The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Even in adulthood a high margarine intake increases the risk of asthma

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2005 Jan;59(1):8-15 and a recipe for sweet potato and zucchini frittata.

Study title and authors:
Dietary intake of fatty acids, antioxidants and selected food groups and asthma in adults.
Nagel G, Linseisen J.
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, DKFZ German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. g.nagel@dkfz-heidelberg.de

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15329676

Real Food: What to Eat and Why
Books:
The study investigated the effects of antioxidants and various foods on the clinical manifestation of asthma in adulthood by comparing the dietary habits of 105 people with asthma with 420 controls.
 
The study found:
(a) The dietary intake of antioxidants had no effect on asthma risk.
(b) Those who ate the most margarine had a 73% increased risk of asthma compared to those who ate the least.
(c) Women who ate the most margarine had a 47% increased risk of asthma compared to those women who ate the least.
(d) Men who ate the most margarine had a 151% increased risk of asthma compared to those men who ate the least.
 
Nagel concludes: Even in adulthood a high margarine intake increases the risk of clinical onset of asthma.
 
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Recipe of the day

Sweet Potato and Zucchini Frittata

Ingredients:
Organic Soy-free Omega 3 Eggs (8 dozen)
Food Mall: Eggs
10 eggs, whisked together
1 small sweet potato, peeled and grated
2 small zucchinis, grated
1/2 red onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
8 bacon strips, diced

Instructions:
In a large skillet, cook the diced bacon until crispy. Pour out almost all of the grease, leaving some behind to cook the veggies in. Add the onion, garlic, and grated sweet potato and cook until the shredded potato is tender. Add the zucchini and saute for another 3-4 minutes. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of your pan and pour the eggs evenly over the mixture. Cover and let cook over medium heat for about 4 minutes or until the eggs start to bubble around the edges. Move the frittata into your oven and under the broiler for another 3-4 minutes or until the frittata is not longer runny on top and the frittata is firm. Watch carefully while cooking! Slice like a pizza to serve.

Sweet Potato and Zucchini Frittata