cardiovascular diseases

Despite some improvements to lower "bad" cholesterol levels, people with cardiovascular diseases still need to do a better job controlling overall blood lipid levels.

Researchers have found that an over-the-counter Artichoke Leaf Extract (ALE) from the globe artichoke plant can lower cholesterol in otherwise healthy individuals with moderately raised levels.

Cardiovascular diseases are the chief causes of death in the UK, and are associated with raised circulating levels of total cholesterol in the plasma.

Once plasma cholesterol reaches a certain level, drugs such as statins are often prescribed to help reduce it.

During menopause, lack of estrogens increases the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases. Menopause is a natural period in the aging process of a woman.

On ceasing the ovary function, the body gradually stops producing eggs and female sex hormones (amongst these being estrogen and progesterone), responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle.

A new vegetarian food that boosts the uptake of iron and offers a good set of proteins. The food, called tempe, is moreover a whole-grain product with high folate content.

It is generally accepted in medicine that whole-grains reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and it is also believed that it protects against age-related diabetes and certain forms of cancer.

The B vitamin folate is the natural form of folic acid and, among other things, is necessary for normal fetal development.

(Elhuyar Fundazioa) During menopause, lack of oestrogens increases the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases.

For her doctoral thesis, University of the Basque Country researcher, Ainhoa Ruiz del Agua, studied the effects of substitute treatments and the genetic factors influencing the response to these therapies.