Medium or high intake of margarine is associated with a 50% increased risk of a nonfatal heart attack

This post includes a summary of a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition January 1997, Volume 51, Number 1, Pages 30-32 and a recipe for carne asada.

Study title and authors:
Margarine intake and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Italian women

Books:

A Tavani1, E Negri1, B D'Avanzo1 and C La Vecchia1,2

1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milano, Italy
2Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università di Milano, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy

This study can be accessed at: http://www.nature.com/?file=/ejcn/journal/v51/n1/abs/1600356a.html

The study examined the relationship between margarine intake and nonfatal heart attacks in 429 Italian women, aged 18-74 years, in hospital with diagnosis of heart attack and 866 controls.

The study found that medium or high intake of margarine was associated with a 50% increased risk of nonfatal heart attack.

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Recipe of the day

Carne Asada

Food Mall: Flank Steak

Ingredients:

■1 1/2 pounds (grass fed) flank steak
■4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

■1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
■1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
■1 teaspoon cumin
■1 teaspoon chili powder
■1 teaspoon oregano
■Pinch cayenne pepper
■2 limes, juiced
■8 to 12 ounces beef broth

Directions:
Slice the flank steak on the diagonal into thin strips.

Combine all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag or in a shallow dish (meat should be completely covered in liquid).

Marinate in the refrigerator at least 3 hours. Take out and drain off the marinade. Lightly salt the steak. The meat can be cooked in a skillet with coconut oil or grilled.

Cook 3-6 minutes on each side for medium-rare.

Carne Asada



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Do statins cause a deterioration in pain-free walking?

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in Vasa 2009 May;38(2):155-9 and a recipe for homemade pork rinds.

Study title and authors:
The influence of atorvastatin on walking performance in peripheral arterial disease.
Bregar U, Poredos P, Sabovic M, Jug B, Sebestjen M.
Department of Vascular Disease, University of Ljubljana Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588303

Books:

The study investigated if statins could improve walking performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. The patients were divided into 2 groups, the statin group (atorvastatin 20 mg/day), and the control group (placebo), and were asked to practice interval exercise for at least half an hour per day unto a maximum of one hour per day.

The study also measured the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index. The Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI), known more commonly as an ABI, is the ratio of the blood pressure in the lower legs to the blood pressure in the arms. Compared to the arm, lower blood pressure in the leg is an indication of blocked arteries (peripheral vascular disease). The ABI is calculated by dividing the systolic blood pressure at the ankle by the systolic blood pressures in the arm.

The study found:
(a) The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) did not change significantly in either group.
(b) After 3 months the pain-free walking distance increased 41% in the statin group.
(c) After 3 months the pain-free walking distance increased 100% in the placebo group.

To conclude:
(i) Statins did not improve peripheral arterial disease (no change in the ankle-brachial pressure index).
(ii) The placebo group increased their pain-free walking distance by an extra 59% compared to the statin users. It may be argued that statins inhibited the expected progress of pain-free walking distance that 3 months of regular exercise shoud induce.

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Recipe of the day

Homemade Pork Rinds

Ingredients:
•Pork skin;
•Salt (optional)

Technique:

Pork Skin

1.Preheat your oven to 325 F.

2.Put the skin on a baking sheet. Put in on parchment paper and it will be much easier to clean afterwards.

3.Put the skin in the oven for anywhere between 1.5 hours to 3 hours. Most recipes call for 3 hours of cooking, but my experience tells me that most of the time it’s ready after 1.5 hours. You want them crispy but you don’t want it to be hard as a rock.

4.Get it out of the oven, let it cool a bit and enjoy. They are delicious when still a little hot. If there was a lot of fat attached to it and you don’t cook them for too long, there will be a crunchy and moist side and you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds.

Homemade Pork Rinds



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High intake of soy foods is associated with low sperm concentration

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in Human Reproduction 2008 Nov;23(11):2584-90 and a recipe for zucchini and sweet potato frittata.

Study title and authors:
Soy food and isoflavone intake in relation to semen quality parameters among men from an infertility clinic.
Chavarro JE, Toth TL, Sadio SM, Hauser R.
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. jchavarr@hsph.harvard.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18650557

Books:

The study examined the association of soy foods and soy isoflavones with sperm concentration. The intake of 15 soy-based foods in the previous 3 months was assessed for 99 male partners of subfertile couples who presented for semen analyses to the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center.

The study found:
(a) Men in the highest category of soy food intake had 41 million sperm/ml less than men who did not consume soy foods.
(b) Results for individual soy isoflavones were similar to the results for soy foods and were strongest for glycitein.

To conclude: High intake of soy foods and soy isoflavones is associated with lower sperm concentration.

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Recipe of the day

Zucchini and Sweet Potato Frittata

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Eggs

•2 tbsp butter (Ghee) or coconut oil;

•8 eggs;
•1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut in slices;
•2 sliced zucchinis;
•1 sliced red bell pepper;
•2 tbsp fresh parsley;
•Salt and pepper to taste.

Technique:
1.Heat a pan over a medium-low heat;

2.Add the oil and sweet potato slices and cook until soft, about 8 minutes;

3.Add the zucchini and red bell pepper slices and cook for an other 4 minutes;

4.While it cooks, whisk the eggs in a bowl, making sure to incorporate a lot of air in the mixture;

5.Season the egg mixture with salt and pepper and add to the cooking veggies;

6.Cook on low heat until just set, about 10 minutes;

7.Finish the frittata until golden under a heated broiler.

8.Cut the finished frittata into wedges and serve with fresh parsley.

Zucchini and Sweet Potato Frittata



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Insufficient dietary choline may affect muscle function

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Food and Function 2011 Jan 11;2(1):53-62 and a recipe for liver bordelaise.

Study title and authors:
The impact of choline availability on muscle lipid metabolism.
Michel V, Singh RK, Bakovic M.

Books:

Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, Animal Science and Nutrition Building, Room 346 University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. mbakovic@uoguelph.ca.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21773586

Michel notes how choline is essential for cell membranes and brain functioning. Insufficient dietary choline supply can cause choline deficiency which manifests in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The study investigated the effects of choline deficiency on muscle fuction.

Michel found that choline deficiency altered the composition of muscle membrane cells and advesely affected muscle function.

The richest dietary food sources of choline are (concentration mg/100 g): beef liver (418), chicken liver (290), eggs (251).

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Recipe of the day

Liver Bordelaise

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Beef Liver

4 slices bacon, chopped

2 1/2 pounds beef liver

small white onions
water
1 carrot, grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Dash ground allspice
2 cups red wine
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Directions:
Heat oven to 325° F. (slow).

Fry bacon bits until crisp; set aside.

Cut liver in 2-inch strips and brown in bacon fat, adding onions when partially browned.

Transfer to a 3-quart casserole; sprinkle with carrot and seasonings and pour in wine and water.

Cover and cook in 325° F. oven for 1 1/4 hours or until tender.

Sprinkle with bacon bits and parsley.

Liver Bordelaise



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Vegetarians have a higher risk of heart disease compared to omnivores

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2005; 46:1957-1958 and a recipe for noisettes of lamb with anchovy, mint and lime marinade.

Study title and authors:
Vascular Dysfunction in Chinese Vegetarians: An Apparent Paradox?
Timothy Kwok, MD, Ping Chook, MD, Lucia Tam, MPh, Mu Qiao, PhD, Jean L.F. Woo, MD, David S. Celermajer, PhD and Kam S. Woo, MD, FACC*
* Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR (Email: ramsangwoo@cuhk.edu.hk).

This study can be accessed at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/46/10/1957

Books:

The study investigated the following heart disease risk factors in 49 vegetarians and 49 omnivores:

(i) Carotid intima-media thickness (a measurment of the combined thicknesses of the intimal and medial layers of the carotid artery walls - so the greater the carotid intima-media thickness, the greater the risk of heart disease).
(ii) Flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery (a measurement of blood flow in the brachial artery - the less the flow the greater the risk of heart disease).
(iii) Vitamin B12 levels.
(iv) Homocysteine levels.
(v) Blood pressure.

The study found:
(a) Vegetarians had significantly greater carotid intima-media thickness than omnivores.
(b) Vegetarians had less flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery than omnivores.
(c) Vegetarians had lower vitamin B12 levels than omnivores.
(d) Vegetarians had higher homocysteine levels than omnivores.
(e) Vegetarians had higher blood pressure than omnivores.
(f) Vegetarians ate less protein, less saturated fat and less cholesterol than omnivores.

To conclude: Vegetarians have a higher risk of heart disease compared to omnivores.

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Recipe of the day

Noisettes of Lamb with Anchovy, Mint and Lime Marinade

Ingredients:

4 lean lamb noisettes

30ml/2tbsp butter

For the Anchovy, Mint and Lime Marinade:

Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Food Mall: Lamb Loin

30ml/2tbsp freshly chopped mint

15ml/1tbsp sherry vinegar

2 anchovy fillets, drained and finely chopped

15ml/1tbsp Dijon or wholegrain mustard

30ml/2tbsp butter

Juice of ½ lime

For the Pan Fried Asparagus:

15ml/1tbsp butter
400g/14oz asparagus, trimmed and lightly steamed

For the Sherry Dressing:

50ml/2floz sherry vinegar

15ml/1tbsp butter
Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Method:

1.To prepare the marinade; place all the ingredients into a large shallow dish and mix well.

2.Place the noisettes in the marinade mixture and coat on both sides. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

3.To prepare the pan-fried asparagus; heat a large non-stick griddle or frying pan, coat the asparagus in the butter and cook for 5-8 minutes, turning occasionally until tender, drain, transfer to a large serving plate and keep warm.

4.Heat the butter for the noisettes in a clean non-stick griddle or frying pan until hot. Add the lamb and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side over a moderate heat until cooked.

5.To make the dressing; place all the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until combined and spoon over the asparagus.

6.Serve.

Noisettes of Lamb with Anchovy, Mint and Lime Marinade

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with more suicide attempts

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders 2011 Apr 25 and a recipe for rib-eye steak with beefy onion sauce.

Study title and authors:
Measurement of total serum cholesterol in the evaluation of suicidal risk.
Olié E, Picot MC, Guillaume S, Abbar M, Courtet P.
Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier, France; CHRU Montpellier, France; INSERM U1061, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21521628

Books:

The study investigated the association between suicidal behavior and low levels of cholesterol in men and women. A total of 3207 subjects were included, divided into three groups: 510 patients with a history of suicidal attempts, 275 patients with no history of suicidal attempts, and 2422 controls.

 
The study found:
(a) Cholesterol leves were significantly lower in suicide attempters than in non-attempters and controls for both genders.
(b) The proportion of suicide attempters with the lowest cholesterol levels was significantly higher than those with the highest cholesterol levels.
 
To conclude: Low cholesterol levels are associated with more suicide attempts.
 
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Recipe of the day

Rib-Eye Steak with Beefy Onion Sauce

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Rib-Eye Steak

2 lean beef rib-eye, sirloin or rump steak

25g/1oz butter

5ml/1tsp tallow

½ large onion, peeled and sliced

5ml/1tsp balsamic vinegar

150ml stock 

Method:

1.Heat the butter and tallow in a pan. Cook the steaks according to preference. During the last two minutes of the cooking time add the onion. Once cooked, remove steaks from the pan and keep warm.

2.Add the balsamic vinegar and stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes until reduced by about half.

3.Serve the steak and sauce with the celeriac mash or spinach mash (just stir spinach through the steaming mash to wilt slightly and serve) and seasonal green vegetables.

Rib-Eye Steak

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Women eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet have a greater risk of having a baby with a birth defect

This post includes a synopsis of a paper published in Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 2011 Jun 12 and a recipe for pot-cooked chicken.

Study title and author:
The supply of choline is important for fetal progenitor cells.
Zeisel SH.

Books:

Nutrition and Pediatrics, Nutrition Research Institute, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, United States.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21693194

Zeisel notes that dietary choline is essential for the proper development of a fetus. For instance, choline is needed for cell membranes and brain development.

Zeisel found that:
(a) Choline is mainly found in foods that contain fat and cholesterol.
(b) Women eating diets low in choline have a greater risk of having a baby with a birth defect.
(c) Forty years ago, diets commonly contained choline-rich foods but now women in the USA tend to eat diets low in choline content because of dietary advice from nutritionists and physicians.

To conclude: Women eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet have a greater risk of having a baby with a birth defect.

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Recipe of the day

Pot-Cooked chicken

Ingredients:

1 medium chicken, weighing about 1.5-1.6kg

Food Mall: Chicken

225g unsmoked streaky bacon in one piece, cut into chunks

3 tbsp butter
12 shallots or button onions, peeled (or 6-8 small onions peeled and halved)
4-6 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks (or 4 carrots and 4 small turnips)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
275ml apple cider
425ml chicken stock
1 small bunch of parsley stalks (or 2 tsp dried parsley)
2 sprigs fresh thyme or oregano (or ¾ tsp dried thyme)
1 bay leaf
8 medium mushrooms, sliced

Directions:
1.Preheat the oven to 200C.

2.Heat the butter in a large flameproof casserole dish until quite hot. Add the chicken, whole, and fry it while turning it regularly so that it is browned evenly all over. Once browned, remove from the pot and set aside on a plate.

3.Put the crushed garlic, bacon, onion and carrots into the pot and fry for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until they have coloured a little.

4.Remove the vegetables from the pot, place the chicken in the centre of the pot and then arrange the vegetables around the chicken.

5.Add the cider, stock, parsley, thyme and bay leaf to the pot. Bring to simmering point, then transfer the pot to the oven without the lid but with a piece of foil over the chicken breast.

6.Cook for 30 minutes, uncovering and basting the chicken breast every so often with the stock (note that if you have doubled the stock then you probably won’t need to rebaste).

7.Remove the foil, add the mushrooms and bake for a further 30 minutes, basting frequently with the juices in the pot.

8.Once cooked, remove the chicken and vegetables from the pot and place on a plate in a warming oven (if you don’t have a warming over, turn the oven off – it should soon cool to a temperature ethat will keep the chicken warm without cracking the plate – I tend to leave it on 50C to act as a warming oven). Take care to pick out the bay leaf and any herb stalks from the thyme and parsley and discard these.

9.Place the pot with the sauce over a high heat and boil rapidly to reduce the sauce until it thickens a little.

Pot-Cooked Chicken



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