Highlights
- A diet that includes oats is effective in lowering cholesterol levels
- Munching on a handful of nuts can do wonders for your heart
- Legumes are great for the heart and have antioxidants
A new study, presented at the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India (CSI) in Kolkata, suggests that men under 40 years of age who are going bald and greying prematurely may be at five-fold risk of developing heart disease. The findings showed that both male-pattern baldness and premature greying were stronger risk factors for heart disease than obesity, which was associated with a four-fold risk of early heart disease.
For the study, the team included 790 men aged less than 40 years with coronary artery disease and 1,270 age-matched healthy men who acted as a control group. After adjusting for age and other cardiovascular risk factors, male-pattern baldness was associated with a 5.6 times greater risk of coronary artery disease and premature greying was associated with a 5.3 times greater risk.
Male-pattern baldness and premature greying were the strongest predictors of coronary artery disease in men followed by obesity, which was associated with a 4.1 times greater risk. The young men with coronary artery disease were found with a higher prevalence of premature greying (50 per cent versus 30 per cent) and male-pattern baldness (49 per cent versus 27 per cent) compared to people without the condition.
The researchers concluded that while diabetes mellitus, hypertension, family history of premature coronary artery disease, central obesity, higher body mass index, dyslipidaemia and smoking were predictors of coronary artery disease - these was to a lesser extent than male-pattern baldness, premature greying, and obesity. A lot of other scientific studies have also shown that certain foods contain nutrients and essential minerals that may help boost heart health. Have a look.
1. Oats: Oats are known to contain a type of fiber that helps bind bile acids and expel them from the body. These bile acids are made from cholesterol. A diet that includes oats is effective in lowering the cholesterol levels in our body.
2. Nuts: Munching on a handful of nuts can do wonders for your heart. These nuts have high amounts of unsaturated fats that are good for your heart as they help in reducing the inflammation of the arteries.
3. Legumes: Legumes are great for the heart and have antioxidants, proteins and fiber. They are also a great source to get your folate requirement from and also help in increasing the platelet activity.
4. Berries: Berries are full of heart-healthy phytonutrients and lots of soluble fiber. Make a quick smoothie or sprinkle them over your breakfast cereal.
5. Flaxseeds: Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and phytoestogens and all of these help in boosting heart health. It is best to soak or grind flaxseeds before consuming them to derive maximum health benefits.
A good diet and regular exercise leads to a healthy lifestyle which can reduce the risk of heart disease to a great extent.