THE TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE RESEARCH ARTICLES OF 20014
Over the past year I’ve shared with you over seventy postings containing the most important research findings reported in the areas of nutrition, natural treatments, and lifestyle factors that we in Integrative Medicine believe are the best treatments now and for the future.
On this seventh day of our daily countdown please see #4 of my TOP 10 research articles of the year. The most important criteria that I considered for inclusion in the list was the study’s importance in changing our understanding or treatment approach to any disease. Today’s pick is about the evidence that shows that following the basics of a healthy diet and lifestyle can literally save your life. In that regard , it is my hope that some reader(s) of my top 10 Research Articles of 2014 will take any of the information to heart and it can inspire them to enjoy better health in their lives. If I am of help to any reader in this way, my job will have been well done.
Thank you and HERE”S #4
“Healthy Lifestyle Choices May DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK IN MEN”
According to newly published research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the big news is that fully 80% or more of the heart attacks occurring in men are preventable by a healthy lifestyle. And importantly, even if healthier lifestyle changes are made after someone is already on medication for medical problems, they still benefit from making those changes.
Following a healthy lifestyle, as assessed in the study included maintaining a healthy weight and diet, exercise, not smoking, and moderate alcohol intake.
The study analyzed these factors for 20,721 healthy Swedish males from ages 45-79 years.
Their lifestyles were assessed for the presence or absence of healthy habits over an 11 year period. The subjects answered questionnaires which asked about their, diet, belly fat, alcohol intake, amount of physical activity and exercise, and smoking status. Professor Agneta Akesson, Ph.D., lead author of the study from Stockholm Sweden’s Institute of Environmental Medicine says “It is not surprising that healthy lifestyle choices would lead to a reduction in heart attacks”. “What is surprising is how drastically the risk dropped due to these factors.”
Men who answered positively in all lifestyle factors regarding their healthier diet, only moderate alcohol consumption, not smoking, exercising or being very physically active, and having the expected low belly fat as a result of their habits, had an 86 percent lower risk.
Unfortunately in our society currently, less than 2 percent of the American male population conforms to what is felt to be the most beneficial lifestyle. But there still is hope for everyone else. If you don’t lower your risk by as much as 86% , it’s clear from this study that the better you do with these lifestyle factors, the more your risk of heart disease will decline. Hopefully for some, this information will spur them to take the more committed personal action necessary to achieve the drastic reduction in their risk of heart attack – 86% !, that is possible.
For more of the latest in nutritional/ lifestyle research check all of my blog posts at www.drsobo.com/blog
For the best in Physician supervised Weight Reduction and Integrative Medicine, call Henry C. Sobo, M.D., at 203-348-8805 or write us at [email protected]