People who’ve already had a heart attack or stroke can cut their odds for another one in half if they regularly take cholesterol-lowering statins. Yet new research found that only about 6 percent of patients take these drugs as prescribed by their doctor. “Very few patients were optimally compliant. We found that the less compliant you were, the worse you did,” said the study’s lead author, Heidi May, an epidemiologist from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah. Why are so many people skipping this potentially lifesaving medication? May said the study wasn’t designed to tease out exactly why people didn’t take their medicine as they should. But she said it’s possible that patients may not understand how helpful statins can be. Not only do they lower cholesterol, they also help reduce inflammation in the body, she said. May said she doesn’t think it’s a lack of education, at least not initially. “Our institution does educate when people are discharged, but patients are given a lot of information. This study emphasizes the need for continued education to take medications as prescribed,” she said. Researchers also don’t think cost is an issue, because the medicines are now generic and relatively cheap — about $10 for a 90-day supply. But concern about side effects may be an issue for some. If that’s one of your concerns,…  read on >

Every home chef will find that cooking healthfully is easier with a well-made set of knives. When shopping, let quality, not quantity, be your guide. You can master most any cutting task with just three knives. The workhorse is the chef’s knife, about eight to 10 inches long. It’s the all-purpose knife you’ll use every day for chopping, slicing and dicing. Next is a serrated knife, eight to 10 inches long. It’s handy for slicing bread and roasts, and cutting hard foods like squash and root vegetables. Third is a paring knife, about three to four inches long. Use it for peeling, coring and slicing small foods like citrus, Brussels sprouts and nuts. When shopping, look for a heavy, strong handle and an extended metal “tang” — this is the section of steel that goes all the way through to the end of the handle. When it comes to size, don’t be wowed by the big, shiny models. Think about comfort. How does the handle feel in your hand? Is it too big or are you concerned about cutting yourself? Shop in a brick-and-mortar store so you can hold the floor models. A knife should feel comfortable in your hand. Take note of the weight and size. Smaller 6-inch long models can be better for beginner cooks. At home, safeguard your knives with a few…  read on >

Cooking healthy at home is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. And your budget doesn’t have to take a hit when you stock up on this list of good-for-you foods. When it comes to produce, it’s often easier to save money when buying in season, but many vegetable staples are affordable year-round. Stock these superfoods in your fridge’s vegetable crispers. They form the flavor base for many recipes. Vegetable Basics Bell and hot peppers Cabbage Carrots Celery Garlic Mushrooms Onions Add to the list with a variety of greens such as baby kale, baby spinach, watercress and prewashed mixed salad greens. Whether used as the fixings for a full meal or a filling side dish, greens add vital nutrients to your diet. For lean protein, affordable choices include chicken, ground turkey, tilapia and frozen shrimp, which is usually much less expensive than fresh. Lean beef stew cubes are another economical healthy protein good for soups and chili. So are legumes — beans, lentils and split peas. Canned beans might seem inexpensive, but bags of dried beans that you soak and then cook are far more affordable. You can also find more varieties when you buy them dry, if not at your supermarket then at online stores. For whole grains, choose short grain brown rice, brown rice noodles and…  read on >

New parents worry about a lot of things, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says one thing they can cross off that list is concern about giving high-allergy foods too early in life. In fact, the pediatric group says it’s likely better to introduce foods like peanut butter when kids are around 6 months of age. “There’s no reason to restrict early introduction to allergenic foods,” said a co-author of a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Dr. Frank Greer. He’s a professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although experts had advised parents in the past to avoid highly allergenic foods early in life, more recent research has suggested that early exposure to these foods might be a better option. In addition to freeing up parents to let their youngsters try peanut butter or ground peanut products at an early age, the report also said that moms don’t need to restrict their diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding to try to prevent allergies. The report recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first three to four months of life to help protect against the allergic skin condition eczema. Breastfeeding past three or four months (even if it’s not done exclusively) may also offer some protection against wheezing for the first two years of life, and against asthma for an…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — Patients who have high triglycerides and take cholesterol-lowering statins to lower their risk for heart attack or stroke can cut that risk by another 30 percent by adding a high-dose omega-3 fatty acid pill, investigators report. The prescription drug, called Vascepa, is not to be confused with over-the-counter dietary omega-3 (often fish oil) supplements. Such supplements typically contain far lower doses of the critical omega-3 fatty acid called EPA and have not undergone a rigorous safety and effectiveness review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since 2012, the FDA has approved Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) for patients whose triglyceride fat levels exceed 500 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Now, an updated analysis of research first released last September suggests Vascepa markedly reduces a patient’s lifetime risk of dying from heart disease; experiencing a nonlethal heart attack or stroke, or needing heart surgery or hospitalization for a heart complication. “We found a 30 percent reduction in total ischemic events,” said lead author Dr. Deepak Bhatt, referring to any number of serious heart problems caused by restricted blood flow. “That is a very large degree of clinical benefit.” Among 1,000 patients who take Vascepa for five years, nearly 160 serious heart problems would be prevented, he noted. That includes 12 cardiovascular-related deaths, 42 heart attacks, 14 strokes, 76 coronary artery bypasses and 16 hospitalizations…  read on >