Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-16

Health
Heart Health: It’s Not Just What You Eat, But When You Eat
Men: Foods For Better Performance
New research
has shown that consuming
flavonoids, which
are found in plant-
based foods such as strawberries, can actually help you keep an erection.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to get or maintain an erection that is sufficient for sex- ual intercourse, affects a huge proportion of men middle-aged and older. Some estimates show that up half of this population ex- periences some form of ED. Cer- tain habits, such as a healthy diet, minimal alcohol consumption and an active lifestyle have long been shown to stave off ED.
However, a new study shows that an apple a day may also be able to keep the doctor – and the performance issues – away.
Apples and strawberries con- tain anthocyanin, which is one of three flavonoids (anthocyanin, flavones and flavanones) the re- searchers found to be the most beneficial. Other foods that can help are blueberries, cherries, cit- rus fruits and even a nice glass of red wine.
Eat just a few portions a week, and your risk of ED drops 10%. Fill your diet with even more fruits, and it drops 14%.
Researchers found that men who ate flavonoid-rich fruits and worked out regularly minimized their chances of experiencing ED the most, with a 21% drop in risk. Even if you don’t suffer from ED, you should eat fruit and exercise. It’s just good life advice, and it can help to keep you fully func- tioning in the years to come.
ED is often a sign of some- thing much more serious, like heart disease. So schedule an ap- pointment.
Many of us have already made a run for the nutrition hills in pur- suit of a heart healthy life. We’ve gone as far as changing grandma’s secret Sunday dinner recipes to eat healthier, increasing our activ- ity levels, losing weight, better managing our blood pressure and exchanging sugary drinks for bottled water.
Kudos to these steps in the right direction, however, it ain’t over just yet. Research from the Harvard School of Public Health published by the American Heart Association is showing that it’s not just about what we eat, but when
we eat that may contribute to an increased risk for heart disease.
To make a long story short, the timing of meals, whether skipping breakfast on the way to the office or eating dinner late at night, may cause adverse metabolic effects that can lead to coronary heart disease, thus a heart attack.
So a word to the wise, don’t skip breakfast and nothing to eat past bedtime.
Here is what Angela Ginn, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Acad- emy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Baltimore, Maryland, had to say regarding the whole butter vs. margarine debate:
This has been a battle for years. It really isn’t about which one is better, but which one has the potential to do more harm. Butter is simply sweet cream and salt. Whereas, margarine may contain palm oil, palm kernel oil, soybean oil, water, salt, soy lecithin, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), vegetable mono and diglycerides, lactic acid, vine- gar, vitamin A palmitate, beta – carotene (color).
Looking at the ingredients, you may assume butter is the better choice because it has five ingredi- ents or less. But, after reviewing the nutrition facts, you may choose differently.
When comparing 1 tablespoon of butter to 1 tablespoon of mar-
garine, butter contains 50 more calories and 5.5 grams more of saturated fat. According to the American Heart Association, it is recommended to consume only 13 grams of saturated fat per day. And 1 tablespoon of butter will provide 7 grams to your total in- take. When it comes to choosing healthy fat, pick mono and poly unsaturated fat since it is less likely to clog your arteries. Tub margarine contains more polyun- saturated fat and that is heart healthy.
The key is to avoid foods con- taining partially hydrogenated vegetables and limit saturated fat.
As an alternative to either op- tion, try cooking with coconut oil.
The Great Butter vs. Margarine Debate: Let Your Heart Decide
PAGE 12-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016