FRUIT JUICE 'GOOD FOR HEART'

A blend of fruit juices, including grape, cranberry and blackcurrant, may have benefits for the heart, research suggests.

French scientists tested the blend on pig arteries in the lab, and found it caused artery walls to relax.

It remains to be seen whether fruit juices can improve vascular health, they report in a scientific journal.

The study adds weight to evidence fruit and veg reduces heart disease risk, says the British Heart Foundation.

The researchers looked for a chemical called polyphenol in fruit and berries.

They found the most active fruits included blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape.

Commenting on the study, Tracy Parker, heart health dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease.

"However, we still don't fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can't yet explain any link.

"What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this.

"Don't forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day."

The research was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Food and Function.

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS INCREASE HEART ATTACKS

A new study finds that too many Calcium supplements can increase your risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

You may think nothing of taking a calcium supplement every other day - and till now, may have assumed not just that it's beneficial, but harmless too!Think again - A study published in the British Medical Journal finds it could increase your risk of stroke and heart attack by 20 per cent, by depositing in the arteries and causing a blockage."Over a period of time when the cholesterol has settled over there...the Calcium present in the body will also go and deposit in those and as the blockage gets older and older the blockages become harder," said a Cardiologist.

The researchers studied over 16 thousand healthy postmenopausal women, and found that extra calcium increased their risk of suffering both a stroke and a heart attack by 20 per cent.

Doctors say this study in itself is not conclusive and holds for women who have hit menopause - but across the spectrum, women should exercise caution, after all data from 13 other trials, involving 29,000 people reached similar conclusions.

Yet, studies find that almost 60 per cent of Indian women are deficient in calcium, we just don't get enough in our diet. Women especially are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, but they are also at risk of heart disease, so where does that leave them?

HOW TO PREVENT HEART BLOCKS

        Nowadays, heart attacks have become the common problem from age 30!!    When the blood vessels supply blood to the heart is blocked, it is called heart blocks. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients. Fats and Cholestrol can accumulate inside these arteries, and the arteries can gradually become clogged. When one or more of the coronary arteries becomes partially or totally blocked, the heart does not get an adequate blood supply. It can cause heart pain or heart attack.  In such cases, doctors suggest by-pass surgery or medicines. Because, there is no other go except by-pass surgery in case of heart blocks.  It’s always preferable, Prevention is better than cure. There are certain changes to be made to our lifestyle to have 100 year healthy life!!!

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS?

Digestive problems aren't fun for any one. It's impossible to enjoy a spicy snack or a sweet delicacy when you are constantly worried about painful repercussions that may follow. Today we're talking about two common digestion-related issues - heartburn and the irritable bowel syndrome, and how you can avoid them through simple dietary and exercise measures.

HEART PATIENTS - FAR FROM PAIN KILLERS

A new study has warned that even short-term use of some painkillers like ibuprofen could be dangerous for people who've had a heart attack.

Researchers analysed the duration of prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) treatment and cardiovascular risk in a nationwide Danish cohort of patients with prior heart attack.

They found the use of NSAIDs was associated with a 45 per cent increased risk of death or recurrent heart attack within as little as one week of treatment, and a 55 per cent increased risk if treatment extended to three months.

DIET PLAN TO REDUCE/PREVENT HEART BLOCKS AND CHOLESTEROL

Continuation of  how to prevent heart blocks
1.    In the morning, as soon as you get up, drink 1-2 litres of water with empty stomach. Drinking water cleanses the blood vessels and also maintains the blood to be very thin. It’s easy to pump blood, if the thickness of blood is low. For more info on water therapy

NATURE'S REMEDIES WITH OLIVE OIL

Although the olive tree originated in Asia, it has been cultivated for over 3000 years in Mediterranean countries, where much of the olive crop is used to make olive oil. In this process, olives are pitted and ground to a thick pulp. The pulp is then pressed to remove the juices, which are placed in a centrifuge to separate the water from the oil. Nutritionally, olive oil contains 120 calories and 14 grams of fat per tablespoon;