A high intake of saturated fat may have protective effects in people with established coronary artery disease

This study was published in the Journal of Nutrition 2015 Feb;145(2):299-305

Study title and authors:
Dietary intake of saturated fat is not associated with risk of coronary events or mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease.

Puaschitz NG, Strand E, Norekvål TM, Dierkes J, Dahl L, Svingen GF, Assmus J, Schartum-Hansen H, Øyen J, Pedersen EK, Drevon CA, Tell GS, Nygård O.
Departments of Heart Disease Departments of Clinical Science nathalie.genevieve.puaschitz@helse-bergen.no.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25644351

This study investigated the associations between saturated fat intake and risk of subsequent coronary events and mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease. The study included 2,412 patients, average age 61.7 years, who were followed for 4.8 years.

The study found
(a) Patients who consumed the most saturated fat were 10.4% less likely to take statin drugs than patients who consumed the least saturated fat.
(b) Patients who consumed the most saturated fat had a 15% reduced risk of unstable angina pectoris, nonfatal acute heart attack and coronary death compared to patients who consumed the least saturated fat.

Puaschitz comments that: "A high intake of  saturated fat may have protective effects" and "When current prevention guidelines aim to limit the saturated fat intake to below 7–10% of energy, one can speculate whether this is appropriate in patients with coronary artery disease".

Insulin Resistance Strongly Predicts Cardiovascular Disease Risk

I recently came across a very interesting paper by the research team of Gerald Reaven, an endocrinologist at Stanford.  He has long been one of the leading researchers studying insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome, and their association with obesity.  Reaven's research, and that of many others, suggests that insulin resistance is a central part of the constellation of metabolic disturbances that are so common in affluent nations*.  We also have good reason to believe that it contributes to cardiovascular risk.

All the way back in 1998, Reaven's group published a paper that should raise the eyebrows of anyone interested in cardiovascular health (1).

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Fluffy Carob Banana Ice Cream

It's about time I posted another banana ice cream recipe on here! Especially since I practically live off this stuff. A life without 'nana ice cream is not a life worth living. That is why you simply have to give this a try if you haven't already. Before I first tried this I had myself convinced that I absolutely hated bananas and that my feelings toward these yellow little fellas were never going to change. But it all changed as soon as I:

a. Learnt to wait for those beautiful specks to appear, meaning the bananas were fully ripe and ready to eat.

b. Sliced them, froze them and gave them a good ol' blend.

(I now like (love) raw bananas as well but it's been a long process.)

So have a go at it and let me know what you think! Cheers!

Naked.

Dressed.

Behind the scenes.

Fluffy Carob Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:

- 330 g frozen banana coins (about 3 medium sized bananas)

- 50 ml or a little less than 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

- 1 tbsp carob powder

- 1 pinch pure vanilla powder

Toppings:

- Fresh berries, raw cacao nibs, quinoa pops or whatever you like

How to:

1. Place all ingredients except for the almond milk in a powerful food processor or blender.

2. Process on high until all of the frozen banana coins have reduced to tiny pieces, this usually takes around one minute.

3. Stop to scrape down the sides with a spatula if necessary, then blend on high again and slowly pour the almond milk, little by little, into the food processor while blending (through the hole on the lid).

4. Once you've added in all of the almond milk, the mixture will eventually turn into a fluffy, wonderfully creamy ice cream! Spoon it all up in a bowl, top with whatever you desire and serve immediately! You may have to scrape down the sides a few more times but be patient and you'll end up with the most delicious treat ever :)

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics say that cholesterol and saturated fat do not cause heart disease

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recently released the new draft dietary guidelines for Americans.

A press release from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics commented on the draft guidelines. The release contained the following:

(a) The Academy supports the DGAC in its decision to drop dietary cholesterol from the nutrients of concern list and recommends it deemphasize saturated fat from nutrients of concern, given the lack of evidence connecting it with cardiovascular disease.
(b) Low sodium intake levels recommended by the DGAC are actually associated with increased mortality for healthy individuals.
(c) The evidence is strongest that a reduction in the intake of added sugars will improve the health of the American public.

I'm glad the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics are at last coming around to my way of thinking.



York County School of Technology shares video from the cafe

We are tremendously excited to share this video from York Tech - Home of the Spartan Nation, which showcases the students and instructors who volunteered their time during the cafe's construction.

Thank you to everyone involved!


Healthy World Cafe from YorkTech on Vimeo.

Healthy Vegan Chocolate Mousse (Low-Carb Alternative!)

Blogging just got so much more exciting - I've finally begun to grasp the very basics of Adobe Lightroom which makes my pictures look a teeny bit more professional and I don't have to be embarrassed about posting them anymore. Half a year after getting my camera hehe. You know what they say, better late than never!

This obviously calls for a celebratory (and nowadays rare) new recipe by yours truly. Apologies for taking so long but here it is, my vegan chocolate mousse recipe! It's vegan (duh), can be made low-carb and tastes absolutely d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s if I may say so myself. Although the recipe calls for fresh berries, I could highly recommend squeezing some passion fruit over this beauty as well since chocolate and passion fruit were made for each other (we all know it).

Hopefully it won't be long before the next recipe and if so, please give me remind me of what a lousy blogger I am and I will get to it immediately. Pinkie swear!

'

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

- 300 g silken tofu

- 2 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder

- 1 tbsp mesquite powder (could possibly sub for lucuma powder or omit)

- 25 g 80-90% dark chocolate

- 5-6 dates (50-60 g depending on how sweet you like it) or 3 tbsp erythritol for a low-carb free version

Toppings:

- Fresh strawberries and blueberries

- Coconut chips or cacao nibs for crunch

How to:

1. Place all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and blend until entirely smooth. Scrape down the sides with a spatula to make sure that no unblended pieces remain.

2. Top with berries and a sprinkle of coconut chips or cacao nibs if you wish and serve immediately or keep in the fridge for a couple of days at most.

Food Reward Friday

This week's lucky "winner"... Hardee's Most American Thickburger!!

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