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Friday 9 December 2016

Magnesium-Rich Diet Does a Heart Good; Long Live Optimism; Post-Stroke Epilepsy

A magnesium-rich diet was associated with better cardiovascular health, along with less diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of 40 epidemiologic studies with a total of more than 1 million participants in nine countries, reported in BMC Medicine.

Each 100-mg more magnesium intake from spices, nuts, beans, and so forth was associated with 22% lower risk of heart failure, 7% lower stroke risk, and 19% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. There was also a 10% lower mortality risk with each 100 mg greater daily magnesium intake.

"Magnesium deficiency is relatively common, affecting between 2.5% and 15% of the general population," lead author Fudi Wang, PhD, of China's Zhejiang University, said in a press release. "Our findings will be important for informing the public and policy makers on dietary guidelines to reduce magnesium deficiency related health risks."

Long Live Optimism

A general expectation that good things will happen was associated with nearly 30% better survival chances over 8 years across major causes of mortality in an analysis of the 70,000-person Nurses Health Study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The top 25% most optimistic women compared with the least optimistic quartile had:

38% lower risk of dying from heart disease

16% lower risk of dying from cancer

39% lower risk of dying from stroke

38% lower risk of dying from respiratory disease

52% lower risk of dying from infection

While the observational findings couldn't determine causality or mechanism, healthy behaviors like diet, physical activity and key determinants like high blood pressure and ethnicity only partially explained the associations, the researchers noted.

"Previous studies have shown that optimism can be altered with relatively uncomplicated and low-cost interventions -- even something as simple as having people write down and think about the best possible outcomes for various areas of their lives, such as careers or friendships," one of the lead authors, Kaitlin Hagan, ScD, MPH, of the Harvard School of Public Health, said in a press release. "Encouraging use of these interventions could be an innovative way to enhance health in the future."

Post-Stroke Epilepsy

Epilepsy developed in about 11% of patients chronically after a stroke, with higher rates in younger stroke patients and those with more extensive brain damage on MRI, according to a 1,000-patient retrospective British study reported at the American Epilepsy Society meeting in Houston.

"Many physicians treating stroke patients don't realize that falls, episodes of confusion, and loss of consciousness may be signs of post-stroke epilepsy," lead author Beate Diehl, MD, PhD, of University College London, said in a statement. "Post-stroke epileptic seizures can negatively affect stroke recovery and rehabilitation."


Graham

8 comments:

Magic Love Crow said...

This is excellent! Thank you for sharing! My mom takes magnesium and tells people about it too!

Conniecrafter said...

I do believe that your attitude and way of thinking can be a big part of recovery from any illness. I wonder if the magnesium can come from tablets or if it has to come from food sources, I have been taking calcium pills with magnesium in them

Linda said...

Magnesium is so important. I try to tell that to my husband but he is not interested.

baili said...

i really apreciate your amazing posts dear .
i find them so useful and interesting .
optimism is prevention and far better then cure

Breathtaking said...

Hello Jan!:) I felt like shouting Hooray when I managed to get through to your post this morning, as this is my seventh try!! Each time I came to your posts I was asked to try again, as a script had been n progress for a long time. Finally I can thank you for your visits, and make one of my own. Having a positive outlook is imperative to good health. This is hard when someone has chronic pain, but distractions do help. Eating a healthy diet, and one which is tailored to suit people with certain illnesses is of vital importance. It's good to know the things you write about, and I do enjoy your recipes. Best Regards.:)

Kasztanowy Domek said...

Interesting post! Happy weekend!:)

xxBasia

Lisabella Russo said...

That's very interesting about the magnesium, thank you!

Sue (this n that) said...

Appreciate the information, thank you :D)