Whip up an omelet, keep your heart pumping.Eating egg whites regularly could be just as effective in lowering your blood pressure as taking certain medications, according to a new study presented at the meeting of the American Chemical Society.
When hypertensive rats were fed a specific peptide in egg whites called RVPSL, their blood pressure decreased. More good news: The amount of RVPSL the rodents were given was comparable to a low dose of Captopril, a blood-pressure-lowering medication.
Previous studies have revealed that the egg white peptide acts as an ACE-inhibitor—which helps relax blood vessels, thereby lowering your blood pressure—much in the same way Captopril and other high-blood-pressure medications work.
Of course, rats aren’t people—so more research is needed. For now, though, they’re worthy stand-ins, say scientists, and one day egg whites may be used to treat high blood pressure in combo with medication.
So keep on eating eggs, and reap plenty of other health benefits in the process. They’re packed with protein (6 grams per egg), low in calories (72 per egg), and contain two amino acids—tryptophan and tyrosine—that have high antioxidant properties.
by Jessica Girdwain
Fight strokes with fiber:For every 7 grams of fiber you add to your diet,your first-time stroke risk drops by 7 percent, says a new study review from the U.K.
For example, soluble fiber is broken down and fermented in the colon, helping your liver regulate cholesterol levels. It’s also digested slowly, keeping you feeling more full over time. Meanwhile, insoluble fiber helps your body absorb less cholesterol.
But stick with whole foods rather than popping a supplement. Fiber-rich foods like whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may dial down your stroke risk.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends aiming for 38g of fiber a day, but few people actually meet that mark, says Threapleton. The good news? Even small increases could lower your stroke risk, she says. Slip in these surprising sources of fiber: avocados (13g per fruit), peas (16g per cup), and popcorn (4g in 3 cups).
by Jessica Girdwain
Consuming high amounts of fructose (a type of sugar), artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols (another type of low-calorie sweetener) cause your gut bacteria to adapt in a way that interferes with your satiety signals and metabolism, according to a new paper in Obesity Reviews.
Enjoy.
http://news.menshealth.com/diet-soda-fat/2012/06/21/?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1247152-_-04012013-_-BonusTip-body
Fake sweetener can make you for-real fat.
