heart disease

Time for Cranberries!

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cranberries are heart healthy

The Health Benefits of Cranberries

It’s the time of year that you can find cranberries easily in the grocery store. It’s a good time to pick up a few bags and throw them in the freezer for future use. Here are some of the health benefits of cranberries:

  • Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections – The proanthocyanidins found in cranberry appear to block E. coli bacteria from sticking to the cell walls of the uterus and bladder.
  • Reduction of Dental Plaque – It is believed that cranberry juice can inhibit the aggregation of bacteria that cause dental plaque.
  • Anti-Cancer Activity – The proanthocyanidin compounds found in cranberry may exhibit some anti-carcinogenic activity.
  • Heart Disease – Cranberry extract has been shown to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation reducing the risk of heart disease.
  • Kidney stones – Quinic acid,abundant in cranberries, may help to prevent the development of kidney stones.

There’s a brand recipe on our website for Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider, click here to enjoy.

Heart Disease in a Can

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can of red bull like energy drink

Why You Should Avoid These “Energy” Drinks

I know that none of my dear readers would ever drink it, but maybe someone you know indulges in the occasional can of an “energy” (caffeine and sugar) drink.

In 2008, Australian medical researchers found that just one can of such beverages can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young healthy people.

The caffeine-loaded beverage causes the blood to become sticky, a precursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

One hour after they drank a well known energy drink, the study participants’ blood systems were no longer normal. They were abnormal like you would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease.

This particular drink is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks listed on its cans. One can contains 80mg of caffeine, around the same as a normal cup of brewed coffee.

Researchers concluded that this drink could be deadly when combined with stress or high blood pressure, impairing proper blood vessel function and possibly elevating the risk of blood clotting.

There’s a recipe for caffeine-free chai tea in our healthy recipes section on our website to
check it out click here.

Source: Reuters, Aug 18 2008

by Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND.  For heart disease prevention and health promotion, our naturopathic doctors can provide guidance as to what to have and what to avoid.  Call us at 416-481-0222 or book online now.