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Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity Blog View all posts

Ground Flaxseed as Medicine: A Blood Sugar Benefit to Use!
Food can serve as medicine in some situations. Ground flax seed, about 2 tbs a day, has been shown to lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Now a new study shows it can blunt blood sugar after a meal in patients with diabetes.
Oct 14th, 2022

Whole Grains, Not Refined Grains, Promote Heart Health
Nutrition is complex and terms like "carbs" and "grains" are thrown around without precise meaning. A new research report differentiates the impact of refined vs whole grains on heart health. Precise language is required to discuss nutrition.
Oct 7th, 2022

What Does Nutritional Expert Valter Longo, PhD Eat in a Day?
When you talk about the science of nutrition, longevity, and fasting, all must pause and listen when Valter Longo, PhD, speaks up. His brilliance in research and translating it to clinical tools is unparalleled. So, what does he eat?
Aug 27th, 2022

Can Drinking Green Tea Lower Blood Sugar Levels?
The saying goes "food is medicine" but some are more potent than others. Green tea has many benefits and is a part of a traditional Asian diet associated with longevity and health. New data shows green tea is a therapy for lower blood sugars.
Jul 30th, 2022

Can You Out Exercise a CRAP Diet? No you can't!
A tragic death 50 years ago, noted runner Jim Fixx and his Book of Running, presented the question: Can you out exercise a CRAP diet? The latest data indicates it takes BOTH a health diet and fitness to optimize health and lifespan.
Jul 23rd, 2022

HDL-Cholesterol: Is the H for Harmful not Happy Cholesterol?
Over many decades it has been observed that the higher the HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C), the lower the risk for heart events but newer studies question this. As more data is needed, a large analysis examined this relationship. What a surprise!
Jun 18th, 2022

Legumes for the Win: A Weight-Loss Trial Shows Their Power
Increasing low-fat plant foods and minimizing high-fat and animal foods is associated with decreased body weight and fat loss with legumes having the most notable impact. A low-fat vegan diet can improve measures of diet quality and metabolic health.
Jun 11th, 2022

Do I Need to Take a Daily Aspirin for Heart Prevention
New headlines have brought up again, perhaps for the third time in 3-4 years, that not all adults over age 50 need a daily aspirin for cardiovascular prevention. Where might you fit in to those headlines? It is important to get it right.
May 14th, 2022

Yes, I Do Have an Online Health Course on Longevity
Want to live to 100? Dr. Joel Kahn explains what the Blue Zones, or areas of the world where people live the longest, can teach us about staying healthy. From similar food habits to stress management, find out what they all have in common.
Apr 30th, 2022

Three Lifestyle Studies to Know and Practice: Prevent Not Stent
Please help spread the word that lifestyle medicine prevents tragic and needless deaths. Together, we can make heart attacks a rarity. Parents can have more years with their families. Spouses don't need to mourn a deceased partner. Start today, because it'
Apr 15th, 2022

A Plant-Based Diet for the Health of Planet Earth
“You are what you eat” applies to both human and planetary health. The burden of environmental damage from animal heavy diets is large not only for the risk of heart disease and cancer, but also for deforestation and pollution.
Mar 26th, 2022

A Flexible Spine Predicts Flexible and Youthful Arteries

Fascinating data has emerged in the last few years suggesting that the flexibility of the spine and joints predicts the flexibility of arteries. Additional data indicates that yoga may help maintain our arteries in a youthful state.
Feb 26th, 2022

Living 10-14 Years Longer: The Two Lifestyle Studies to Know
Maintaining five healthy habits—eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy body weight, not drinking too much alcohol, and not smoking—during adulthood may add more than a decade to life expectancy. Now new data guides us even more.
Feb 20th, 2022

10 Servings a Day of Fruits and Vegetables: How to Succeed
It does not matter what food philosophy you follow, whether WFPB (whole food plant based), keto, Paleo or Mediterranean, the central piece of all diets promoting health unite at a large amount of plant based servings a day with 10 being the goal.
Feb 13th, 2022

Tomorrow I Will Start a 5-Day Fast. Why? How? Safety?
Odds are you’ve heard about fasting. Defined as "abstinence from eating," the potential medical benefits have increasingly been substantiated in animal and medical research projects and now extend to enhance cognitive function.
Jan 30th, 2022

The Soy Myth: Should you or should you not eat it regularly?
Soybean based foods like edamame, tofu, tempeh and natto are traditional foods in cultures with excellent health and longevity. In the US they have been around for decades but still foreign to most. Should you add soybean based foods?
Jan 15th, 2022

Controlling Stress With 4-7-8 Breathing in Under 90 Seconds

No one escapes the feelings of stress, anxiety and time pressure. A healthy practice to control and diminish these feelings without Rx medication is a tool everyone needs. The 4-7-8 breathing exercise is taught at the Kahn Center
Dec 18th, 2021

The Five Tibetan Rites Yoga Flow for Health and Flexibility
Maintaining spinal flexibility combined with a breathing practice is the core of many yoga practices. The Five Tibetans are an ancient and simple yoga flow that I have practiced for years and years. Perhaps it is one habit you can add to your daily routine
Dec 5th, 2021

Staying Positive and Upbeat Everyday Using Simple Skills
In a world that bombards us with negative news, it is crucial to learn skills to protect your attitude and outlook and keep it focused on the positive. Here are some tips that work at the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity
Nov 28th, 2021

Ditch Your Fear of "Carbs" and Starch: Keep it Whole
The idea of eating a high "carb" diet has been so demonized that some will avoid and apple or beans for fear of gaining weight or becoming diabetic type 2. Nothing could be further from the truth if you keep it whole.
Nov 14th, 2021

Glowing Skin, Glowing Arteries: Simple and Safe Steps Now
What is collagen? Collagen is the protein that forms connective fibers in tissues such as skin, ligaments, cartilage, bones and teeth. Collagen also acts as a kind of intracellular “glue” that gives support, shape and bulk to blood vessels, bones, and
Nov 6th, 2021

Check Your Earlobes Now To Assess Your Heart Health! Really!
Sadly, heart disease still causes more deaths in the Western world than any other condition. Early detection is key and can involved exercise tests, CT scans, and lab studies. Yet, looking in the mirror is one of the most powerful steps to do.
Oct 30th, 2021

Myths About Vegan Diets: Pitfalls to Avoid for Health

A number of people have identified veganism as one of the biggest trends in health. The reality is that the number of persons identifying their diet as plant-based or vegan is growing larger and larger. Yet, veganism must be done "right".
Oct 23rd, 2021

A Young Heart Requires Aged Garlic: A Science Superfood
The nutrients derived from whole plant foods repeatedly show health benefits. Some have unique science data and garlic is one of those. Research has shown that the concentrated components of aged garlic, even odorless, are a powerhouse for the heart
Oct 16th, 2021

Vitamin C and Lipoprotein(a): The Evidence for Benefit
Lipoprotein(a) is an inherited cholesterol particle effected 20-25% of all persons on the planet and it can harm arteries and heart valves throughout life. Standard therapies currently available are not approved for lowering this particle.
Oct 9th, 2021

The Daniel Fast: 21 Days to Better Metabolic Health

Not everything new is better. An ancient 21 day diet plan from the Bible called the Daniel Fast has been tested at a major university to see if it would improve measures of metabolic health. The results how "there is nothing new under the sun".
Sep 25th, 2021

Cancer Therapy and the Heart: An Interview on Cardiooncology
I was interviewed recently by my friends, Drs. Roy and March, at Associates in Integrative Medicine (https://www.aimnatural.com/). I wanted to share the interview as the overlap of heart and cancer care (cardiooncology) is a growing field of care.
Sep 11th, 2021

Can Infrared Sauna Therapy Heal Your Health?
It may seem a stretch to view a sauna as a path to preserving health or even reversing disease. In reality, there are many impactful research studies showing benefits for heart health, blood pressure, and weight control. Consider sauna as a therapy!
Sep 4th, 2021

Ground Flax Seed is a Health Hero!
You know about greens, beets, watermelon and other heart healthy foods. But ground flax seeds? New data push ground flax seeds to the top and I recommend 2 heaping tablespoons a day as a routine.
Aug 14th, 2021

Men's Health: Eating for Your Prostate

Prostate health is taken for granted but enlarged prostate glands causes men major discomfort and surgery is often needed. Prostate cancer is an even more serious issue. What if you could eat to reduce both of these health risks? You can. Learn More
Aug 8th, 2021

The Top 8 Supplements to a Fully Vegan Diet
I am approaching my 45th years on an all plant diet. I depend on whole foods, as close to nature and unprocessed, as possible. However, even this superior long-term choice may have "holes" in achieving optimal nutrient levels. These are my top 8 choices.
Jul 31st, 2021

Loving Your Endothelium and Glycocalyx
There are 50-60,000 miles of arteries in your body, all lined by a fascinating layer called the endothelium. A healthy endothelium is a healthy body. On top of the endothelium is an even more important structure called the glycocalyx.
Jul 28th, 2021

Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium: "Heavy Metals" to Know
With the growth of the industrial world increased concentrations of toxic chemicals have become come. Amongst these, a group of substances called "heavy metals" are more frequent and can play a role in cardiovascular disease. Knowing about them is wise.
Jul 17th, 2021

Important Reasons to Eat a Plant Diet for Health and More

Looking to prevent illness? Reverse disease? Maintain your weight? Help the environment? Be kind to animals? Feel more energy? Think clearly? All of that and more is possible with a plant diet. Here are important reasons why to jump in now.
Jun 25th, 2021

Important Reasons to Eat a Plant Diet
Looking for a health upgrade? A disease prevention diet? A disease reversal diet? Weight loss? Living pain free? All of that comes from a plant diet. Here are strong reasons to choose a plant diet.
Jun 25th, 2021

A Second Opinion is Your First Choice
Have you been told you need a heart catheterization, heart stent, open heart bypass, or valve replacement? Although these may appear to be common procedures, risks and alternatives may exist. A second opinion is often your first choice.
Jun 19th, 2021

Meat Is Causing Inflammation & Making You Age Faster
Meat is a staple in many diets but the science has progressed to explain why many studies relate meat consumption and chronic disease like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Dr. Kahn explains the science of meat and why your should avoid it.
Jun 12th, 2021

Natural Health: Quercetin and Heart Disease
Quercetin and quinoa may be tied for the two toughest words to pronounce in the health world. Unlike quinoa, which is a food, quercetin is found in foods but is not a food itself. It can be pronounced either as “quer-sit-in” or “quer-see-tin”.
May 30th, 2021

HEARTMATH: Using Your Phone to Lower Your Stress
Stress is high in 2021 and strategies to manage and lower stress are key. One of the largest science projects to use technology to lower stress is called Heartmath. Dr Kahn reviews why he uses and recommends it for optimal health.
May 23rd, 2021

Four Tips to Live Long and Well
Lifespan has increased dramatically in the last 100 years but "healthspan", or the number of years free of chronic medical issues, has stalled. Can we both live long and well? Here are 4 tips from the Kahn Center and Joel Kahn, MD, FACC
May 8th, 2021

Saturated Fat and Your Heart: How to Read Science
Conflicting studies on diet and heart health are common. How do you evaluate headlines? What do world class scientists recommend. No single study justifies a change in decades of science. A 35,000 foot view of all the science is recommended.
May 4th, 2021

Lipoprotein(a): What You Must Know
Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) is a "sticky cholesterol" particle under genetic control that is different than the lipids measured on a routine clinic visit. It must be ordered specially even though it is widely available and inexpensive. Do you know your level?
Apr 24th, 2021

Understanding and Mastering Inflammation

To be a good student of the human body and health, it is important to understand a process in our bodies called inflammation. Although a mouthful of a word, the root is the word flame like a fire that destroys your tissues.
Apr 18th, 2021

Why Good Sleep is a Major Heart Goal
Sleep quality may seem outside the wheelhouse of a cardiologist but in reality, without consistent and deep sleep of approximately 7-8 hours nightly, heart health and habits deteriorate. At the Kahn Center, sleep is a major topic of care.
Apr 11th, 2021

How To Reverse Atherosclerosis (Heart Disease and More)
At the Kahn Center we routinely see reversal of atherosclerosis in 6-24 months using CIMT (digitized carotid ultrasound) and other imaging modalities. While some argue that reversal is not possible, seeing is believing and we see reversal frequently.
Apr 4th, 2021

Heart Health: And End to Heart Attacks (and ED)
Death from heart attack is an equal risk for both men and women, but on average, occurs earlier in men. A focus on why arteries clog, how to detect the process years before a heart attack, and strategies to prevent heart disease are important goals.
Mar 27th, 2021

The Amazing Path From Your Mouth To Your Heart
How can you use food to improve your heart and overall health? We teach food as medicine at the Kahn Center and eating greens and beats, chewed for maximal benefit, is another habit for optimal health.
Mar 21st, 2021

What You Must Know About Lipoprotein(a)

Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) is a complex cholesterol molecule inherited in 25% of people in an elevated blood level. It can cause heart and vascular disease but is rarely measured. The Kahn Center is a referral center in managing this problem.
Mar 4th, 2021

13 Ideas for Optimal Heart Health
Heart Month reminds us that we must have a plan to maintain a healthy heart and avoid the statistic that it is the number 1 risk to our lives. Here outlined from Dr. Kahn's book Dead Execs are 13 Steps to take now!
Feb 26th, 2021

Precision Cardiology: An Example with the MTHFR Gene
Although we share over 99% of our genes, there are differences called SNP's (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) that are minor changes to our genes that may make a pathway not function optimally. The MTHFR gene is one we track and treat at the Kahn Center.
Feb 21st, 2021

Eggs and Death? Nutrition Science Explained

While it is obvious that food choices and food quality are a major determinant of health, which foods? What about conflicting reports? There is a method to evaluate new headlines like eggs raise the risk of death.
Feb 13th, 2021

Men's Health: The Heart Bone is Connected to The Other Bone!
The wellness movement and its message of health, fcusing on unprocessed food, clean water, upgraded personal care products, regular fitness, meaningful relationships and stress management is as important to men as to women. But men don't just get it.
Feb 5th, 2021

5 Steps To Live Longer: With Recipes
At the Kahn Center we teach steps to feel better and to improve health metrics for a longer and healthier life. The steps to take do not need to be difficult or expensive. Her are 5 simple steps to take starting today.
Jan 30th, 2021

CIMT Ultrasound: A Window to Your Arterial Age

CIMT testing, or ‘carotid intimal medial thickness’ testing, is a new and powerful approach that is simple to administer, involves non-ionizing radiation, and is 88-92% correlated with cardiovascular disease – much more accurate than most commonly used bas
Jan 23rd, 2021

10 SMALL CHANGES FOR A HEALTHIER HEART
Every year roughly 610,000 Americans die of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States for both sexes.  Yet research shows little shifts in diet and lifestyle can significantly boost your heart health.  Here are 10 to do now.
Jan 16th, 2021

Measuring Artery Age to Reverse Atherosclerosis
"If you can't measure it, you can't improve it" is an often used business philosophy that may apply to optimal health too. Aging of arteries can be measured but rarely is assessed annually to guide therapy. Here is how we do it at the Kahn Center.
Jan 9th, 2021

Congestive Heart Failure: A Natural (Integrative) Approach
Congestive heart failure is a common and serious cardiac disorder. Once fully characterized as to the root cause, heart failure is treated with lifestyle and Rx medications. The role for natural and integrative therapies of heart failure are discussed
Jan 1st, 2021

Treating Atrial Fibrillation Naturally
One of the most common of heart conditions is an irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation. It can be present some or all of the time. It usually requires many medications and procedurs to control. Is their a natural option?
Dec 19th, 2020

High Heart Calcium CT Scan Score: What to Do Now? Part 2
A heart calcium CT scan is the most available, cost-effective, and accurate test to screen for silent heart disease of the 3 major arteries. What do you do when you the results come back and the score is high? This is what we do at the Kahn Center
Dec 14th, 2020

High Heart Calcium CT Scan Score: What to Do? Part 1
Many people are having a heart calcium CT score (also known as a coronary artery calcium score or CACS). This is an important test that is simple, safe and inexpensive. The results may be concerning and high. What to do? Part 2 will follow.
Dec 6th, 2020

High Cholesterol? 10 Considerations to Lower It

An elevated cholesterol, particularly LDL particles, raises the risk of atherosclerosis or clogged arteries. At the Kahn Center we use a range of approaches to lower LDL cholesterol.
Dec 2nd, 2020

10 Holiday Gifts I Love for Natural Health and Prevention
Holidays or any day, healthy gifts are a joy to give and receive. I have tried many healthy items, foods and treatments. I wanted to share my top 10 that you may not be aware of. Health. Happiness. Natural Health and Prevention
Nov 21st, 2020

HOW TO HAVE A NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE: 11 NATURAL THERAPIES

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the number one killer worldwide. Step one is to measure blood pressure at home and work. Step two is to find therapies and lifestyle changes (exercise, diet, sleep, weight loss) that return it to normal.
Nov 12th, 2020