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A prospective before and after study examined the impact of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan on cardiac parameters. Significant improvements were found for fasting glucose, blood pressure, and body weight. A subgroup analysis found that those who engaged in 80% or more of the sessions had some improvement in cardiovascular parameters. However, limitations in the study design and reporting weakened the strength of any recommendations based on the study's findings.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex group of heart-related conditions that are the leading cause of death among Americans and Europeans.
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Acupressure is a therapeutic intervention that has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is based on the same meridian theory used in acupuncture. However, rather than using needles, acupoints are typically stimulated using pressure from fingers, hands, elbows or, in some cases, by devices.
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A systematic review of 29 studies using vitamin C to help lower blood pressure showed a slightly positive effect, though of debatable clinical value. The study highlights the variable nature of existing data in this realm with regards to quality and methodology.
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Two large, well-known, U.S. prospective cohort studies, the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, evaluated both sugar-sweetened and diet (low-calorie, also called artificially sweetened) soda consumption over 20 years and found one or more daily servings to be associated with a significantly higher risk of stroke.
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An 8-week yoga training program improved balance performance measures and reduced fear of falling in adult patients with a history of stroke.
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It is proverbial in modern life that the health benefits claimed initially for foods and natural products will eventually prove to be overly optimistic (for example, oat bran and dark chocolate), or at least subject to balancing against potential harms (for example, bacterial contamination of fresh produce and unpasteurized juices). Such cautionary examples should not and usually do not prevent appropriate use of such items, provided that we have a realistic idea of what they can do and what their attendant harms may be.
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Observational studies suggest that dietary flavonoids (catechins, epicatechins, and oligomeric proanthocyanadins) reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.1 Among the often delicious flavonoid options of red wine, teas, fruits, and vegetables, chocolate has a special place in the hearts of many.
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Coffee is widely consumed throughout the United States. Some prior studies have associated coffee consumption with increased rates of heart disease, whereas other studies have shown less heart disease in coffee drinkers. The data associating coffee consumption and total mortality have also been conflicting.
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The food and supplement known as soy, or soybean (Glycine max, Family Fabaceae), has quite the reputation in lay and scientific circles for many health conditions, including cancer prevention, bone health, cardiovascular disease prevention, and, most notably, treatment of menopausal symptoms.
