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
Showing posts with label Homocysteine and Heart Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homocysteine and Heart Disease. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 May 2010

Vegetarians at higher risk of heart disease than omnivores

This post includes a summary of a paper published in the Journal of Nutrition 2002 Feb;132(2):152-8 and a recipe for basil and chillies beef stir-fry.

Study title and authors:
The Liberation Diet: Setting America Free from the Bondage of Health Misinformation!
Books:
Plasma homocysteine levels in Taiwanese vegetarians are higher than those of omnivores.
Hung CJ, Huang PC, Lu SC, Li YH, Huang HB, Lin BF, Chang SJ, Chou HF.
Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11823571
 
High homocysteine levels in the blood can damage the lining of the arteries. People who have very high levels of homocysteine are at an increased risk for heart disease.
 
The author found vegetarians have higher blood homocysteine levels than omnivores.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 


Recipe of the day

Basil and Chillies Beef Stir-Fry

Ingredients:
•Fat for cooking;
•3 finely chopped red chillies
•3 minced garlic cloves;
•2 tbsp fish sauce, optional (use water if you don’t have fish sauce);
•1 lb tender beef, cut in thin slices;
•150 g chopped asparagus;
•1 cup fresh basil leaves;
•Thinly sliced red chilli for garnishing;

Technique:
Mix the chopped chillies, garlic and fish sauce in a bowl and add the beef. Put in the refrigerator to marinate for about 2 hours. Heat some fat in the wok, stir-fry the beef as per the general technique and remove from the wok. Add more fat and stir-fry the asparagus. Add 1/4 cup water or stock when the asparagus is almost cooked. Return the beef to the wok, add the basil and cook for another minute. Garnish the finished dish with slices of chilli.

Basil and Chillies Beef Stir-Fry

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Vegan diet may lead to heart disease risk

This post includes a summary of a paper published in the International Journal of Epidemiology Volume 24, Number 4 Pp. 704-709 and a recipe for mustard and herb rubbed leg of lamb.

Study title and authors:
Serum Total Homocysteine and Coronary Heart Disease
The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability
Books:
EGIL ARNESEN*, HELGA REFSUM**, KAARE H BØNAA*, PER MAGNE UELAND**, OLAV H FØRDE* and JAN E NORDREHAUG
* Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø MH-building, N-9037 Tromso, Norway
** Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Central Laboratory, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen Norway
Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen Norway

This paper can be accessed at: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/4/704

The homocysteine levels of 21,826 subjects, aged 12–61 years were measured to investigate the relationship between homocysteine and heart disease.

The study found that for each 4 µmol/l increase in homocysteine levels there was a 32% increased risk of heart disease.


Arnesen concludes that high homocysteine levels are a risk factor for heart disease.

High homocysteine levels may be the result of B vitamin deficiencies caused by a vegan diet. See here

The best dietary sources of B vitamins are meat and poultry.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 


Recipe of the day

Mustard and Herb Rubbed Leg of Lamb

Ingredients:
USDA Prime Fresh American Leg of Lamb oven ready 6 to 7 lb $ 69.99
Food Mall: Leg of Lamb
1kg/2.2kg leg of lamb
60ml/4tbsp wholegrain mustard
60ml/4tbsp English mustard
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
6 sprigs fresh thyme
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Salt and freshly milled black pepper
30ml/2tbsp butter
3 large, carrots, peeled, halved and cut into four lengthways
2 red peppers, cored, deseeded and chopped

Method:
1.Using a sharp knife make deep incisions all over the lamb joint. Mix together the mustards, garlic and herbs. Rub over the lamb and season. If time allows cover and leave in a refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

2.Preheat the oven to Gas mark 4-5, 180-190°C,350-375°F.

3.Place the joint in a large roasting tray and drizzle with the butter. Roast uncovered for the calculated cooking time. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.

4.40 minutes before the end of the cooking time remove the roasting tray from the oven and add the carrots, peppers and thyme around the lamb joint. Toss gently.

5.Serve the lamb whole or sliced with the roasted vegetables.

Mustard and Herb Rubbed Leg of Lamb

Vegans at risk of heart disease because of lowered B vitamin levels and elevated homocysteine

Put Your Heart in Your Mouth
Books:
This post includes a summary of a paper published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2006;50:485-491 and a recipe for chicken liver pate.

Study title and authors:
B-Vitamin Status and Concentrations of Homocysteine in Austrian Omnivores, Vegetarians and Vegans
D. Majchrzak, I. Singer, M. Männer, P. Rust, D. Genser, K.-H. Wagner, I. Elmadfa
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

This paper can be accessed at: http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowAbstract&ArtikelNr=95828&Ausgabe=232240&ProduktNr=223977

The paper found that vegan diets were deficient in Vitamins B12 and B2. This led to elevated homocysteine levels which are an indicator of heart disease. See here

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 


Recipe of the day

Chicken Liver Paté

Ingredients:
Chicken Liver
Use two large or up to four small cloves of fresh garlic.
1lb chicken liver
1 small onion (or 1/2 of a large onion), chopped
1/2 cup red wine, or balsamic vinegar
2-4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 sprig fresh rosemary
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup butter
Sea salt
2 tablespoons cracked black pepper (optional)

Preparation:
•Sauté the liver and onions in a couple of tablespoons of the butter until the livers are browned and the onions are tender.

•Add wine, garlic, mustard, herbs and lemon juice and cook uncovered until most of the liquid has gone.

•Transfer the mixture into a food processor and blend to a smooth paste along with the rest of the butter 1Tbsp at a time until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency – you don’t want it to be crumbly.

•Add salt to taste.

•Put pate in a shallow dish to refrigerate before serving.

•(optional) Press cracked pepper onto the top of it or garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary.

•Enjoy spread on celery, carrots, cucumbers, peppers or any other veggies you want to dip!

Chicken Liver Pate