Too Much Vitamin D Could Be Harmful to Heart

TUESDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) --Studies have shown that vitamin D is critical for bone health and could have a protective benefit for the heart, but new research suggests that too much of it could actually be harmful. "Clearly, vitamin D is important for your heart health, especially if you have low blood levels of vitamin D. It reduces cardiovascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, and may reduce mortality, but it appears that at some point it can be too much of a good thing," study leader Dr. Muhammad Amer, an assistant professor in the division of general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a Hopkins news release. In conducting the study, published in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, researchers examined five years of data from a national survey of more than 15,000 adults. They found that people with a normal levels of vitamin D had lower levels of a c-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation of the heart and blood vessels. On the other hand, when vitamin D levels rose beyond the low end of normal, CRP also increased, resulting in a greater risk for heart problems. "The inflammation that was curtailed by vitamin D does not appear to be curtailed at higher levels of vitamin D," Amer explained. The researchers concluded that people should be aware of the potential risks associated with taking supplements, particularly vitamin D. "People taking vitamin D supplements need to be sure the supplements are necessary," Amer said. "Those pills could have unforeseen consequences to health even if they are not technically toxic." It is unclear why higher levels of vitamin D are not beneficial for the heart, the researchers said. -- Mary Elizabeth Dallas http://www.medicinenet.com

CDC: Americans Living Longer as Death Rate Drops

Jan. 11, 2012 -- We are living longer these days. Our average life expectancy increased by about one month from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, the average life expectancy rose to 78.7 years, up from 78.6 years in 2009. These are some of the findings from a new report by the CDC on death rates in the U.S. in 2010. The death rate hit its lowest rate ever in 2010, at 746.2 deaths per 100,000 people. Overall 2,465,936 people died in the U.S. in 2010. Heart disease and cancer still top the list of causes of death. Together, they accounted for 47% of all deaths in 2010, the new report shows. For the first time since 1965, homicide fell from the top 15 causes of death. Homicide was replaced by pneumonitis, an inflammation of lung tissue, as the 15th leading cause of death. Of the top 15 causes of death in the U.S., there were drops in seven of them, including: Cancer Heart disease Stroke Accidents Chronic lung disease Flu/pneumonia Septicemia, or blood infection There was also a decrease in infant mortality rates in 2010. But there were increases in other causes of death, such as Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, liver disease, Parkinson's disease, and pneumonitis, the new report showed. The new data are based on 98% of death certificates from 50 states and the District of Columbia. http://www.m.webmd.com

Alkaline Antioxidant Green Smoothie

This is a POWERHOUSE! Full of the MOST antioxidant-rich green, alkaline foods it is filling, alkalising, antioxidant-rich, healthy oil-rich, protein-rich and simply delicious.Serves 2. Ingredients A handful of Kale A handful of Spinach 2 Broccoli heads 1 Tomato A handful of Lettuce 1 Avocado 1 Cucumber 1/2 clove Garlic Juice of 1/2 Lemon A little water to the texture you like Instructions All you have to do is blend it all up! Start by blending the avocado, cucumber and lemon juice to form a mushy paste, then start adding the other ingredients.Enjoy. http://www.energiseforlife.com