Tag Archives: cardiovascular disease

Ectopic Fat

Ectopic Fat
What is ectopic fat? This term refers to the accumulation of fat molecules (triglycerides) in organs not designed to store fat. More specifically, ectopic fat can occur in your liver, pancreas, heart and skeletal muscles with undesirable consequences. Until recently, adipose tissue, which is comprised of fat cells, was thought be solely a fat storage…
more

Saturated Fats and Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Saturated Fats and Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The diet-heart hypothesis Starting in the late 1950s, University of Minnesota physiologist Ancel Keys developed the idea that fats and, subsequently, saturated fats increased blood serum levels of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Many studies show significant associations between elevated blood serum LDL-cholesterol levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, reducing dietary intake of saturated fats…
more

Handgrip Strength

Handgrip Strength
Late-life disability Disability in old age can severely compromise quality of life. Research indicates that decreased muscle strength may lead to disability and functional limitations. Could handgrip strength serve as an easily measured and valid predictor of disability in old age? Researchers used data from the Honolulu Heart Program and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study to…
more

The Perils of Passive Sitting

The Perils of Passive Sitting
How much do Americans sit? We Americans sit a lot. A new study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2001 – 2016 to find out just how much. Not counting sitting while at work, in 2001 the average American adult spent 5.5 hours per day watching TV or videos or…
more