Heart Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the late 50s and early 60s are a crucial time of life to focus on disease prevention. And, Mike Leavitt, Health and Human Services Secretary, noted that, "Controlling high blood pressure and obesity is crucial for health, and particularly for baby boomers as they grow older."⁴

We know that obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure all have a dramatic impact on overall heart health. However, with dietary intervention, these conditions can be controlled and, in some cases, prevented.

Keeping Cholesterol in Check
The American Heart Association has recognized soyfoods for their role in an overall heart-healthy diet because they tend to be relatively low in blood cholesterol-raising saturated fats as well as being high in polyunsaturated fat and devoid of cholesterol.

In addition, soy protein directly lowers blood cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). In 1999, after reviewing the scientific literature, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a health claim for soy protein and coronary heart disease. Similar claims have been approved in at least eight other countries.

Recent meta-analyses indicate soy protein lowers LDL-cholesterol by 3 to 5 percent.^5,6 According to some research, over a period of many years, each 1 percent decrease in LDL can reduce CHD disease risk from 2-4 percent.^7,8 Thus, at the population level, incorporating soy into the diet could markedly reduce CHD morbidity and mortality. Soy protein intake also leads to modest elevations in HDL-cholesterol and modest decreases in serum triglycerides.⁶

Encouraging though speculative data suggest that soyfoods, soy protein and/or soy isoflavones may favorably affect a number of other biological processes that impact heart disease risk. These include endothelial function, systemic arterial compliance and LDL-cholesterol oxidation.

Feeling the Pressure
The National Institutes of Health estimate that some 65 million Americans have high blood pressure -- one out of every three adults.

Doctors say controlling blood pressure in middle age is key to future health.⁹ Recommend these quick tips to your patients:

• Limit table salt intake to no more than 1 teaspoon a day (about 2,400 milligrams of sodium). Remember that up to 75% of all sodium we eat comes from processed foods. So recommend that patients cut back on the bologna, ham, and salami. Replace canned foods with fresh or frozen, unless the canned specifies reduced or low sodium.
  
  
• Following the lead of modern chefs, build meals around fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats such as turkey breast and pork tenderloin.
  
  
• Men should limit daily alcohol intake to no more than 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 2 ounces of whisky. Women should cut those numbers in half.
  
  
• Eat fish with garlic! In a study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, doctors found that fish oil and garlic each had the ability to lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
  
  
• Increase fiber by eating beans, whole-wheat bread, and other whole grains. In research conducted by Tulane University, doctors found that patients who ate the most fiber appeared to have the greatest control over blood pressure.

For more on soy and heart health, including detailed scientific references, click here.