You’ve probably heard of “good” HDL cholesterol and how it may affect heart health. Well, a new study is putting that under scrutiny.

A new, large-scale study shows that HDL cholesterol may not significantly affect heart health, particularly for Black people. A study of nearly 24,000 adults found that low HDL was associated with a somewhat higher risk for heart attack in white people, but that was not the case for Black adults.

On the other hand, high HDL levels – traditionally considered heart healthy – made no difference in the heart risks for Black or white adults.

Experts are now calling for a re-evaluation of how HDL is used to predict people’s risk of developing heart disease. Figuring out whether various “traditional” heart disease risks have similar effects on all people is now at the forefront.

HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, gained its reputation as “good” cholesterol in the Framingham Heart Study, which is still ongoing. In the 70s, researchers found a correlation between higher HDL levels and a lower heart attack incidence.

A decade ago, the study also identified other factors that are now considered key in whether or not people develop heart problems or suffer a stroke. Factors like high blood pressure, high levels of “bad” LDL, smoking, and obesity came out of Framingham.

The issue is that all the participants in the Framingham were white. More recent studies with more racial diversity have raised questions about whether low HDL is “bad” for everybody’s heart.

These new findings show that traditional beliefs do not hold up for Black Americans.

The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and involved nearly 24,000 U.S. adults aged 45 and up who were free of coronary heart disease at the outset. About 42 percent of the participants were Black, and 58 percent were white.

Over the next decade, just over 1,600 people suffered a heart attack or died from coronary heart disease. It turned out that low HDL predicted a modestly higher risk of heart trouble in only white people. Among Black people, low HDL had no impact on risk.

Other research has found that HDL-raising medication offers no heart protection, either.

For Black patients, risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and high LDL should be weighted more heavily. However, those factors only go so far. Social inequities are the main reason why Black Americans are more likely to die from heart disease or stroke than white Americans.

Did you know that reading is one of the best exercises for your memory? It’s true! Not only does it keep your mind active and engaged, but it also helps improve brain function among older adults. In fact, a recent study found that adults who read regularly scored better on memory tests than those who didn’t read as often. So, reading is a great option if you’re looking for ways to stay sharp in old age!

The new study published in Frontiers in Psychology set out to solve the mystery surrounding the relationship between reading and memory skills. It has long been questioned whether reading can help improve memory or if it is the strong working memory that improves reading comprehension skills.

Researchers for the study reached out to the experts at the Champaign Public Library’s Adult Literacy Services to get a list of interesting and engaging books. The team distributed these books to older adults in the local community via iPads. The iPads were also preloaded with a custom app that allowed participants to track their reading progress and allowed them to answer questionnaires.

All participants were required to read for 90 minutes a day, five days a week, for eight weeks. A control group was also given iPads but was required to complete word puzzles instead of reading.

After adjusting for different cognitive skills, including working and episodic memory, as well as other verbal and reading skills, the study was concluded. Researchers found that compared to the puzzle group, those who read books for eight weeks showed significant improvements in working and episodic memory.

Researchers hope the results of this study showing a causal linkage between reading and memory will help to open new options for treatments such as Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health problems.

Protecting Brain Health

While some degree of cognitive decline is nearly inevitable as you age, other numerous factors can take a toll on the ability of the brain to function at peak potential. This can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function. The Smart Pill can help to enhance cognitive function and memory through 9 ingredients that help to support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps to boost circulation, fight free radicals, and provide nutritional support to assist with cognitive function.

You might not like the idea of aerobic exercise. Memories of Jane Fonda or Richard Simmons might not get you in the mood to move. I get it.

But aerobic exercise, also called cardio, is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can help control blood pressure, weight, boost bone health, and more.

Experts recommend everyone gets at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity cardio exercise per week, too. But many don’t. Whether it’s not having the time or the idea that it has to look like the classes of the 80s and 90s, people just don’t do it.

But those hurdles can be overcome by changing how you think about cardio.

One of the first ways to make it more accessible is to think about the timing a little differently. That 150 minutes –2.5 hours – doesn’t have to all be done at once. You don’t even need to do 30 minutes 5 days weekly all at once.

Slicing up that time in a way that works for you can help you get more movement. Doing two or three 10-minute sessions per day can help you reach the weekly target much more quickly.

You can also think about “moderate intensity” a little differently. It may sound overwhelming, but it is not very demanding. You can identify moderate intensity with something called the talk test: you’re at the right level if you are exercising hard enough to break a sweat but can still comfortably hold a conversation.

Lastly, you can think of all the different ways that aerobic exercise can look. It’s not all about jumping jacks and moving from side to side, lifting your knees, and clapping.

Accessible and enjoyable forms of moderate exercise can include:

• Brisk walks
• Hiking
• Dancing (around the house or as part of a class)
• Doing housework
• Working in garden
• Pickleball
• Stair climbing
• Walking on a treadmill
• Swimming

New research from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) suggests that hypermobile joints may be linked with the emergence of depression and anxiety in adolescence. The study looked at the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and patients with hypermobility.

Psychiatric problems can start before the age of 25, including depression and anxiety. Therefore, it’s important to identify the factors that could increase the risk for these disorders. This is what led researchers to analyze the link between joint hypermobility and depression and anxiety.

Joint hypermobility is one of the least understood and appreciated joint differences, but it should not be discounted. This difference arises due to a genetic variation in our connective tissue, which can cause joint laxity or looseness. Researchers found that since connective tissue is present throughout the body, joint hypermobility also affects the nervous system’s fight-or-flight reaction. This means that joint hypermobility can make people more sensitive to strong responses such as fright or sadness.

The study also found that hypermobile joints were more common in females than males. However, it was only found that in males aged 14 years, joint hypermobility increased the risk for depression at age 18.

Lea Milligan, CEO of MQ Mental Health Research, explained, “This study has highlighted the need for more targeted and bespoke support for hypermobile teenagers, particularly girls. The findings don’t just show the need for support for this group of individuals but also demonstrate the importance of research that takes a whole mind, body-brain approach to health and uses longitudinal studies to improve our understanding of which demographics are at higher risk of depression and anxiety.”

Hypermobility is a musculoskeletal condition that affects one in four people in the UK. It can profoundly impact life, causing daily pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. This research helps to identify those at risk for depression and anxiety at a young age, which can help with better, earlier-targeted treatments.

Maintaining Joint Health and Brain Function

As we age, our joints may require support to help them stay strong, flexible, and healthy. Healthy Joints contains multiple ingredients to help support and improve joint health. The primary ingredient in Health Joints is AprèsFlex®, an extract from Boswellia, which has been found in studies to provide rapid support for joint health and mobility. This unique formula also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which contain compounds that are some of the building blocks of healthy joints.

While this study looked at the effects of those with hypermobility, many others suffer from brain function problems, depression, and anxiety. With the help of Anxiety Rescue, you can help to support healthy mood balance and cognitive function. Through a variety of ingredients, this unique formula can help to target multiple aspects of stress, mood support and anxiety. Anxiety Rescue begins to work quickly and improves benefits and support as the weeks go on.

Countless people pop popular pain medications to help them cope with joint pain to make it through the day.

But that short-term relief could come at a long-term cost, according to some new research.

A new study suggests that over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication like aspirin, Aleve, or ibuprofen may make arthritic knee pain worse.

The work found that participants who took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, regularly for four years showed worse results concerning knee synovitis, which is inflammation of the knee.

Researchers also found that cartilage composition was worse in the NSAID users compared to the controls. NSAID pain medications block the production of body chemicals that cause inflammation and are typically taken to provide some short-term relief from arthritis pain.

The most common NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen sodium (Aleve), and are available over the counter at virtually every pharmacy and grocery store.

Researchers looked at data gathered from more than 1,000 participants in a federally-funded long-term observational study of knee arthritis. Participants entered the study between February 2004 and May 2006.

They then compared 277 people who were prescribed NSAIDs for at least a year and compared that with 793 people who weren’t treated with the drugs. All participants also received MRI scans on their knees.

The results may reveal two possibilities. One is that the NSAIDs may not effectively control inflammation in knee arthritis while also causing the cartilage to weaken.

On the other hand, people taking NSAIDs may tend to be more active, thus putting more wear and tear on the joints. They could be using NSAIDs to ease the pain so they can get up and at it.

A randomized-control study would be the best way to determine the effect of NSAIDs on knee pain and structure.

In the meantime, the best ways to prevent or control knee arthritis are to maintain a healthy weight, be active, and build muscle around the joint.

New research led by UNSW Sydney psychologists suggests that exposure therapy and aerobic exercise may help reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. It is common for people with PTSD to be encouraged to try exposure therapy, but up to half of the patients don’t respond to it.

This lack of response from patients to exposure therapy led the researchers to conduct the first known single-blind randomized control trial of its kind. The study analyzed 130 adults with clinically diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and assigned them to two groups. Both groups received nine 90-minute exposure therapy sessions. However, one group was also put through 10 minutes of aerobic exercise after each therapy session, and the other group was given 10 minutes of passive stretching.

On average, people in the aerobic exercise group reported lower severity of PTSD symptoms compared to those who followed stretching exercises after a six-month follow-up. Researchers noted that after one week, there were no differences between the two groups, suggesting the benefits of aerobic exercise take time to develop.

These results offer a promising addition to exposure therapy that may raise the success rate and help many people who are suffering from an anxiety disorder such as PTSD. However, this is the first time the benefits of aerobic exercise and exposure therapy have been observed in a clinical setting, so researchers are quick to caution that more studies are needed before it can become standard practice.

“I’d really like to emphasize that this is the first trial that’s shown this in an anxiety disorder, and I don’t think we should get too excited by it,” said lead researcher Richard Bryant.

“But as with all of these things, you always need multiple trials to actually have any faith in it. So I’m certainly not telling people to run out and start doing exercise after all your exposure therapy, because I think it’s premature after one trial. But having said that, this is very encouraging.”

Researchers believe the exercise helps promote a particular brain growth molecule called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF. This actually promotes synaptic plasticity in the brain, which is vital for learning. So, if more BDNF is active in the brain at the time of exposure therapy, theoretically, it should lead to better results.

Supporting Brain Function and Health

There are numerous factors that can take a toll on the ability of the brain to function at peak potential. This can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function.

The Smart Pill can help to enhance cognitive function and memory through 9 ingredients that help to support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps to boost circulation, fight free radicals, and provide nutritional support to assist with cognitive function.

The holiday season has just begun, and you may already be feeling the effects of salty, fatty, sugary foods that are in no shortage this time of year.

Chocolates, candies, buttery mashed potatoes, little appetizers, egg nog, and more are okay to indulge in from time to time. But making them consistent parts of your holiday diet can contribute to weight gain, higher blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.

This year, try to skip out on some of the butter, cream, sugar, and salt between your big festivities by flavoring your foods with seasonal spices.

Herbs and spices are nature’s way of bringing the flavor. Many are also rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and other healthful compounds that may help with various conditions.

Allspice: Allspice can be used in bread, meats, desserts, and cereals. It goes well with savory dishes like soups, sauces, grains, and vegetables.

Basil: Can be sliced into salads, appetizers, and side dishes. It can also be enjoyed in presto over pasta or in sandwiches.

Cilantro: Use it to season your Mexican, Southwestern, Indian, and Thai dishes.

Cinnamon: A taste of the holidays that can be stirred into fruit compotes, baked desserts and bread, added to beverages, and used to season savory Middle Eastern dishes.

Cumin: Accents Mexican, Indian, and Middle Eastern Dishes, as well as stews and chili.

Garlic: Add it to soups, pastas, marinades, dressings, grains, and vegetables.

Ginger: It is very good in Asian and Indian sauces, stews, and stir-fries. It’s also great to add to baking and beverages.

Mint: Mint adds some flavor to savory dishes, salads, beverages, salads, marinades, and fruit.

Nutmeg: Stir it into fruits, baked goods, and vegetable dishes.

Oregano: Tastes great in Italian and Mediterranean dishes; also good with tomato, pasta, grain dishes, and salads.

Turmeric: Almost essential in Indian foods; also good with soups, beans, vegetables, and specialties like “Golden Milk.”

Shoveling snow is a fact of life for many across the country and something that most don’t consider risky behavior. But it is.

Many people who shovel snow don’t exercise regularly. Grabbing a shovel to move around hundreds of pounds of snow, if you’ve been doing nothing for several months, can strain your heart, as can pushing around a heavy snowblower.

The weather doesn’t necessarily help, either. Cold weather can boost blood pressure, interrupt blood flow to the heart, and increase the likelihood of blood clots.

Shoveling snow can present a heart attack risk.

The signs of a heart attack are squeezing pain in the chest, shortness of breath, pain radiating up the left shoulder or down the left arm, or a cold sweat. They can also include jaw pain, lower back pain, and unexplained fatigue or nausea.

You can make snow shoveling a little safer by doing the following:

Warming up muscles before starting. This may not significantly impact your heart, but it can help prevent injury. Move around a bit to get some blood flowing to help you limber up.

Don’t rush. Shovel light loads instead of heavy ones and take frequent breaks. It may result in a little more time, but it may help you protect your health.
Drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated in the winter can help keep your blood thin, so it circulates easier and puts less strain on your heart.

Dress in layers. You’ll likely work up a sweat, but that doesn’t mean you’ll want to take your hat off or open your jacket to expose a t-shirt. You still want to keep warm and protect yourself from frigid temperatures, even if you don’t think you’re that cold. If you open or remove a parka, you’ll want another warm layer underneath, like a fleece or sweatshirt.

Remember that you don’t have to remove every snowflake from your property. The priorities are the walkways you use most frequently – like the pathway from front door to your vehicle. Clearing the snow from behind the vehicle, as well.

Remember to salt to melt any ice, as well.

Shoveling snow is a fact of life for many in North America, but don’t take its health risks lightly. If you need help, call a service, family member, or neighbor.

And if you feel dizzy or lightheaded while shovelling, or notice other physical changes, stop immediately.

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, if you regularly use table salt, you may be at a higher risk of heart disease. So, if you want to keep your heart healthy, limiting your intake of table salt is important.

Most people love the taste of salt. It’s that amazing flavor that makes everything taste better. But this new study from the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans suggests that it could have a large effect on two common kinds of heart disease: heart failure and ischemic heart disease (also known as hardening of the arteries).

“Overall, we found that people who don’t shake on a little additional salt to their foods very often had a much lower risk of heart disease events, regardless of lifestyle factors and pre-existing disease,” says co-author Lu Qi, MD, Ph.D.

Researchers also concluded that putting such limits on salt did not affect the stroke risk.

But, there is some good news for salt lovers. The study suggests that you don’t need to eliminate salt altogether. By simply adding less salt to food and not removing it entirely, you can make a significant difference without too big of a sacrifice.

Even people who followed a DASH-style diet were able to lower their blood pressure further and reduce their heart disease risk when they reduced their salt consumption at the table. This study helps to show how understanding food facts is vital to keep the body healthy throughout life.

Previous research has linked high sodium to high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the evidence over the years has been conflicting because it is difficult for researchers to determine how much salt people have consumed. This new research can help physicians understand the relationship between salt intake and their patient’s risk for heart disease.

Protecting Heart Health as You Age

Keeping the heart strong and healthy is vital for enjoying a high quality of life as you age. Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using a variety of ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10. The omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in cardiovascular function, while CoQ10 is involved in energy production at the cellular level. These two heart superstars are supported by 5 other ingredients can help to promote and support cardiovascular function as you age. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol can be confusing stuff. There’s good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, foods with cholesterol that don’t impact blood cholesterol, and foods without it that do.

It might be that the only thing most people really understand about cholesterol is that if it gets too high, it can pose a major risk to their heart, health, and risk for a heart attack.

So, let’s clear up some of the confusion around cholesterol so you know what to do to keep your blood cholesterol levels in a healthy range.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is not inherently bad. Your body needs it to build cells and manufacture vitamins and hormones.

There are different types of it, too. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, can be known as “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, there is also high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, known as “good” cholesterol.

LDL can be bad because when too much of it is in your blood, the particles can accumulate along arterial walls to narrow and stiffen arteries. This can boost blood pressure and strain the heart. HDL is good because it can help clear those LDL deposits.

So how does diet play a role in something your body naturally manufactures? The food you eat can alter the speed, and type, of cholesterol production. The thing is, it doesn’t matter if there is cholesterol in the food. The cholesterol in eggs, for example, will not lead to increases in blood cholesterol.

Research has found that sugary foods cause the body to produce and release more “bad” LDL into the bloodstream. Therefore, you can limit it by eating fewer sugary and processed foods.

On the other hand, healthful foods containing fiber, like oats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, can help remove LDL from arterial walls, where it is expelled from the body as waste.

Some foods may contribute to higher HDL, as well. Olive oil, blueberries, eggplant, fatty fish, and other antioxidant-rich foods have been found to boost HDL. Regular exercise and weight loss may also lead to increased “good” HDL.

So hopefully, that clears up some of the confusion around cholesterol to help you make better and healthier choices.

A healthy diet is important for many reasons, including preventing cardiovascular disease. Previous research has shown that those who eat healthily can help to prevent obesity and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Now, a new study suggests that a healthy diet can also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 10 percent.

In this new study, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) compared the effects of three eating patterns against the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event within the next ten years. The three diets consisted of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and the Western diet, which is typically low in fruits and vegetables while high in fat and sodium.

The results published in the American Journal of Cardiology suggest that while the DASH and fruit and vegetable diet both reduced the risk score by about 10 percent, the DASH diet showed additional benefits for women and Black adults compared to the Western diet. In fact, the DASH diet reduction in risk was twice as large in women and four times as large in Black adults.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for various conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and congenital heart disease. In the United States, CVD is the leading cause of death, accounting for more than 800,000 deaths each year. The good news is that CVD is preventable. Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet, can reduce your risk of developing CVD risk factors. These risk factors can include cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and atherosclerotic heart disease, also known as the hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by fatty buildup that may lead to heart attack and stroke.

If you have already been diagnosed with CVD, treatments available can help improve your quality of life and extend your life expectancy. With early detection and treatment, you can live a long and healthy life despite having CVD.

Supporting Heart Health and Healthy Eating

To help ensure your diet is complete, 65+ Superfood Essentials is an excellent addition to a daily supplement regime. This breakthrough formula is a great way to support and promote cardiovascular and overall general health. It contains Capros ®, a patented and clinically studied Indian gooseberry extract that has been found to absorb free radicals and provide cascading antioxidants.

Acai berry (the powerful natural antioxidant known to support total health) and resveratrol, a premier anti-aging ingredient, are also found in this formulation that can help ensure proper nutrients and vitamins that are essential as you age.

Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using a variety of ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10. The omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in cardiovascular function, while CoQ10 is involved in energy production at the cellular level. These two heart superstars are supported by five other ingredients can help to promote and support cardiovascular function as you age. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

When COVID-19 burst onto the scene in North America in 2020, it pushed most other viruses out of the way. In 2022, common colds and flu have almost become an afterthought.

COVID led to lockdowns, working from home, and a jump in virtual communications, limiting the spread of other viruses. Further, the last two years saw relatively weak renditions of the flu.

But all that has changed. This year the flu is back with a vengeance. And if that isn’t enough, RSV and COVID, two other viral infections, are co-headliners.

Flu season has struck early and hard in the United States this year. It’s playing a role in overburdening hospitals also contending with COVID and RSV admissions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States has seen at least 4.4 million flu cases this season, with 38,000 hospitalizations and 2,100 deaths.

Flu rates typically don’t peak until January, and 27 states currently report high or very high numbers of infections. So it’s highly likely things are going to get much worse. According to a report from the Associated Press, hospitalization rates for the flu have not been this high since 2009 – the year of the infamous swine flu.
COVID is still responsible for about 3,000 hospital admissions per day, and RSV also contributes to increased hospitalizations. And unlike the flu and COVID, there is no vaccine for RSV.

RSV is an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract that is more common in children but can also infect adults. It may be especially dangerous for those with chronic illness or frailty.

With the holidays fast approaching, it is prime time for viral spreading and can be quite risky for those with chronic illnesses.

You can help reduce your risk for viral infection this season by making sure you are vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. You may also want to consider wearing a mask in group settings – like grocery stores, concerts, etc. – or avoiding crowds altogether in the days leading up to an event with loved ones who may be high risk.

Taking a COVID test prior to a party or meetup with loved ones may also help.

Remember to wash hands thoroughly after arriving home from errands or other activities, and do your best to eat a healthy diet and get good sleep to give your immune system a little extra power.

Bone fracture is a major concern for many women as they age, but new research suggests that a higher intake of vitamin K may help when taken earlier in life. Researchers from Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute believe they have found a way to help prevent bone fracture when steps are taken in midlife to help the body stay healthy.

Bone fractures are a serious health concern, particularly for older women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1 in 3 women over 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle, making them more susceptible to breaks. In addition, older women are more likely to fall, which can lead to fractures. Fractures can cause significant pain and disability and can even be fatal in some cases. As a result, it is important for older women to be aware of the risk factors for osteoporosis and to take steps to prevent the condition.

For this new study, the team of researchers, in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, looked at the relationship between fracture-related hospitalizations and vitamin K intake in approximately 1,400 older Australian women over 14.5 years.

It was found that women who ate more than 100 micrograms of vitamin K1 were 31% less likely to have any fracture compared to those who consumed less than 60 micrograms per day which is the current intake guideline in Australia for women. One hundred micrograms are the equivalent of approximately 125g of dark leafy vegetables or one-to-two servings of vegetables.

The results were even more positive when looking at hip fractures. Women who consumed the most vitamin K1 reduced their risk of hospitalization by almost half (49%).

These results add to mounting evidence of the health benefits of vitamin K1, including previous studies that found it to enhance cardiovascular health.

Study lead Dr. Marc Sim explained, “Our results are independent of many established factors for fracture rates, including body mass index, calcium intake, Vitamin D status, and prevalent disease.”

“Basic studies of vitamin K1 have identified a critical role in the carboxylation of the vitamin K1-dependant bone proteins such as osteocalcin, which is believed to improve bone toughness.”

While many people may think consuming this much K1 is hard to do, it isn’t the case. It can easily be achieved by consuming between 75–150g, equivalent to one to two serves, of vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and cabbage each day.

Supporting Bone Health

As this study helps to show, supporting bone health is essential as you age. Bone Rescue can help to support the maintenance and development of bones thanks to its unique formula, including strontium. Chemically similar to calcium, strontium can provide great support for aging bones. Bone Rescue contains 680 mg of strontium along with additional ingredients to help keep bones strong and healthy

There are plenty of reasons to keep your liver healthy. You may know that it is your body’s main force against removing toxins. But your liver may also play a role in heart health.

Liver disease is caused by fat buildup in the organ, resulting from alcoholism or poor diet. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, is an increasingly common form of the condition caused by high-sugar diets and weight gain.

New research suggests that the buildup of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol may drastically increase the risk of heart failure.

NAFLD can lead to permanent liver damage and increase the risk for atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Heart failure is a term used when the heart does not pump blood as well as it should.

Researchers looked at national health survey data from 2008 to 2015 and found more than 3.8 million adults with NAFLD and about 400,000 that also had heart failure. They found that people with NAFLD tended to be older, male, diabetic, or have coronary heart disease.

However, even after adjusting for age, gender, and race, researchers still discovered that adults with NAFLD were 3.5 times more likely to have heart failure than those without it.

The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Vardhmaan Jain, said they expected a high hazard, but not as high as it was.

NAFLD is underdiagnosed and underappreciated as a health hazard. However, it can have devastating effects. Monitoring liver health is an important component of longevity.

One way you can cut the risk for NAFLD is by following the American Heart Association’s (AHA) essential 8 for improving and maintaining heart health. The lifestyle tips are:

• Don’t smoke
• Keep a healthy weight
• Be physically active
• Eat a healthy diet
• Get enough sleep
• Control blood pressure
• Control cholesterol
• Control blood sugar