Veggies for Heart Health?
The July/August 2006 edition of the Journal of Nutrition reports on recent research demonstrating the heart-healthy effects of vegetable consumption. According to the Reuters Health report of this research:
[Veggies] may thwart the progression of atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of arteries that can lead to heart disease and stroke.
The anti-oxidants in the veggies are believed to be responsible for this health benefit, shown in this research in mice.
So, mice genetically bred to have fast-hardening arteries ate broccoli, green beans, peas, corn, and carrots and had cleaner arteries than the veggie-deprived mice.
I found it very interesting to note that the funding for this study was from General Mills, who makes the Green Giant brand of frozen and canned vegetables.
Now, I’m all for eating veggies as part of a healthy diet, but I am not persuaded to make the jump from this research to believing that I am providing my heart with considerable protection when I spoon in the peas and carrots.
According to the general body of research I’ve seen, the range of protective benefits for humans from antioxidant consumption requires antioxidant amounts far in excess of the average processed veggie of today. I like most vegetables fairly well, but I don’t fancy the prospect of eating mountains of broccoli to get antioxidant heart health.
By neutralizing free radicals, which damage cells throughout the body, antioxidants provide a wide range of health benefits. To be sure I’m getting them in the amounts I need, I’m much more confident in consuming these plant-based nutrients in a reliable, convenient form, like an easy-to-swallow supplement!
Subscribe to Feed