Carbohydrate Consumption Linked to Heart Disease

From the ACC: Some Nutrition Experts Blame Excessive Carbohydrates For Obesity, Heart Disease. In a special piece, the Los Angeles Times (12/20, Jameson) reports, "A growing number of top nutritional scientists blame excessive carbohydrates -- not fat -- for America's ills," saying that "cutting carbohydrates is the key to reversing obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension." At present, "Americans, on average, eat 250 to 300 grams of carbs a day, accounting for about 55% of their caloric intake." But, "the most conservative recommendations say they should eat half that amount." Notably, "consumption of carbohydrates has increased over the years with the help of a 30-year-old, government-mandated message to cut fat," the Times points out.

The bottom line is to eat a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and omega 3 fatty acids

Your Burbank Cardiologist

Heart Health and Brain Health Linkage

Good news! Yet another report indicating that things that you do to promote heart health also promote brain health. A study published in the Dec 14 issue of the Archives of Neurology shows that those people who have a high concentration of good cholesterol in their blood (HDL) are at lower risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease (as well as being at lower risk for developing heart disease). Your Burbank Cardiologist Dr. Lisa Matzer

Vitamin D Levels

Good news about Vitamin D levels. The institutes of medicine have concluded that most Americans get enough Vitamin D in their diets. And as a result, they do not recommend routine supplements of Vitamin D. However, they did not address the issue of testing for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many diseases and treatment of a demonstrated deficiency may lower your risk of disease. Read more about other measures to lower your risk of disease at Los Angeles Cardiologist