The Health Benefits and Risks of Physical Activity, Exercise, and Fitness
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” … Read more
Lipids
Intermittent Fasting and Health – The Scientific Evidence
Intermittent fasting has recently gained popularity as a means of reducing body weight and improving metabolic health. Animal studies also suggest that intermittent fasting may promote healthy aging and increase longevity. Throughout the ages, humans may have benefitted from limiting food intake for specific time periods, either for religious reasons or when food was scarce. … Read more
Why and How To Lower Triglycerides in People at Risk of Heart Disease
Triglycerides are important organic compounds. Most of the fat we consume in our diet is triglyceride and so is most of the fat we store in our body. Fatty acids contained in triglycerides are an essential source of energy for human cells. Triglyceride concentration can be measured in blood and may provide valuable information about … Read more
LDL-Cholesterol – The “Bad” Cholesterol Explained
There are several reasons why we should be interested in the numbers reflecting the amount of cholesterol circulating in our bloodstream. However, to be able to interpret these numbers we have to know certain things about cholesterol as a chemical substance and its role health and disease. Interestingly, although cholesterol is an essential substance for … Read more
Exploring the “Lore of Nutrition”
For the last few days, my Kindle has been my closest companion. “What are you reading”? my wife asked. “I’m reading Lore of Nutrition.” “Ooh, I was sure it was a thriller or one of your crime stories.” In fact, she was right. Although Lore of Nutrition is a book about nutrition, it reads like … Read more
Muscular Strength and Longevity – The Role of Strength Training
In 1953, British researchers discovered that drivers of London’s double-decker buses were more likely to suffer a deadly heart attack than the more physically active conductors (1). Another study published five years later found that the risk of heart attack was higher among government clerks than postmen (2). These studies laid the foundation for the hypothesis … Read more
Can Low-Fat Be Salvaged? – Updated WHI Dietary Modification Trial Results
A recent paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition provides updated results from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification Trial (1). One of the questions raised is whether there is still hope for a low-fat dietary approach for the prevention of heart disease. The primary aim of the WHI Dietary Modification Trial was to … Read more
Evolocumab (Repatha) for Heart Disease – The FOURIER Trial – Success or Failure?
The eagerly awaited results of the FOURIER trial were recently presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Washington DC and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1). The goal of FOURIER was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of evolocumab (Repatha), a PCSK9 inhibitor, among subjects with elevated risk … Read more
VLDL – The Role of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins and Remnant Cholesterol
Knowing the role of VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) and chylomicrons is a key factor in understanding how lipids (fats) and lipoproteins are involved in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In the current era of adiposity and metabolic disease, VLDL has gained a bigger role than before and may help explain many of the disorders associated with the obesity epidemic such … Read more
Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Vitamin B3) – Who Should Take Niacin?
Niacin (nicotinic acid), also known as vitamin B3, is one of eight known B vitamins. It has been used for decades to lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk. However, today its use is somewhat debated. Meat and fish are the richest sources of nicotinic acid followed by fortified enriched grain, vegetables, and yeast. Tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, … Read more