Obesity and depression were closely linked. One study revealed that obesity increases the risk of depression. In contrast, depressed people are also at increased risk to obesity.

Research conducted by the Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands,found that depression increased the risk of obese people who were not initially depressed by 55 per cent and depression increase the risk of obesity is initially normal weight by 58 percent.

“There is reciprocal relationship over time between depression and obesity,” says lead researcher Dr S Floriana Luppino from Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, told by Reuters Health. Luppino said, this analysis was not designed to determine what type of person is prone to the risk of depression, but only to find out how much obesity increases risk.

But as a comparison, a recent study was funded by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that nearly one in four cases of obesity associated with mood or anxiety disorders.

These findings, said the researchers at the NIMH as listed on the site, appears to support what other studies have found that obesity in which case the rise in the United States is associated with increased levels of depression citizens and the problems other mental health.

Meanwhile, recent research conducted Leiden University Medical Center also has the same result. The study was collected from approximately 15 studies have been published to see whether being overweight or obese is associated with depression, and vice versa.

Studies collectively involving more than 58,000 people, using a measure of body mass index (body mass index / BMI) to measure how fat or thin a person. For reference, the United States adults with a BMI 25 or more is considered overweight, but some were calling the size of BMI over 30 had declared obesity.

Being fat, said Luppino, not only increases the risk of depression, but depression may trigger a more violent, which is no longer centered around the symptoms of depression. In contrast to obesity, the relationship between depression and being overweight (but not obese) is not related reciprocity, but only one direction. He said, being overweight only increases the risk of depression in people who were not initially depressed. However, depression did not increase the risk of being overweight from time to time.

This finding itself was reported in a recent issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, which also showed that the relationship between obesity and depression are more likely evident in Americans than Europeans.

Why? ‘An association response, which means the higher the BMI the more people suffering from depression may explain the association, “said Luppino. The average weight of Americans are heavier than ratarata European citizens.

However, the researchers say, the effects of psychological stress in overweight people should not be ignored. Overweight and obesity can lead to low self-esteem, and dissatisfaction with body shape. “Especially in Western countries where thin is often regarded as an ideal of beauty. Both the low self and body shape dissatisfaction known to increase risk of depression, “said Luppino.

Because depression and obesity carry a greater health implication, it is important to prevent and treat both. The team of Dutch researchers are encouraging doctors and other health professionals, who work in various fields, to collaborate and exchange their expertise.

Luppino suggested, doctors who treat patients who are overweight or obese can also treat depression related problems. While psychiatrists or general practitioners who treat depressed people can advise patients who are obese are also to meet with dietitians.

While other studies mentioned, good habits at home as often eat with the family at home may prevent children are obese. Research published in March issue of the journal Pediatrics stated that children who are toddlers could decrease the risk of obesity by 40 percent if often have dinner with the family, limiting hours of watching TV, and enough sleep.

“Doing one or all three are proven to reduce the risk of obesity of children under five,” said Sarah Anderson PhD, lead researcher and assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University, United States, as quoted by webmd.com.

Children under five who live at home and followed the three lifestyle restrictions such routines can reduce almost 40 percent lower risk of obesity than those who did not do all three. These findings also take into account risk factors, such as maternal obesity and household income.

Breastfeeding does not just have benefits for the baby to be healthier and gives some very useful antibodies. Breastfeeding also helps the mothers stay slim until the next few years.

Researchers find more benefits that can be obtained by a woman who gives milk to her child. A recent study showed that women who breast-feeds can help reduce abdominal fat she owns, even for several decades into the future.

Research results have been reported in the medical conference of the American Heart Association in San Francisco shows, middle-aged women who breastfeed their children consistently have a waist circumference of an average 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) smaller than women who never breast-feeds.

“Fat in the stomach is the most unhealthy spot to store fat for women and breastfeeding can be really useful to eliminate these bad fats,” said Candace McClure, PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, as quoted from MSNNews, Sunday (7 / 3 / 2010).

Recent research shows that women who breastfeed their children have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Experts have suspected that breastfeeding not only helps spending excess calories, but also help women to get rid of abdominal fat faster. Because excess fat in the abdomen can also be a risk factor for heart disease.

To see the long-term effects, McClure and colleagues analyzed 351 women who joined in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation Heart.

This study took place since the year 2001-2003. Participants are divided into 29 percent of women who never breast-feeds, 29 percent are not consistent 42 percent of breast-feeding and breast-feeding her child consistently.

It was found that women who never breast-feeds has a 28 percent of excess abdominal fat than women who never breast-feeds. While the non-consistent breast-feeders has a belly fat 2.6 inch (6.6 cm) and larger waist-hip ratio of 4.7 per cent higher than the consistent breastfeeding women.

“This is very interesting, because in addition to making women stay slim, breastfeeding can also protect women from heart disease. But of course it should be supported with a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives,” said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, director of the Women’s Heart Program at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City.

Therefore, women who breastfeed their children consistently not only does something good for the baby but also for herself.

Many people are afraid to drink coffee because it is considered to be quite dangerous for the heart. But coffee turnes out to hearth friendly. Coffee only gives a small effect on hypertension patients and is still quite tolerable.

The discovery made by heart researchers can make coffee drinkers in love. The results of this study were presented at a conference this week the American Heart Association (AHA) in San Francisco.

Coffee drinkers have a lower risk for abnormal heart rhythm disease. There is no indication that drinking a cup of coffee a day will increase the risk of atherosclerosis or thickening of blood vessel walls that can cause heart attacks.

In addition, other ingredients in coffee other than caffeine may reduce the risk of diabetes for women who regularly drink.

But not all reports on the AHA’s annual conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention and Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism were really a good news for coffee lovers.

One report found a potential link between drinking coffee and high blood pressure. But do not worry, the effect is described as very simple or minimal.

A study of the heart’s rhythm by examining the 130,054 members of Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who has been treated in the hospital because of heart rhythm disturbances. Approximately 2 percent of those hospitalized for the disorder and the most common is the problem of atrial fibrillation.

Dr Arthur Klatsky, a senior cardiac consultant who led the study, said those who reported drinking 4 cups of coffee per day has an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease than those who do not drink coffee.

“It may be a surprise, because some people are afraid to drink coffee. And I do not think we’ll be ready to tell the people that they should drink coffee to prevent heart rhythm problems,” Klatsky said, as reported by USNews, Friday (5 / 3 / 2010).

This study does not give a reason why coffee may reduce heart rhythm problems. According to Klatsky, it could be because the coffee drinkers are on a diet or exercises more. But we also can not say with certainty that the coffee was not associated with minor (mild) heart rhythm problems which does not require hospital treatment.

In essence, coffee lovers do not need to stop drinking coffee just because they have problems with heart rhythm.

Another study that followed more than 3 000 men and women aged 20 years also found no relationship between coffee consumption and atherosclerosis for men and women whether black or white, smokers or nonsmokers. Participants in this study are people who do not consume coffee more than 4 cups a day.

“Based on these data, it seems that there is no substantial relationship between drinking coffee with an increase or decrease in atherosclerosis,” said Jared Reis, an epidemiologist at the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The third study, based on reports from the Women’s Health Study, explained that coffee drinkers experienced less diabetes type 2 (diabetes as a lifestyle).

Researchers compared 359 postmenopausal women newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 359 women without the disease. The results showed that women who drank 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day are 56 percent lower risk of developing diabetes than those who do not drink coffee.

“What seems to reduce the risk from the effects of caffeine because a hormone binding protein,” said Dr. Liwei Chen, assistant professor of the University of California, Los Angeles. But according to Chen’s initial findings it still requires further study.

Other reports to ensure the consumption of 1-3 cups of coffee a day affects only slightly increased risk of high blood pressure comes from Dr. Liwei Chen, assistant professor of epidemiology at Louisiana State University School of Public Health. He uses data from six studies that included more than 172,000 participants.

“Based on our results, for the long-term coffee drinking may have a risk factor for hypertension, but the effect is not too big,” said Chen.

But Chen also suggested, that it is important for people to reduce consumption of coffee,  if you are worried about blood pressure.

More than 41 million women in America suffer from heart disease. The number of people with heart disease in women over time, more and continues to grow. Even people with this deadly disease experienced by more women than men.

However, based on tests conducted in the Swedish study, heart disease problems can be overcomed by performing five healthy lifestyle, for an example, non-alcohol, healthy diet, exercise every day, normal weight and not smoking can prove to expel the risk of heart attack.

This method is believed could overcome the problem of heart disease as much as 92 percent. This research has been tested on 24,000 women.

Here’s how health designed to help you reduce the risk of heart disease. Try to start doing a series of healthy patterns for a week, and feel the benefits for the long term:

Day 1: Drinking Green Tea

This potent beverage contains several powerful antioxidants that can reduce cholesterol and even lower blood pressure. To make this healthy drink, prepare 20 ounces of boiling water, put three bags of green tea without caffeine, and let stand for 10 minutes. If visible change color, you can serve it in a teapot. Could also add ice cubes. Enjoy the aroma and taste intensity throughout the day.

Day 2: Consumption of Low-Fat Healthy Foods

To keep your heart health, fat consumption which is recommended not exceeding 30% of calories. And more importantly, avoid using saturated oil and replace it with unsaturated fats that can be obtained from olive oil, nuts, dark chocolate, avocado and polyunsaturated which can be obtained from salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts.

Limit your intake of saturated fat to 7% of total calories (1600 calories to the diet, it was about 12 grams per day). Avoid Trans fats are commonly found in cakes, biscuits, baked goods and other processed foods. Both these fats can increase LDL cholesterol that can clog the arteries, cholesterol.

Day 3: Healthy Cooking

Use a MUFA-rich olive oil in your food preparation whenever possible. Heart healthy fats can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise “good” (HDL). Olive oil rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, like Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Provide always substitute olive oil for butter or margarine on the table, and use it to replace vegetable oils in cooking.

Day 4: Provide adequate rest periods

According to a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, each additional adult bedtime can reduce the risk of coronary artery calcification, the cause of heart disease, by 33%. When you have less time to sleep, your body releases stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and cause inflammation.

If you regularly feel tired when getting out of bed and always feel sleepy in the daytime, you need to be alert, so you can not sleep. Most adults need 7-8 hours a night to sleep.

Day 5: Consumption of many fiber

Studies show that the more fiber you eat, the less likely you are to have a heart attack. Reduce consumption of wheat bread and cereals that contain wheat, wheat bran. Expand consuming beans, soups, and salads. Within a day, you must consume 25-35 grams of fiber per day.

Day 6: Fish Feast

Meat saturated fats can clog your arteries. On the other hand, fish such as salmon and other fish species believed to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids that will help keep your heart still beat. Eat fish-fisheries that contain omega-3 may reduce the risk of death from heart attack by 52%!

Women have a lower risk of stroke than men. Fats and trans fats will be dangerous for women after menopause due to increased risk of stroke.

Cakes and fried foods will cause a lot of fats and trans fats. Those foods contains a lot of fat and can increase the risk of stroke for women over the age of 50.

Dr. Emil Matarese, head of the stroke program at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, conducted an examination of 87,230 participants and the results were presented at the American Stroke Association conference.

Before menopause, women traditionally have a lower risk of stroke than men with the same age. But according to Dr. Ka He, nutrition specialist and senior author of the study from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and colleagues Yaemsiri Sirin, after menopause gender issues are no longer influential.

Research conducted on participants with 50-79 years of age. Researchers put them into four groups based on the amount of fat eaten. Then the researchers looked 7 years later to find out how much stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels to the brain.

“There were 288 stroke patients in the group of women who consumed the most fat per day (95 grams) and 249 in the group ate less fat (25 grams),” said Yaemsiri as reported by CBC, Monday (1/3/2010).

But there are other factors which affect the risk of stroke, such as weight, race, smoking, exercise, alcohol, and drugs such as aspirin or hormone pills. Researchers concluded that women who ate the most fat,  has 44 percent higher risk of stroke.

Researchers also found 30 percent greater risk in women who consume more trans fat contained in margarine, fried foods, crackers and cakes.

“We need to look at the labels on the food we buy, because there are a lot of hidden fat in the cake and people do not realize how much they eat,” Matarese said.

American Heart Association recommends to limit the maximum 25-35 percent of total calories, fat and less than 1 percent for trans fats. The most healthy fats found in nuts, seeds, fish and vegetable oils.