Welcome

Who says we have to suffer...to live a healthy happy vibrant life?

Red wine and dark chocolate... might seem decadent...but these guilty pleasures also might help us live longer...and healthier lives. Red wine and dark chocolate definitely improve an evening..but they also contain resveratrol..which lowers blood sugar. Red wine is a great source of catechins..which boost protective HDL cholesterol. Green tea? Protects your brain..helps you live longer..and soothes your spirit.

Food for Thought, the blog, is about living the good life...a life we create with our thoughts and our choices...and having fun the whole while!

I say lets make the thoughts good ones..and let the choices be healthy...exciting...and delicious! Bon Appetit!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Taking statins? Also take Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin D

An experimental study involving statin-treated mice found that coenzyme Q10 could reverse atorvastatin-related mitochondrial dysfunction. atorvastatin-treated mice developed muscular mitochondrial dysfunction due to ubiquinone deficiency and a decrease in exercise endurance. The findings of this study in mice suggest that coenzyme Q10 supplementation may benefit those taking statin drugs by reversing some of the adverse effects induced by these medications. But coenzyme Q10 is not the only supplement that may be beneficial for those taking statins to control cholesterol. Vitamin D in a separate study was found to reverse the muscle pain and weakness associated with statin use, even when patients continued taking the statins.

Coenzyme Q10 reverses mitochondrial dysfunction in atorvastatin-treated mice and increases exercise endurance," Muraki A, Miyashita K, et al, J Appl Physiol, 2012

Ahmed W, Khan N, Glueck CJ, Pandey S, Wang P, Goldenberg N, et al. Low serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (<32 ng/mL) are associated with reversible myositis-myalgia in statin-treated patients. Transl Res 2009;153:11-16


Monday, September 10, 2012

Asthma patients breathe easier when they eat more vegetables and fruit.

A comparison in asthma patients of the difference between high antioxidant intake vs low found better breathing and less episodes of symptoms requiring use of inhalers. Breathing improvements were measured by a higher predicted forced expiratory volume and percentage predicted forced vital capacity in the high-antioxidant group while the low-antioxidant diet group showed an increased level of inflammation, measured as plasma C-reactive protein elevation.
The high antioxidant group averaged 5 servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit daily while the low antioxidant group ate only two servings of vegetables and one serving of fruit.

"Manipulating antioxidant intake in asthma: a randomized controlled trial," Wood LG, Garg ML, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2012 Sep