WELL NOW...
A Health Newsletter Published By
The Student Health Center
Heart Health
Cardiovascular heart disease 1s the
leading cause of death 1n the United
States, killing at least 800,000 peoDle
each year and Incapacitating millions
more. A lifestyle strategy, initiated
during your college years, is a good
way to prevent the onset of heart disease
and Insure a rich and vigorous life.
But what 1s the best lifestyle strat
egy to follow? Physical activity 1s im
portant and so 1s dealing with stress.
There 1s also a strong link between
nutrition and the risk of cardiovascu
lar disease.
The diet-heart disease link 1s much
more than just dietary cholesterol in
take. In fact, dietary factors other
than cholesterol content are very im
portant 1n Increasing your risk of
cardiovascular disease at an early age.
Saturated fat, such as 1n animal fats,
solid vegetable shortenings and the oil
from deep-fat fryers, is likely to do
more damage to your arteries than the
moderate number (4-3) of eggs (high in
cholesterol) you eat each week.
Americans tend to eat 50-905 more
protein than their body requires. This
excessive protein intake and a high in
take of animal protein are also likely
to Increase your risk of cardiovascular
disease more than your dietary choles
terol Intake.
New evidence suggests that certain
vitamins may also protect your arteries
from disease. A recent study in the
British medical journal. The Lancet,
(June 13, 1981), points to the impor
tance of vitamin B6 1n preventing abnor
mal clotting Inside the arteries.
Clotting in the blood Involves small
cells called platelets, and abnormally
"sticky" platelets which occur with a
relative deficiency of vitamin B6. These
"sticky" platelets may initiate unwanted
clotting, a process which can cause
early and progressive damage to the art
eries.
The authors of the study suggest that
the current diet for many people may be
lacking optimal amounts of vitamin B6.
Indeed, the B6 content of many indivld
ual's diet may be marginal or even de
ficient 1n vitamin B6.
One reason 1s that processing drasti
cally reduces a food's B6 content. Sev
enty-five percent 1s lost 1n the milling
of wheat and B6 1s not replaced by en
richment. Heating and cooking can destroy
50-70* of the B6 content 1n vegetables
and fruits. And drug use, especially
oral contraceptives, can Increase the need
for vitamin B6 by 5-10 times.
So it is not unlikely that some indi
viduals come up short on getting enough
B6, and the long term conseauences of mar
ginal intake could mean early onset of
heart disease.
Oranges, bananas, raw vegetables and
whole grains and beans are the richest
sources of vitamin B6. Eating fresh,
wholesome food, without much frying or
cooking, 1s probably a good dietary
strategy to reduce your risk to cardio
vascular disease.
Contributed by Bob Hackman, Ph.D.
Nutrition Professor, U of 0 Health
Education Department.