Potassium Protects the Heart A
ccording to the American Heart As- sociation, heart disease is the lead- ing cause of death and a major contribu- tor to disability in this country. A recent study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that in addition to cutting dietary sodium to improve heart health, Americans should increase consumption of a key mineral found in many fruits and vegetables: potassium. The study of more than 12,000 adults reported that people eating a diet
high in sodium and low in potassium have a 50 percent increased risk of death from any disease than average and about twice the risk of death from heart attacks. Sodium, a key component of salt, raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease. Potassium has been found to offset sodium’s impact on blood pressure.
Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend an adult daily potassium intake of 4,700 milligrams and a maximum sodium intake of 2,300 milligrams (about a teaspoon of salt); or less than 1,500 milligrams for people age 51 and older, African-Americans or those that suffer from hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The CDC reveals that the average American adult consumes 3,400 milligrams
of sodium a day, about 80 percent from processed or restaurant foods. To achieve a healthier sodium-potassium ratio, the CDC recommends a diet that emphasizes fresh, unprocessed foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Foods high in potas- sium include sweet and white potatoes, spinach, tomatoes and bananas, as well as orange and prune juice, dates, plain yogurt and fish.
Regular Bedtimes Make Kids Smarter A
ccording to research presented at the 24th annual meeting of the As- sociated Professional Sleep Societies, children that get adequate sleep score higher on a range of developmental assessments. The researchers empha- sized that having a regular bedtime was the most consistent predictor of positive developmental outcomes at 4 years of age.
Scores for receptive and expressive language skills, awareness of sound-
word structure, literacy and early math abilities were higher in children whose parents maintained rules about going to bed at a prescribed time. Having an ear- lier bedtime further supported higher scores for most developmental measures. The study involved a nationally representative sample of approximately
8,000 children that completed a direct assessment at 4 years of age. They were part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort.
Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine natural awakenings Resource Directory 2012 17
R
ALCOHOL IMPAIRS RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS
esearchers from the
University of Massachusetts Medical School that collected blood from volunteers to study how drinking alcohol affects mono- cytes, the white blood cells that are part of the
immune system, made an unwelcome discovery. Alcohol can worsen the effects of disease and lengthen the re- covery period following trauma, injury or burns. It both impairs the body’s antiviral immune response, especially in the liver, and increases inflammation, so think twice before downing another hot toddy.
Source: BioMed Central
S
VITAMIN C HELPS US SEE
cientists at Oregon Health & Sci- ence University recently identified
yet another benefit provided by vitamin C. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, co-author and senior scientist Henrique von Gersdorff, Ph.D., says nerve cells in the eye require C to stay healthy—the vitamin bathes the cells of the retina and contributes to their proper functioning.
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