Health Front
News that's good for you
February 2009
Reprinted with permission from Taste For Life

Dark chocolate . . . in moderation, of course
Take your oil!
Sunny supplements
Depression and heart disease

Dark chocolate . . . in moderation, of course

To determine the general degree of inflammation in your body, your doctor can measure your levels of Creactive protein (CRP). Eating dark chocolate may help to lower your CRP levels, according to a recent study of more than 2,000 people. Researchers report that those who eat up to 20 grams (three very small squares) of dark chocolate every three days had concentrations of CRP significantly lower than subjects who consumed none or ate larger amounts. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing and can cause an increase in lipids and calories, wiping out dark chocolate’s anti-inflammatory benefits.

selected sources

• "Dark Chocolate May reduce CRP Levels, " Heart Advisor, Cleveland Clinic, 12/0
• "Regular Consumption of Dark Chocolate Is Associated with Low Serum Concentrations of C-Reactive Protein in a Healthy Italian Population" by R. di Giuseppe et al., J Nutr, 10/08
• "The Very Best Chocolate Can Be Very Good for You," by Fran Berkoff, Toronto Sun, 10/26/08

Take your oil!

Consuming just two tablespoons of olive oil per day may decrease the risk of heart disease, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, which can help to lower total and LDL (lousy) cholesterol levels. Try replacing saturated fats with olive oil. While all types of olive oil offer monounsaturated fats, those labeled “extravirgin” or “virgin” have been subjected to the least amount of processing and thus provide the highest levels of natural antioxidants. Store olive oil in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to six months (it may thicken but will be liquid again in a few minutes at room temperature).

selected source

• "Olive Oil: What Are the Health Benefits?" by Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD, and colleagues, www.mayoclinic.com, 3/27/07

Sunny supplements

Depression is one of the top five conditions for which consumers seek alternative therapies, a survey in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds. Omega-3 fatty acids, Sadenosylmethionine (SAM e), and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) are well studied for this condition.

A meta-analysis of 22 randomized, controlled trials has shown St. John’s wort to be “significantly more effective than placebo and equivalent to standard antidepressants,” writes Hyla Cass, MD, in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. This herb may decrease the activity of oral contraceptives, but other interactions are clinically insignificant or only theoretical risks. (Discuss any herbs or supplements with your healthcare provider before adding them to your routine.) Much like pharmaceutical antidepressants, it may take three to four weeks before significant effects of St. John’s wort are apparent.

selected sources

• "German Survey Examines St. John’s Wort Use in Depression . . . ", "Review of St. John's Wort for Mild to Moderate Depression" by Heather S. Oliff, PhD, HerbClip, 6/13/08
• "Natural Remedies for Treating Depression" by Hyla Cass, MD, Alt Comp Ther, 8/07

Depression and heart disease

"Depression is about three times more common in patients following a heart attack than in the general community," says Judith H. Lichtman, PhD, MPH, at Yale University School of Medicine. And because depressed patients are less likely to exercise, watch their diets, and take medication, their outcomes may be worse. In fact, experts say that these patients have twice the risk of a second cardiac event in the first two years after a heart attack.

The American Heart Association recommends that every heart patient be screened for depression. "There is no direct evidence yet that treating depression improves coronary heart disease outcomes," adds Dr. Lichtman, "but plenty of evidence shows that having depression worsens those outcomes."

selected sources

• "AHA Recommends Depression Screening for Heart Patients, " Heart Advisor, Cleveland Clinic, 12/08
• "Heart Patients Should Be Screened, Treated for Depression," by Thomas Bigger Jr., MD, et al., www.americanheart.mediaroom.com, 9/29/08