described as a 'style' of eating that is associated with the countries that surround the Mediterranean sea, particularly Spain, Italy, and Greece. The Mediterranean diet is full of healthy, low fat food choices and like any style of eating, it's is difficult to take it out of its native context, "American-ize" it and have it remain healthy.
We Americans tend to think that if something is good for us, the more of it we should eat. Hence our food is drowning in olive oil and our portions are huge and we go back for seconds! We also don't get the exercise that is inherent in a lifestyle that is based on walking, not riding in a car.
The Mediterranean diet has a lot to offer you, but like any way of eating, moderation is key. There are some fabulous cook books out there to help you eat in a healthy Mediterranean way. Borrow a few from the library and stick to the recipes until you are able to cook without guidance. Eat appropriately sized portions and put the rest away for lunch tomorrow, and then get out for a walk!
Laurie
Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men. Marcus Valerius Martialis (40 AD - 103 AD)
Related Topics: Dean Ornish: Lifestyle Program, WebMD Daily Video: Cholesterol Busting Exercise
Technorati Tags: diet, cholesterol, heartdisease, mediterraneandiet, hearthealthydiet
Adherence to the diet was measured by scoring the frequency with which participants ate certain foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, and alcohol. They also noted the mono-unsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio in the participants' diets.
The study group was monitored for 23 months in 2002-2003 and their blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured periodically during the study. CRP is a non-specific marker of inflammation that has been tied to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Researchers observed lower levels of CRP in individuals in the study; they speculate that this lower CRP level will translate into a decreased cardiovascular disease risk.
When I was working in a cardiac rehab program ten years ago a group of our patients participated in a study the measured a traditional, American Heart Association endorsed low-fat diet against the Mediterranean diet for their affects on blood lipid profiles and weight loss.
Many of the participants who were lucky to be randomly assigned to the Mediterranean diet group were happy to see a significant improvement in their lipids and waistline when compared to their counterparts eating a more traditional heart healthy diet. Even greater was the fact that they enjoyed what they were eating more and found it easier to continue to eat this way for the long-term.
The Mediterranean diet isn't actually a single diet, but more accurately it is described as a 'style' of eating that is associated with the countries that surround the Mediterranean sea, particularly Spain, Italy, and Greece. The Mediterranean diet is full of healthy, low fat food choices and like any style of eating, it's is difficult to take it out of its native context, "American-ize" it and have it remain healthy.
We Americans tend to think that if something is good for us, the more of it we should eat. Hence our food is drowning in olive oil and our portions are huge and we go back for seconds! We also don't get the exercise that is inherent in a lifestyle that is based on walking, not riding in a car.
The Mediterranean diet has a lot to offer you, but like any way of eating, moderation is key. There are some fabulous cook books out there to help you eat in a healthy Mediterranean way. Borrow a few from the library and stick to the recipes until you are able to cook without guidance. Eat appropriately sized portions and put the rest away for lunch tomorrow, and then get out for a walk!
Laurie
Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men. Marcus Valerius Martialis (40 AD - 103 AD)
Related Topics: Dean Ornish: Lifestyle Program, WebMD Daily Video: Cholesterol Busting Exercise
Technorati Tags: diet, cholesterol, heartdisease, mediterraneandiet, hearthealthydiet
25 Comments:
My daughter has had a lot of electricity in her body lately. Everything she touches she gets shocked. Recently she touched a battery that was plugged in to be recharged and she shorted it out. Her finger is now sore. What causes all this electricity and is there anything she can do to stop it?
Jean Baynard
What is she wearing on her feet, In winter when the house is dry shuffling your feet when walking on carpeting can cause friction and then when you touch something metal or electrical you get a shock. Also,if this only happens in the house then have your ground wire checked.
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I have the same problem, more at work than home. I have blown light bulbs and have had problems with my monitor and phone. I have so much electricity that others hear the loud pop and you see sparks in the daytime. I lotion up every morning. I don't think it matters what shoes I wear.... wear different ones all the time. I'd love to know what's going on. JD
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden and momentary electric current that flows when an excess of electric charge, stored on an electrically insulated object, finds a path to an object at a different electrical potential (such as ground). The term is usually used in the electronics and other industries to describe momentary unwanted currents that cause damage to electronic equipment.
Causes of ESD
One of the causes of charge separation that creates an ESD event is the triboelectric effect, in which certain materials become electrically charged after coming into contact with another different material and then being separated. This is why people experience ESD events after walking on a rug, descending from a car, or removing some types of packaging. In all these cases, friction between different materials causes triboelectric charging that, when discharged, becomes ESD.
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Types of ESD
The most spectacular form of ESD is the spark, which occurs when a strong electric field creates an ionised conductive channel in air. This can cause minor discomfort to people, severe damage to electronic equipment, and fires and explosions if the air contains combustible gases or particles. However, many ESD events occur without a spark, when a person carrying an electric charge touches a sensitive electronic component. Even these invisible forms of ESD can cause device failures or less obvious forms of degradation.
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Sparks
Returning to the spark, this is triggered when the electric field strength exceeds a certain threshold value in the air, causing a rapid increase in the number of ions in the air (electrical breakdown), and these free ions temporarily cause the air to become a conductor.
The best known example of a spark is a lightning strike. In this case the potential difference between a cloud and ground can be millions of volts, and the resulting current that flows, heats the air causing an explosive release of energy.
Earth's atmosphere consists of 21% oxygen - O2, and 78% nitrogen - N2. During an electrostatic discharge, the intervening atmosphere can become electrically overstressed. The diatomic oxygen molecules can be split, and then recombine by probability into ozone (O3), which is unstable, or react with metals and organic matter. If the electrical stress is high enough, nitrogen oxides (NOx) can form. Both products are toxic to animals, but ozone is essential for the ozone layer, and nitrogen oxides are essential to nitrogen fixation.
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Prevention
ESD is a serious issue in electronics, because integrated circuits are made from semiconductor materials such as silicon and insulating materials such as silicon dioxide, which can break down if exposed to high voltages. Manufacturers and users of integrated circuits must take precautions to avoid this problem. Such measures include appropriate packing material, the use of conducting wrist straps and foot-straps to prevent high voltages from accumulating on workers' bodies, anti-static mats to conduct harmful electric charges away from the work area, and humidity control, because in humid conditions the surface layer of moisture on most objects conducts electric charges harmlessly to earth. Also, insulating materials prone to triboelectric charging should be kept away from sensitive devices as the charge accumulated on them can induce charge in the devices.
Do not wear cloths made of synthetic materials ( man made fibres), use cotton clothes. Remove all carpets from the house. In very dry season, use humidifier.
I had the same problem several years ago. I solved the problem completely. You need to use liquid fabric sofener in your wash water at the rinse cycle. Also use a fabric softener sheet in your dryer. Believe me it worked 100 per cent!!! Lots of luck. I'd like to know if it works.
I read your article on the Mediterrean diet and just recently I had my physical and my blood work came back. Everything is normal except my cholesteral... my good cholesteral is at 24 and my bad is at 190. I was told by my doctor to do cardiovascular excercise to stabilize it. My question is what else can I do diet wise should I do the Mediterranean? and how can I get an accurate BMI. I Weigh 205lb but people do not believe me when I tell them even my doctor was surprised to that I weighed 205 and didn't look it. I don't know if that has anything to do with my cholesteral levels but should I loose some weight?
That depends, are you a man or woman?
How tall are you? What is your body frame?
In the past month i have electructed everyone in my family including my cat lol i dont have any rugs or carpets in my home i use fabric softner it dosent work so if anyone else has some ideas please help its starting to get anoying HELP
i live with multiple poeple we use the same fabric softner walk on the same carpet and i get shocked all the time outside inside i know its dry air but why me more than others also it hurts i brushed a fuse bow yesterday day and it hurt
No matter what surface I touch (wood,leather,granite) or what I'm standing on (wood,tile,carpet) I experience an electrical snap in the same spot everytime ... it's just to the right side of my spine in the thoracic area. Does anyone know why? ~A
I too have the same problem.I am at the point where I don't want to leave my house.Everything I touch my car doors,outerdoors,my mailbox,Grocery carts you name it I get shocked.Seems like it happens once I get in my car and then when I get out it all starts happening.I unlocked my house with my keys one day and you could see and hear the spark(thought my finger was gonna fall off it hurt so bad)I tried putting fabric softner sheets in my shoes,wearing gloves and nothing helps.If there is someone out that knows how to stop it.Please let us know.Thanks
I constantly am getting shocked, not only by electric devices, but also people. It doesn't matter what I wear or if I'm on carpet or wood floor. I get shocked at different places on my body. I use fabric softener. Does anyone have any ideas?
My roommate experiences shocks on a daily basis, usually while at work. Today she shocked someone so badly that a client on the phone was able to hear the snap. She wears different shoes, we've changed laundry soaps & fabric softener, she's even tried wearing a fabric softener sheet, but nothing works. She is the only one at her office this happens to. She is getting desparate for some sort of solution. (Notice I don't let her touch the computer anymore...)
I too have the severe problem of getting shocked. I get shocked by everything I come into contact with. Even touching grocery store shelves, and their floors aren't carpeted. It doesn't matter what I wear. I even get shocked when outside. It's very frustrating. In the winter we run a humidifier, to no avail.
PLEASE!! someone help.
To "A" who experiences shockno matter what you touch....etc....: look up _neuropathy_. There are several types. It sounds like that is what you are experiencing. Good luck!
Does anyone know if there is any serious effect to your health from static electricity? I get shocked 60 to 70 times a day during work.
I work with converting paper into rolls and they build up large amounts of static when it is running thru the equipment. This only happens during the fall and winter when it is cold. The equipment is grounded and we have extra wire dragging across the paper to pick up as much of the static as we can, yet I still get some nasty shocks.
I get shocked by everything i touch,at work and home,even when I open my car door or getting a drink from the water cooler, even when coming in contact with others and sometimes it hurts pretty bad.
Finally, I know someone else is experiencing my pain!! Its soooo annoying...static electricity. I've tried the dryer sheets, i lather on lotion, i tap anything metal to help ease into the zap but it happens everytime. I've visited a doctor who really didn't believe or support my issue. The dryer sheets and lotion both help but are not a permanent fix. I only wear cotton material, that helps also. I do find that this happens mostly in the winter. If anyone out there has a permanent fix for this problem PLEASE HELP!!!
Finally, I know someone else is experiencing my pain!! Its soooo annoying...static electricity. I've tried the dryer sheets, i lather on lotion, i tap anything metal to help ease into the zap but it happens everytime. I've visited a doctor who really didn't believe or support my issue. The dryer sheets and lotion both help but are not a permanent fix. I only wear cotton material, that helps also. I do find that this happens mostly in the winter. If anyone out there has a permanent fix for this problem PLEASE HELP!!!
Finally, I know someone else is experiencing my pain!! Its soooo annoying...static electricity. I've tried the dryer sheets, i lather on lotion, i tap anything metal to help ease into the zap but it happens everytime. I've visited a doctor who really didn't believe or support my issue. The dryer sheets and lotion both help but are not a permanent fix. I only wear cotton material, that helps also. I do find that this happens mostly in the winter. If anyone out there has a permanent fix for this problem PLEASE HELP!!!
Hey electricity people... Does anyone have the problem of draining watches or having your curser move for you in the middle of a sentence. I find those things so annoying and it has been going on several years now. Also when my father was on life support I noticed he was experiencing little seemed like electrical shocks. I wonder if it our brains sending these currents for some reason.
I've been getting shocked 20-30 times a day for some time now. I would love to know what makes me so special. Yesteday I receive a device I ordered from thinkgeek.com. It's a device on a keychain that when you touch something metal with it, it discharges the electricity. It uses the charge to light up a smiley face so you know it worked. I've only been shocked once or twice today, didn't use the device first. Touch it to someone else before you touch them and avoid sharing the shock. Pretty cool!
me again, I just posted about the statice discharge device. As for draining watch batteries, check your pulse rate. If you're pulse is 60 or a multiple of 60, say 120, your pulse is a harmonic of the watch therefore the beating of your heart and the beating of the watch are working against each other so the battery drains much quicker. If you ever get a wind up watch beware, the same issue can actually break the main spring.
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