Health
Navigating Thanksgiving with heart disease: What to eat and what to avoid
This week, many American families will sit down to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal together — but those who live with a heart condition may need to put some extra thought into what goes on the plate.
Nearly half of U.S. adults live with some type of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association — and diet has a major impact on the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Thanksgiving is a holiday that often results in overindulgence of food and alcohol, which can pose a risk to individuals with known or unknown heart disease,” Dr. Philip Nimoityn, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.
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Dr. Sam Setareh, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, often sees the effects of that overindulgence.
Doctors offer tips on Thanksgiving foods to embrace and foods to avoid for people with heart disease. (iStock)
“Every year after Thanksgiving, I see patients that present to the emergency room or my clinic with heart failure exacerbation, hypertensive emergency or diabetic crisis,” he told Fox News Digital.
Foods to avoid
Salty, high-sodium foods are the main cause of congestive heart failure exacerbation and high blood pressure, according to Setareh.
“Canned gravies, processed meats (such as ham and sausage stuffing), and salty snacks can lead to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure,” he said.
Instead, he recommends opting for homemade alternatives with no added salt.
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Trans fats and saturated fats can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, Setareh said.
To prevent that, he recommends avoiding buttery mashed potatoes, heavy cream-based casseroles, gravy and store-bought baked goods.
When it comes to meats, Nimoityn suggests avoidingfo the fattier choices.
“Thanksgiving is a holiday that often results in overindulgence of food and alcohol, which can pose a risk to individuals with known or unknown heart disease.”
“Dark turkey meat from the thigh and leg contains significantly more fat than white meat, and ham contains significantly more sodium than turkey,” he said.
Also steer clear of store-bought cranberry sauce, advised Dr. Alan Rozanski, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine and director of nuclear cardiology at Mount Sinai St. Luke in New York City.
“They’re often packed with added sugar,” he warned.
“Traditional pies and sugary drinks can spike blood sugar and contribute to weight gain,” a doctor cautioned. “Choose desserts made with less sugar or natural sweeteners.” (iStock)
When it comes to beverages, Nimoityn recommends avoiding or limiting alcohol because of its direct effects and additional calories, as well as apple cider, which contains a significant amount of sugar.
Sugary desserts are another culprit to avoid.
“Traditional pies and sugary drinks can spike blood sugar and contribute to weight gain,” Setareh cautioned. “Choose desserts made with less sugar or natural sweeteners.”
Heart-healthy foods
For those with a heart condition, Setareh recommends choosing lean proteins.
“Turkey (without the skin) is an excellent source of lean protein,” he said. “Avoid deep-fried preparations.”
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When choosing sides, the doctor recommends fiber-rich options.
“Focus on vegetables like roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans and sweet potatoes (baked or mashed without added sugar),” he said. “Whole-grain stuffing is also a better choice.”
For a flavorful, nutritious side, a doctor recommends roast green beans, asparagus or carrots with olive oil and herbs. (iStock)
For heart-healthy fats, Setareh suggests incorporating ingredients like walnuts, almonds and olive oil into recipes.
“These provide omega-3 fatty acids and support heart health,” he said.
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For dessert, fresh fruit salads or baked apples with cinnamon are heart-healthier alternatives to traditional pies.
“Taking larger portions of the healthier foods will result in having smaller portions of the foods that are higher in fat, carbohydrates and sodium,” added Nimoityn.
6 healthy twists on traditional faves
Rozanski believes people with heart conditions can still enjoy Thanksgiving favorites by giving them a heart-healthy twist.
“Dark turkey meat from the thigh and leg contains significantly more fat than white meat, and ham contains significantly more sodium than turkey,” an expert said. (iStock)
Below are some of his tips.
Turkey: Use whole grains, fresh vegetables and low-sodium broth for a healthier stuffing — and go easy on the gravy, he advised.
Non-starchy vegetables: For a flavorful, nutritious side, Rozanski recommends roast green beans, asparagus or carrots with olive oil and herbs. “Classics like sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar, buttery mashed potatoes, creamy green bean casserole, and glazed carrots often come with loads of added fats and sugars,” he cautioned.
Salad: “A fresh, leafy green salad with nuts, seeds and a light vinaigrette adds a vibrant, healthy option to your table,” he said.
Mashed Potatoes: Swap traditional mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower as a lighter alternative, Rozanski suggested.
Dinner Rolls: The doctor recommends choosing whole-grain rolls over refined ones.
Desserts: “Enjoy pie in moderation or try healthier treats like fresh fruit, dark chocolate or air-popped popcorn with light seasoning,” Rozanski suggested.
6 more heart-healthy tips
The doctors shared some additional Thanksgiving health tips for those who have heart conditions.
1. Cut out the “high-ticket” items
Nimoityn recommends avoiding some of what he calls the “high-ticket” items that are often added at the table, such as butter, salt and sauces.
“This can markedly decrease the amount of these components in your meal,” he said.
Patients with heart conditions should consult with their doctors for specific dietary guidance. (iStock)
2. Start small
“Serve modest portions for your first plate,” Rozanski advised.
“Long meals often encourage seconds, so keeping your initial serving manageable is key.”
3. Eat mindfully
“Eating slowly and taking a break to enjoy the company of family and friends before rushing to fill a second plate can help to prevent overeating,” Nimoityn suggested.
“Give your body 10 to 15 minutes to recognize fullness before refilling your plate.”
Rozanski echoed that advice, encouraging people to “savor every bite.”
“Put your fork down between bites, chew thoroughly and focus on the flavors to help prevent overeating,” he recommended.
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Before going for seconds, Rozanski said it’s best to pause.
“Give your body 10 to 15 minutes to recognize fullness before refilling your plate,” he advised.
Experts recommend taking a brief walk after eating the Thanksgiving meal. (iStock)
4. Walk it off
Experts recommend taking a brief walk after eating the Thanksgiving meal.
“A post-meal walk can aid digestion, lower blood sugar and support heart health,” said Setareh.
5. Adhere to medications
“Ensure that you take all your prescribed medications as usual and avoid foods or beverages that may interact with them, such as excessive alcohol,” Setareh advised.
6. Make nutrition a habit
“Having a heart-healthy diet throughout the year — combined with comprehensive screening by a physician for future cardiovascular risk, including evaluation of lipid and vascular inflammatory markers — may help to prevent adverse cardiac events in the future,” Nimoityn said.
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Patients with heart conditions should consult with their doctors for specific dietary guidance, he added.
Health
Scientists May Be Able to Make Grapefruits Compatible With Medications They Currently Interfere With
You may be among the millions of people who have seen a surprisingly specific warning like this on the labels of drugs you take:
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.
Such warnings are issued for dozens of substances, including docetaxel, a cancer drug; erythromycin, an antibiotic; and some statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to more than a third of American adults over 40.
The problem is a set of molecules, furanocoumarins. High levels of furanocoumarins interfere with human liver enzymes, among other processes. In their presence, medications can build up to unhealthy levels in the body. And grapefruits and some related citrus fruits are full of them.
But there is no such warning for other kinds of citrus, such as mandarins and other oranges. Citrus researchers at the Volcani Center in Israel reported Wednesday in the journal The New Phytologist that, by crossing mandarins and grapefruit, they’ve uncovered genes that produce furanocoumarins in some citrus fruits. It’s a finding that opens the possibility of creating grapefruit that doesn’t require a warning label.
Scientists had worked out the compounds’ structures and pieced together a basic flowchart of how they are made years ago, said Yoram Eyal, a professor at the Volcani Center. But the precise identities of enzymes catalyzing the process — the proteins that snip off a branch here, or add a piece there — remained mysterious. He and his colleagues knew that one way to identify them was to breed citrus high in furanocoumarins with those without. If the offspring of such a cross had varying levels of the substances, it should be possible, by digging into their genetics, to pinpoint the genes for the proteins.
“We were afraid to approach it, because it’s very time-consuming and it takes many years,” he said, noting how involved it can be to grow new trees from seeds and assess their genetics. “But finally, we decided we have to dive in.”
When they examined the offspring of a mandarin and a grapefruit, the researchers saw something remarkable. Fifty percent of the young plants had high levels of furanocourmains, and 50 percent had none. That particular signature meant something very specific, in terms of how the ability to make these substances is inherited.
“We saw there was only one gene that could have controlled it,” said Livnat Goldenberg, a Volcani Center researcher who is the lead author of the new study.
The researchers soon identified the gene controlling the production of furanocoumarins in leaves and fruit, which produces an enzyme called 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, or 2OGD for short. Mandarins, it turns out, have a mutated form of this gene that keeps the enzyme from functioning properly. This version cropped up in all the mandarin and orange varieties the researchers checked, explaining why they do not cause the same problems as grapefruit in people taking prescription medications. In these plants, furanocoumarin production is paused.
With gene editing technology, it should be possible to alter the gene in grapefruit as well, Dr. Eyal suggests. The team at the Volcani Center is now exploring that project.
Looking at how widespread this mutated version is in mandarins and some other citrus, the scientists speculate that some gene nearby on the genome must play an important role in a highly prized trait. A long-ago citrus breeder, selecting for some unknown quality, must have unwittingly spread this furanocoumarin-busting version of the gene to an ancestor of modern varieties of mandarins and oranges.
All these years later, that person’s work is coming to light, under the gaze of geneticists, who may, someday, put grapefruit back on the menu.
Cases of tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” are on the rise in the U.S., according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis, the disease commonly infects rabbits, hares and rodents. However, it is zoonotic, which means it can spread from animals to humans.
The bacteria is a “tier-1 select agent,” a classification given to agents and toxins that “present the greatest risk of deliberate misuse with significant potential for mass casualties or devastating effects to the economy, critical infrastructure or public confidence, and pose a severe threat to public health and safety,” per the CDC.
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Although tularemia is relatively rare, with only 2,462 diagnoses between 2011 and 2022, cases have risen 56% compared to the prior decade (2001 to 2010), as reported in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Cases of tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” are on the rise in the U.S., according to a new report from the CDC. (iStock)
“Increased reporting of probable cases might be associated with an actual increase in human infection, improved tularemia detection or both,” the report states.
Millions of new cases of diabetes and heart disease every year are caused by sugary drinks, according to newly published research.
Tufts University in Boston led the study, which found that about 2.2 million new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease were attributed to sugar-sweetened sodas and juices each year, according to a press release.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine this week.
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The highest rates were found in Colombia, where 48% of new diabetes cases were linked to sugary drinks, and in Mexico, where nearly a third of cases were attributed to them.
Meanwhile, in Latin America, more than 24% of new diabetes cases were linked to sugary beverages, and 21% in sub-Saharan Africa, the study found.
About 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease occur each year worldwide due to consuming sugar-sweetened soda and juices, according to the findings of a new study. (iStock)
In South Africa, 27.6% of new diabetes cases and 14.6% of cardiovascular disease cases were attributed to sugary drinks.
Sugary drinks are rapidly digested, causing a spike in blood sugar levels with little nutritional value.
Sugary drinks cause blood sugar to spike because they are “rapidly digested,” the research team said.
When consumed on a long-term basis, these types of beverages, in addition to increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, the researchers added.
Men are more likely than women to suffer the consequences of sugary drink consumption, as are younger adults compared to their older counterparts, a new study asserts. (iStock)
Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, the study’s senior author, said in a university press release, “Sugar-sweetened beverages are heavily marketed and sold in low- and middle-income nations.”
He added, “Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also often less well-equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences.”
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Certain groups are more likely to experience negative health effects from sugary drinks, including men and younger adults, the researchers noted, as news agency SWNS also noted.
New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the research, said the findings were to be expected, as diets rich in added sugars are more likely to increase the risk of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.
When consumed on a long-term basis, these types of beverages can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, experts say. (iStock)
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major cause of added sugar in the diet and easy to overconsume, as they provide little fullness,” she told Fox News Digital.
“The high calorie content and lack of satisfaction due to little protein, fat or fiber in these drinks can lead to excess calorie consumption, which can lead to weight gain — especially gains in visceral fat (belly fat), which has been found to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes,” she went on.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are easy to overconsume, as they provide little fullness.”
Palinski-Wade pointed out that there were some limitations to the new research.
“This was an observational study, not a causation study, and shows only an association between diets containing sugar-sweetened beverages and diabetes,” she noted.
“It does not prove that those drinks alone trigger an onset of type 2 diabetes.”
What needs to change?
To remedy the issue, the study authors called for a “multi-pronged approach,” including public health campaigns, regulations on advertising and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, the release stated.
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“We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages globally, before even more lives are shortened by their effects on diabetes and heart disease,” first author Laura Lara-Castor, now at the University of Washington, said in the release.
Approximately 65% of adults in the U.S. consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily. (iStock)
Mexico implemented a sugary drinks tax in 2014, which has shown to be effective in reducing consumption, the researchers stated.
“Much more needs to be done, especially in countries in Latin America and Africa, where consumption is high and the health consequences severe,” wrote Mozaffarian.
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“As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.”
Many different factors are involved in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, Palinski-Wade noted.
“As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.”
“However, reducing your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages can go a long way toward improving overall blood sugar regulation and future health.”
The new research was supported by the Gates Foundation, the American Heart Association and Mexico’s National Council for Science and Technology.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for further comment.
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