Preventing A Brain Attack

According to a new study, a low-risk lifestyle can prevent a brain attack by reducing the risk for ischemic stroke by 80%.

Stroke is a cardiovascular disease(CVD) that is preventable by adopting certain lifestyles and ditching others.

The report on the study gave some ways to maintain a low-risk lifestyle, they are:
1-Smoking cessation
2-Women, get off the hormones
3-Eat your vegetables and fruit
 4-Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control
5-Take aspirin and blood thinners if your doctor orders them

Read about each in more detail.

Smoking and unhealthy eating are key risk factors for non-communicable diseases(NCD's) such as: heart disease, strokes, cancer and other chronic diseases.  There is, therefore, a lot of evidence to support smoking cessation and healthy eating as a ways to reduce strokes.

Healthy eating would include a lot of fruits and vegetables in the diet, this would reduce the risks of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.


I want to add these important actions that will reduce the risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease. They are:
1-Keep physically active
2-Maintain a healthy body weight
3-Avoid second-hand smoke
4- Maintaining clean air


There is a consumer health education program that prepares people to live a healthier lifestyle.
Click here to learn more about it or to start preparing.

Horsemeat Has Healthy Eating Benefits-Study

 Researchers say horsemeat is healthier than other meat, is high in iron, low in saturated fat,  a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a good source of omega-3.

Based on this report it is healthier than other meat and similar to fish, making it ideal for  the prevention if iron deficiency anaemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The participants of the study were men age 20- 50. They were split into two groups as follows:

1. Group 1 ate 2 x 175 g of horsemeat per week for three months
2. Group 2 ate other meat, but no horse meat for three months

Blood tests were done at the start of the study, at 45 days into the study and at 90 days.

Results- The participants who ate horsemeat had a 6% drop in total cholesterol and a 9.1% in bad cholesterol.

Read  more about this study.

For healthy eating  2 servings of fish per week is recommended.

For healthy eating poly-unsaturated  and mono-unsaturated fats are recommended for our fat and oil requirements. Saturated fat; on the other hand, must be limited because it is associated with high choloesterol and obesity.

For a simple guide to our daily food requirements read my Healthy Eating Guide, it is based on Canada Food Guide.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked To Healthy Babies

There is another good reason for including a healthy diet in family planning. This time researchers linked Omega-3 to healthier babies and  reduced risk for premature delivery.

Omega-3 is present in oily fish and fish oil and is available as a supplement. Omega -3 is also present in some packaged food products that have it as an additive.

 In a double blind clinical trials study done on Omega-3 fatty acids, researchers found that mothers who took the supplement during pregnancy have healthier babies.

The participants were 154 healthy women. During the last half of their pregnancy there were given either:

1. A daily dose of 600mg of Omega-3
2. A placebo

Result 
There were no adverse effects to taking DHA.

The mothers who took the supplement had babies that weighed more and were longer.

Of the mothers  who took the placebo, 5% had premature births compared to only 0.6% of those who took the supplement.

For the study the researchers took in account:

• Maternal education
• Socio-economic status
• Previous pregnancies
• Smoking
• Health risk factors   

Pregnant women should contact their doctors to see if they can benefit from the supplement. there may be other factors  to consider.

 Women who are not pregnant and are planning to have a family could make healthy eating a part of their plans; healthy eating includes fish,  fish oils and omega-3 food products.

Click Here for our 'Health Eating Guide for non-pregnant women.

Read more about the study.