Inflammation and Chronic Diseases: The Polar Lipid Link

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally. The focus of scientists and practitioners for decades has been on cholesterol levels and pharmacological ways to control them. Over the past few years, a new school of thought has emerged: inflammation is the underlying cause of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as CVD. Therefore, the key to reducing the incidence of chronic diseases is to control the activities of various inflammatory mediators, such as platelet-activating factor (PAF), via diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. One proposal has been that the polar lipids (PL) present in foods can play a key role via their antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. In this paper, we present our latest views on PAF and how it is related to CVD, and we discuss the role of diet and PL against PAF-induced inflammation.

Download Full-text

Cholesterol versus Inflammation as Cause of Chronic Diseases

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11102332 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2332 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Panchal ◽

Brown

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Inflammatory Mediators ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Platelet Activating Factor ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Tsoupras and colleagues have postulated, in a recent review in Nutrients, that the key to reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease is to control the activities of inflammatory mediators such as platelet-activating factor (PAF) by diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices [...]

Download Full-text

Inflammation, not Cholesterol, Is a Cause of Chronic Disease

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10050604 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 604 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Alexandros Tsoupras ◽

Ronan Lordan ◽

Ioannis Zabetakis

Keyword(s):

Chronic Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Serum Cholesterol ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Platelet Activating Factor ◽

Dietary Cholesterol ◽

Disease Development ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Seven Countries Study ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Since the Seven Countries Study, dietary cholesterol and the levels of serum cholesterol in relation to the development of chronic diseases have been somewhat demonised. However, the principles of the Mediterranean diet and relevant data linked to the examples of people living in the five blue zones demonstrate that the key to longevity and the prevention of chronic disease development is not the reduction of dietary or serum cholesterol but the control of systemic inflammation. In this review, we present all the relevant data that supports the view that it is inflammation induced by several factors, such as platelet-activating factor (PAF), that leads to the onset of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) rather than serum cholesterol. The key to reducing the incidence of CVD is to control the activities of PAF and other inflammatory mediators via diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. The relevant studies and data supporting these views are discussed in this review.

Download Full-text

Making Informed Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Analysing Aspects of Patient-Centred and Doctor-Centred Healthcare in Self-Help Books on Cardiovascular Diseases

Yearbook of Corpus Linguistics and Pragmatics - Yearbook of Corpus Linguistics and Pragmatics 2015 ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-17948-3_4 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 65-88

Author(s):

Georg Marko

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Self Help ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Download Full-text

Patients’ perception of role of pharmacists in health promotion

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.934 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

I Kazaryan ◽

A Amirkhanyan ◽

A Sevikyan ◽

L Vardanyan ◽

M Melikyan

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Diet And Physical Activity

Abstract Background Perceptions of patients is very important for accepting new role pharmacists play. The objective of this work was to study opinion of patients about role of community pharmacists in health promotion in Armenia. Methods Visitors (N = 2066) of community pharmacies in Yerevan were interviewed according to previously designed questionnaire. Results Some respondents suppose that pharmacists already provide advices on diet and physical activity for preventing obesity (32.1%), advices on healthy lifestyle for preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer (30.9%), in promoting healthy lifestyle for preventing chronic diseases (27.5%). The number of patients who thinks that pharmacists are involved in providing advices on smoking cessation (38.1%) is significantly higher than the number of those who believe that pharmacists participate in campaigns on smoking cessation (27.1%) (p < 0,001). Part of respondents wish that community pharmacists would be involved in providing advices on smoking cessation (55.9%), advices for preventing obesity (57.7%), cardiovascular diseases and cancer (57.2%), promoting healthy lifestyle for preventing chronic diseases (51.5%). Conclusions Most of patients are interested that community pharmacists would be involved in implementing activity in the area of health promotion. The number of patients who wish pharmacist would be involved in health promotion is higher than the number of those who suppose that pharmacists already have such functions. Key messages Patients are interested in receiving advices related to health from community pharmacists. It is important to improve education of pharmacists in the area of health promotion.

Download Full-text

The role of information in ‘pushing and shoving’ consumers of tobacco and alcohol to make healthy lifestyle choices

Regulating Lifestyle Risks ◽

10.1017/cbo9781107478114.005 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 23-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Geraint Howells ◽

Jonathon Watson

Keyword(s):

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices ◽

Role Of Information

Download Full-text

The role of Aotearoa New Zealand midwives as positive influencers on food literacy with Samoan families: Report on a small Auckland-based study

New Zealand College of Midwives ◽

10.12784/nzcomjnl57.2021.1.5-11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

Author(s):

Hoy Neng Wong Soon ◽

Ineke Crezee ◽

Elaine Rush

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Food Literacy ◽

Portion Control ◽

Three Generations ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Background: Healthy eating is crucial for optimal development during all stages of life and most particularly during pregnancy. According to Stats NZ, Pasefika people make up 8.1% of the total Aotearoa New Zealand population. Information from the Ministry of Health suggests that Pasefika people have the highest level of food insecurity and the highest level of obesity. Women are more likely than men to be involved with food preparation; therefore, it is important to know to what extent women are aware of what healthy eating means for themselves and their families. Aim: This study aimed to explore an understanding of the levels of food literacy among representatives of three generations of women in five Samoan families; how each of the three generations ensured that their dietary intake contributed to their quality of health; and whether the extent of food literacy was influenced both within and between/across generations. Method: The study used a combined Delphi-Talanoa approach to interview 15 Samoan women about the levels of their understanding of food literacy. Findings: Midwives played an important role in helping pregnant Samoan women understand about healthy eating during pregnancy. Women shared with other female relatives what they had learned about healthy eating from their midwives. Learnings taken from midwives included the importance of choosing healthy foods, portion control and physical activity. Conclusion: All study participants who had received antenatal care in Aotearoa New Zealand mentioned the important role of midwives in increasing their understanding of healthy lifestyle choices. What the women learned from their midwives also informed their wider family or aiga.

Download Full-text

Perceptions of Preventive Health Care and Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Low Income Families: A Qualitative Study

ISRN Preventive Medicine ◽

10.5402/2013/189180 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sasha A. Fleary ◽

Reynolette Ettienne-Gittens ◽

Robert W. Heffer

Keyword(s):

Head Start ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Low Income ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Preventive Health Care ◽

Preventive Health ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

Low Income Families ◽

Definition Of ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

This paper examines Head Start parents’ perceptions of preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices and Head Start administrators’ perceptions of the needs of parents they serve. To address the preventive health of the population, it is necessary that we explore perceptions, risks, and protective factors of preventive health. Focus groups were conducted with parents and administrators to elicit this information and to obtain suggestions for improving preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices among this group. Overall, nutrition and physical activity emerged as themes in parents’ definition of preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices. They further identified social support and education as major protective factors for engaging in preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices. Results of this study can be used to inform research and practice to develop interventions to increase preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices among low income families.

Download Full-text

A Comprehensive View on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Genetics, Risk Factors & Preventions

NUST Journal of Natural Sciences ◽

10.53992/njns.v5i1.35 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 38-61

Author(s):

Saaim Asif ◽

Maaz Khan ◽

Muhammad Waqar Arshad

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Vascular Diseases ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Balanced Diet ◽

Diet And Exercise ◽

Healthy Lifestyle Interventions

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are one of the foremost causes of deaths across the world. This review aims to evaluate the genetics and risk factors involved in CVDs and to assess the preventive measures which can be taken for diminishing the chances of developing CVDs. The goal of this review is to provide researchers and clinicians dealing with vascular disorders with a compendium of data about the genetic causes, risk factors, and preventive strategies to combat the development of CVDs. We searched online databases including PubMed for peer-reviewed scientific papers, case studies and review articles related to CVDs, emphasizing on the role of genetics and risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, age & gender in the progression of CVDs, and reviewing the role of diet and exercise in the prevention of CVDs. Managing the risk factors involved in CVDs is the most essential step for the inhibition of vascular diseases. Healthy lifestyle interventions consisting of a well-balanced diet and physical activity are very critical for the prevention of CVDs. Trials carried out on model organisms have indicated a direct link between diet and exercise on cardiovascular conditions. Strategies involved in the treatment of vascular diseases should also include low-fat diet plans like consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, yogurts and avoiding high-saturated fat-containing foods with the addition of performing moderate aerobic exercises including cycling, swimming, hiking, and running to eliminate the root of the problem.

Download Full-text