Report: Blueberries Each Day Keep Hypertension Away

Research has shown that wise food choices often do have a positive impact on health. For example, a recent Florida State study has determined that older women who consumed blueberries daily – about a cup – saw lower blood pressure and reduction in the stiffness of arteries – both linked to cardiovascular disease.

“Our findings suggest that regular consumption of blueberries could potentially delay the progression of prehypertension to hypertension, therefore reducing cardiovascular disease risk,” said Sarah A. Johnson, assistant director of the Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging (CAENRA) and postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University.

Johnson and a team of FSU nutrition and exercise scientists are the authors of a new paper, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Daily blueberry consumption improves blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women with pre- and stage 1-hypertension.” 

Johnson said she is interested in looking at how functional foods – foods that have a positive impact on health beyond basic nutrition – can prevent and reverse negative health outcomes, particularly for postmenopausal women. So stay tuned to learn more.

To learn more about the report, visit http://news.fsu.edu/More-FSU-News/Blueberries-Small-fruit-delivers-big-reward.

Research: Upbeat Attitude Spells Great Heart Health

According to at least one study, older people with a positive, upbeat attitude also typically have significantly better cardiovascular health. And, as the positive attitude scores climbed, so did the health scores in this study that included seniors up to age 85. Those with most optimism were twice as likely to enjoy a healthy heart.

“Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said lead author Rosalba Hernandez, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois.

“This association remains significant, even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental health.” Participants' cardiovascular health was assessed using the seven metrics that the American Heart Association uses to define heart health: blood pressure, body mass index,fasting plasma glucose and serum 

cholesterol levels, dietary intake, physical activity and tabacco use.

 To learn more about this study, visit http://news.illinois.edu/news/15/0108optimism_RosalbaHernandez.html.  

Seniors Fare Better When They Stick Together, Study Says

A study of couples over 50 finds both men and women are more likely to quit smoking, become physically active and lose weight if their partner joins them in the new healthy behavior. Evidence has suggested people tend to exhibit the health behaviors of people around them and that partners can influence each other’s behavior, according to the study recently published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Sarah E. Jackson, Ph.D., of University College London, England, and coauthors examined the influence of a partner’s behavior on making positive health behavior changes. Smoking cessation, increased physical activity and a 5 percent or greater weight loss were measured.

The authors used data from 3,722 senior married couples – ages 50 and older – and those living together who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The authors found that when one partner changed to a healthier behavior the other partner was more likely to make a positive behavior change than if their partner remained unhealthy.

The changes measured:

Stopping smoking:

     ● Men, 48 percent vs. 8 percent;
     ● Women, 50 percent vs. 8 percent

Increasing physical activity:

     ●Men, 67 percent vs. 26 percent;
     ●Women, 66 percent vs. 24 percent and

Losing weight:
     ●Men, 26 percent vs. 10 percent;
     ●Women, 36 percent vs. 15 percent.

For more about the study, visit http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/partners-can-help-each-other-make-positive-health-behavior-changes/.