As if you needed any more proof that fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good for you, a new study finds they may cut your chances of heart failure by 41%. Conversely, the so-called Southern diet, which focuses on meats, fried and processed foods and lots of sweet tea, was tied to a 72% increased risk of heart failure. “Eat more plants, limit red and processed meat,” said lead researcher Dr. Kyla Lara, a cardiology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Lara cautioned that this study cannot prove different diets cause or prevent heart failure, only that they are linked. Nearly 6 million American adults suffer from heart failure, and that number is expected to rise with the aging population. The condition occurs when the heart does not pump blood sufficiently to meet the body’s needs. Steps to prevent heart failure include not smoking, keeping blood pressure under control, maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthy foods. Getting people to eat healthier requires that they be educated about the benefits of plant-based diets and have access to low-cost healthy foods, Lara said. “Animal meat is not necessary for a nutritious diet, in terms of health promotion and quality of life,” she said. “Now is the time to get on board with a plant-based diet — it’s going to be the future of health.”…  read on >

Want to get more veggies into your diet but feeling bored with the same old side dishes? Making noodles from vegetables is the answer. They’re a great substitute for high-calorie, low-fiber traditional pasta and work just as well as a base for your favorite sauces. While it’s possible to use a sturdy vegetable peeler to turn carrots or zucchini into noodle-length strips, a tool called a mandoline will cut your prep time in half. Just be aware that the mandoline blade has very sharp edges. You’ll want to hold the pusher accessory as you run the length of your vegetables across the blade. In addition, wear a thick kitchen glove to protect your fingers. Zucchini is perfect for the mandoline because it slices easily. You can make the following sauce ahead of time. It yields enough for another meal. Zucchini Noodles With Marinara Sauce 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Red chili flakes to taste 2 28-ounce cans San Marzano tomatoes 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/4 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup white wine or broth, any variety 1 basil sprig 2 large zucchini 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive, safflower or grapeseed oil 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Brown the garlic in two tablespoons of oil for two to three…  read on >

When you eat during the day could influence your chances of surviving a heart attack, a new study finds. Specifically, skipping breakfast and eating dinner late in the evening were associated with poorer recovery and increased risk of death, scientists report. “Our research shows that the two eating behaviors are independently linked with poorer outcomes after a heart attack, but having a cluster of bad habits will only make things worse,” said study author Dr. Marcos Minicucci, from Sao Paolo State University in Brazil. “People who work late may be particularly susceptible to having a late supper and then not being hungry in the morning,” he noted. The study included 113 heart attack patients, average age 60, who were asked about their eating habits when being admitted to a coronary intensive care unit. Those with a pattern of skipping breakfast and eating dinner late in the evening had a four to five times higher risk of death, another heart attack or angina (chest pain) within 30 days after leaving the hospital. A pattern of breakfast skipping was defined as eating nothing before lunch — other than beverages such as coffee and water — at least three times per week. A pattern of late dinners was defined as having a meal within two hours before bedtime at least three times per week. Of the patients in…  read on >

You might be surprised to learn that food allergies can start in adulthood and involve a food you’ve eaten without a problem for your entire life. For adults as well as kids, the top — but not the only — food culprits are eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, wheat and soy, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Just as with childhood food allergies, you’ll need to do your best to avoid these foods and be prepared in case you inadvertently come into contact with one of them. Signs of a Severe Allergic Reaction Hives or pale/bluish skin tone. Cramps and/or vomiting. Trouble swallowing or swelling of the tongue. Weak pulse. Feeling dizzy or faint. Shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing. Inability to breathe, and drop in blood pressure. The most serious reaction is called anaphylaxis, an extreme inability to breathe that can lead to shock. It is a life-threatening emergency. Keep in mind that allergic reactions can be unpredictable. Most happen within a few hours of contact, but some are instantaneous. It could take only a small amount of the allergen to cause swelling, hives or anaphylaxis. Also, your body could experience more than one type of reaction — your skin, gastrointestinal tract, heart and/or breathing could be affected. So it’s important to call your doctor and ask…  read on >

You might have seen fennel in the produce section of your market without knowing what exactly it was. Fennel is a fragrant bulb that can be a food lover’s dream ingredient, because it has a refreshing taste, similar to anise or licorice, and pairs well with other ingredients to create gourmet dishes. Many cooks miss out because they aren’t sure how to prepare it, especially when it’s sold with its long feathery leaves intact. But fennel is surprisingly easy to prepare and can be enjoyed raw as well as lightly sauteed, or even slow-cooked as a soup or stew flavoring. Fennel bulbs come in male and female types. The female bulbs are rounder and also sweeter. Both work equally well in this salad with tomatoes and cumin seeds. It calls for trimming off the stalks. Save them for another dish — they can be used much the way you would celery stalks. Always choose bulbs that feel heavy in your hand and are free of cracks and brown spots. Shaved Fennel Salad With Tomatoes and Cumin 1 pound plum tomatoes 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided Seasoning salt of your choice 2 fennel bulbs, trimmed 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper 1 tablespoon cumin seeds Quarter the tomatoes and squeeze out the seeds using your hands or scoop them out with a…  read on >

A new Nutrition Facts label that highlights the amount of added sugars in food could prevent nearly 1 million cases of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. The new label, first proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2016, adds a new line under the Total Carbohydrate category that details the amount of sugar that has been added on top of the sugars already contained in a food product. If consumers had access to this new label, their food choices could prevent more than 350,000 cases of heart disease and nearly 600,000 cases of type 2 diabetes over the next two decades, researchers predicted using a computer model. This would save the United States $31 billion in health care costs and $62 billion in productivity and other societal costs, said senior researcher Renata Micha. She’s an associate research professor at the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy, in Boston. These effects could be even stronger if the new Nutrition Facts label prompts food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar they add to products, Micha said. “If this added sugar label prompts the food industry to reformulate even a portion of its products to have fewer added sugars, these health and financial benefits would be doubled, which is a staggering impact,” Micha said. Added sugars account…  read on >

U.S. health officials say an outbreak of E. coli illness from an unknown source has risen to 96 cases across five Eastern states, up from the 72 cases reported last Friday. The origin of the food-borne illnesses remains unknown, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections,” the CDC said in a statement. States affected are Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Cases of illness first began to be reported March 2, and the last reported case began on March 26. Although no deaths have been reported, “of 67 people with information available, 11 have been hospitalized” because their cases have been so severe, the CDC said. This outbreak has been linked to the E. coli O103 strain of bacterium, and the CDC says people typically get sick within three to five days of eating E. coli-contaminated food. “Most people get diarrhea [often bloody], severe stomach cramps and vomiting,” the agency said. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.” There are ways you can protect yourself, however. Be sure to wash hands while preparing food, and cook meats thoroughly. “To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to…  read on >