Vitamins, minerals & supplements Archive

The Mediterranean diet consistently has been linked with an array of health benefits, including decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer. In a study published online Dec. 2, 2014, by the medical journal BMJ, researchers at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital linked the Mediterranean diet to longer life as well. The researchers analyzed information from 4,676 healthy women in the Nurses' Health Study who had completed a food questionnaire and whose telomere lengths had been measured. (Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that get shorter every time a cell divides, and thus are markers of cell aging.) They found that a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with longer telomeres, and that even small changes in diet made a difference. In effect, the women who had followed the Mediterranean diet were biologically younger than those who hadn't.

The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes. Animal protein is furnished by seafood and moderate amounts of poultry, eggs, and dairy. Red meat and sweets are considered occasional treats. This study gives another reason to follow this healthy—and tasty—eating plan.

Give your body protection with fiber, good fats, whole grains, and omega-3s.

Inflammation is the body's response to an infection, injury, or some other stimulus that the body perceives as harmful. It can be helpful at first, but over time chronic inflammation can damage tissue, joints, artery walls, and organs. Fortunately, there are many healthy foods that can help lower inflammation in the body. "We focus on increasing fiber, whole grains, good fats, and omega-3s," says Debbie Krivitsky, director of clinical nutrition at the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Be mindful of risks for fracture, low B12, and a spike in stomach acid.

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) help treat symptoms of heartburn, but these powerful medications also carry their share of risks. "The risks are for long-term use," says Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a Harvard Medical School associate professor. "Three months of use should be okay, but if someone needs a PPI longer than that, a doctor should be supervising use."

We often write in these pages that the Mediterranean diet is good for your heart and brain. Now it appears that the Mediterranean diet may also help protect your telomeres, according to a Harvard study published in the Dec. 2, 2014, BMJ. Telomeres sit at the ends of your chromosomes and help protect the ends from fraying. Telomere length is considered to be a biomarker of aging: shorter telomeres are associated with a lower life expectancy and higher rates of developing chronic diseases. After analyzing the detailed food questionnaires and telomere measurements of more than 4,600 women, Harvard researchers concluded that a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with longer telomeres, and that even small changes in diet made a difference. The Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish; minimizes red meats and processed meats; and includes a moderate amount of cheese and wine.

Don't let misconceptions about these medications prevent you from taking them. 

Q. I had a heart attack several years ago and have been taking low-dose aspirin ever since to prevent a second one. But I keep hearing about the bleeding risks caused by aspirin. What should I be watching for? 

A. Aspirin prevents tiny cell fragments in the blood called platelets from clumping together and forming clots. But it also increases the risk of minor bleeding. You may notice that cuts bleed a little longer than usual. Bruises, which happen when blood leaks out of small vessels (capillaries) after an injury, may also be more noticeable.

Confused about fats? Learn the latest on which fats offer the best health benefits.

There used to be one simple rule—all fat is bad. More recently, we've been told that fat is absolutely essential to our health, especially polyunsaturated fats in plant-derived oils. But, as research piles up, the picture of fats and health has sometimes become blurred.

Potassium chloride salts are one option, but many people prefer herb and spice blends.

If you have high blood pressure, scaling back the sodium in your diet is a smart move. Excess sodium (a main component of salt) makes the body hold on to extra water, which can elevate blood pressure. And most of us consume more than double the limit of 1,500 milligrams per day of sodium recommended by the American Heart Association.

Whole grains, including brown rice, are part of a healthy diet. However, health advocates have raised concerns about the tiny amount of arsenic that rice plants absorb from the soil. Also, a handful of studies have linked rice consumption to cardiovascular disease, although the evidence is preliminary and inconsistent. But now rice eaters can rest a little easier, thanks to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.