Q. Eating dark chocolate is encouraged for its health benefits. I’ve been buying chocolate with 75 percent to 90 percent cocoa content. But the label notes a high amount of saturated fat. Is this as harmful as the saturated fat in meat? A. The fat in chocolate is not as harmful as the fat in … Read more
A new study offers both hope and a subtle nudge to anyone who has slacked off on exercise in recent years. It finds that if people start to exercise in midlife, even if they have not worked out for years, they can rapidly gain most of the longevity benefits of working out. But the reverse … Read more
The muscles of older men and women who have exercised for decades are indistinguishable in many ways from those of healthy 25-year-olds, according to an uplifting new study of a group of active septuagenarians. These men and women also had much higher aerobic capacities than most people their age, the study showed, making them biologically … Read more
Q. What is the evidence that dietary cholesterol or other fat influences serum cholesterol? A. Foods high in cholesterol, like eggs or cheese, can raise blood cholesterol levels, though the effect is relatively modest and varies from person to person. The best evidence available suggests that saturated fat, rather than dietary cholesterol per se, is … Read more
Some things to remember when using a heart rate monitor and calculating your target heart rate. Listen to your body. “If you feel sick and dizzy or nauseous, it’s irrelevant what your heart monitor says,” said Mr. Jordan. “You should slow down and get off the machine. It’s important everyone listen to their body as … Read more
Some things to remember when using a heart rate monitor and calculating your target heart rate. Listen to your body. “If you feel sick and dizzy or nauseous, it’s irrelevant what your heart monitor says,” said Mr. Jordan. “You should slow down and get off the machine. It’s important everyone listen to their body as … Read more
Q. Are there studies concerning the number of people who cannot tolerate statins? A. Yes. Studies show that about 5 percent to 10 percent of people are unable to tolerate statins, largely because of muscle aches and related side effects, including potential muscle damage. But many people who have been labeled intolerant to the drugs … Read more
Too Much of a Good Thing Taking megadoses of vitamins and minerals, using amounts that people could never consume through food alone, could be even more problematic. “There’s something appealing about taking a natural product, even if you’re taking it in a way that is totally unnatural,” Ms. Price said. Early studies, for example, suggested … Read more
Q. How do physicians assess a patient’s risk for heart attack, and what factors are taken into consideration? After 20 years of resisting medication and being told my cholesterol numbers were so off the chart I was at extreme risk for a heart attack, I was told at my last checkup that my 10-year risk … Read more