Eats « Weekly Gravy

Want to know how to avoid blood clots and varicose veins? One physician offers some tips on how to keep your blood vessels healthy. Arteries and veins are collectively known as the vascular system. Arteries transport oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body, while veins carry de-oxygenated, waste-filled blood back to the heart to be renewed, explained Dr. Chelsea Dorsey, a vascular surgeon from University of Chicago Medicine. Problems can occur in both arteries and veins. It’s estimated that 12%-20% of people older than 60 have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and more than 40% of women have venous insufficiency, the underlying condition that leads to varicose and spider veins. Blood clots in veins can occur at any age, and people at risk include those who are sick, injured or unable to walk for a period of time, and women who take birth control pills. Varicose veins are more common among younger people, and women are twice as likely as men to be affected, Dorsey noted. Problems in arteries — such as atherosclerosis (narrowing or hardening of the arteries) — tend to increase with age. The health of your arteries and veins is influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. For example, the most common risk factors for varicose veins and venous insufficiency include a family history of these conditions, spending long periods of time on your… read on >

“Food insecurity” — not having enough money to afford sufficient food — increases the risk of premature death, new research suggests. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 510,000 adults in Canada between 2005 and 2017. Over the study period, nearly 25,500 people died prematurely. The average life expectancy in Canada between 2008 and 2014 was 82, so deaths at or before that age were considered premature. The study found that, compared with adults who had access to enough food, those with food insecurity were 10% to 37% more likely to die early from any cause other than cancer. Rates of premature death from infectious-parasitic diseases, unintentional injuries and suicides were more than twice as high among those with severe food insecurity compared with others, according to the report. Fei Men, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, led the study, which was published Jan. 20 in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Among the adults who died prematurely, those with severe food insecurity died an average of nine years younger than those who were food secure (59.5 years old versus 68.9 years old), the findings showed. “The significant correlations of all levels of food insecurity with potentially avoidable deaths imply that food-insecure adults benefit less from public health efforts to prevent and treat diseases and injuries than their food-secure counterparts,” the… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Regular nut consumption can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 14 percent, says the American College of Cardiology. Nuts contain heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. The group reminds people that a complete heart-healthy diet should include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fish and nuts. But as one ounce of nuts can contain as many as 200 calories, be mindful of your portion size, the group says.

The Harvard-associated lab that created the “CoolSculpting” process of reducing fat says it’s on the trail of the next advance in nonsurgical slimming. CoolSculpting freezes fat cells by applying an ice-cold gel pad to the skin, causing cells to die off and either be flushed away or absorbed by the body, said lead researcher Dr. Lilit Garibyan, an investigator at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Now her lab is trying to make that process even more effective by injecting an icy liquid slurry directly into fat deposits. In tests with pigs, the injectable slurry containing 20% to 40% ice caused fat deposits to melt away over several weeks, researchers reported recently in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The procedure is headed to human clinical trials next, and researchers hope to have it approved and on the market in a few years, Garibyan said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved CoolSculpting in 2008. Garibyan said it remains the only noninvasive technology the FDA has cleared to reduce and reshape fat deposits in the body. The process works using a principle that you observe every time you open your refrigerator — fats freeze at a lower temperature than water, she said. Butter turns to liquid at warmer temperatures, but solidifies in the fridge, Garibyan said. Water remains liquid at… read on >

(HealthDay News) — With the right amount and variety of foods to meet your nutritional needs, a vegetarian diet can be healthy, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA provides healthy eating advice for vegetarians: Think about protein. Incorporate beans, nuts or soy products into your diet. Add calcium. Aside from dairy products, there are many other calcium-fortified foods. Get enough vitamin B12. If you do not eat any animal products, consider a B12 supplement. Check current dietary guidelines to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need.

(HealthDay News) — It is important to remember that apple cider vinegar is not a magic cure-all. But it does have some health benefits, says the University of Chicago Medicine. The school says the product may: Help control blood sugar. Decrease levels of salmonella in food. Moderately boost the ability to lose weight. But the school says apple cider vinegar won’t: Control high blood pressure. Prevent or cure cancer.

If you need yet another health reason to get enough sleep, here’s one that may wake you up: Science shows that a loss of sleep can make you eat more. And that doesn’t mean healthful salads and green veggies. Studies have shown that total sleep deprivation can trigger a reward system in the brain in response to food stimuli. But until recently researchers didn’t know if there was a similar relationship between everyday sleep loss and the brain’s reaction to food. Researchers looked at volunteers who entered a nine-day study period with a built-up sleep debt. Under ideal sleep conditions, scientists were able to show two things: That even small amounts of sleep loss can put the “brain at risk for hyperactivation to food triggers in everyday life, which could be a risk factor for obesity and lifestyle diseases.” These include metabolic disorder, the first step toward diabetes. Yet on the flip side getting the right amount of sleep appears to reduce this hypersensitivity to food stimuli. The study was published in the journal Sleep. Another study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, added work stress to the mix. Researchers found that when people came home after a hard day at work, they were more likely to eat their feelings if they were also sleep-deprived. Simply put, if you don’t get enough sleep, unhealthy… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Allergic reactions are sensitivities to allergens. From animal dander to foods, allergens may cause hives, itching, a rash and other symptoms. For a mild-to-moderate reaction, MedlinePlus mentions these first aid steps: Calm and reassure the person having the reaction. Try to identify the allergen and have the person avoid additional contact with it. If the person develops a rash, apply cool a compress and hydrocortisone. Watch the person for signs of increasing distress. Get prompt medical help. If the allergic reaction is severe, call 911 immediately.

Can television teach kids how to eat healthy? Maybe, suggests new research. Watching cooking shows that featured healthy recipes seemed to encourage healthy eating in children, the study showed. “The findings from this study indicate cooking programs can be a promising tool for promoting positive changes in children’s food-related preferences, attitudes and behaviors,” said lead author Frans Folkvord, from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. The researchers recruited 125 children, aged 10 to 12, who watched 10 minutes of a Dutch public television cooking program designed for children. All were offered a snack as a reward for taking part in the study. Some of the children watched an episode featuring healthy food, while others watched an episode featuring unhealthy food. Those who watched the healthy episode were 2.7 times more likely to choose a healthy snack (an apple or a few pieces of cucumber) than an unhealthy snack (a handful of chips or salted mini-pretzels). The study was published Jan. 8 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Previous research has found children are more likely to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables if they help prepare meals. However, the growing reliance on ready-prepared foods and fewer parents preparing fresh foods have led to a drop in cooking skills among children, the researchers said. They noted that the study was conducted at the… read on >

Elaborate feasts are a centerpiece of the holidays, but all that food can make people with restricted diets feel left out, a new study suggests. People whose allergies or health, religious or cultural norms keep them from sharing the meals with others can leave them lonely, researchers say. “Despite being physically present with others, having a food restriction leaves people feeling left out because they are not able to take part in bonding over the meal,” said researcher Kaitlin Woolley, an assistant professor of marketing at Cornell University. A review of seven previously published studies found that restricted diets predicted loneliness among both children and adults. In one experiment, for instance, when people without food restrictions were given restrictions, they felt lonely. This suggests that these feelings aren’t the result of other issues or just picky eating, Woolley said. More evidence came from people who attended a Passover Seder. When they were reminded that they couldn’t eat leavened foods, participants felt lonelier. But within their restricted group, they felt a stronger bond. In earlier research, Woolley found that strangers felt more connected and trusting when they shared the same food. Also, sharing food from the same plate increased cooperation between strangers. But restricted sharing makes people suffer “food worries,” she said. They’re concerned about what they can eat and if others will judge them for… read on >