Research

        Cuppa survival: Heavy tea drinkers seem to be the best candidates for surviving a heart attack, says new research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

        Researchers believe flavonoids, antioxidants found in plant-derived foods, including tea, are the cause. Flavonoids are believed to prevent cardiovascular disease.

        Findings from the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study showed that patients who drank the most tea the year before their heart attack — 14 cups or more weekly — had a 44 percent lower death rate in the years following their heart attacks. Moderate tea drinkers — those who drank fewer than 14 cups a week — had a 28 percent lower risk of death. Researchers followed 1,900 patients, including 1,019 who drank no tea, 615 who were moderate tea drinkers and 266 heavy tea drinkers.

        “The effects of tea on health have been widely studied, in part because tea contains flavonoids and other antioxidant components, but we don't know of any previous studies that considered the effects of tea consumption on survival after a heart attack,” said Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

        Tea drinkers were more likely to survive regardless of age, gender, tobacco use, weight, hypertension, diabetes or previous heart heart attack.

Tips

        Glow: Shape magazine suggests a diet rich in these vitamins and minerals for healthy skin and hair:

        • Vitamin A: egg yolks, oysters and nonfat milk.

        • Beta carotene: deep-colored produce, including carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papaya, broccoli and spinach.

        • B vitamins: poultry, red meat, fish, bananas, tempeh, whole grains, peanut butter and eggs.

        • Vitamin C: citrus fruits and juices, kiwi, cantaloupe, strawberries, sweep peppers, tomatoes and green peas.

        • Vitamin E: salmon, almonds, extra-lean meats, legumes, leafy vegetables and olive and sesame oils.

        • Selenium: tuna, wheat germ, sesame seeds and whole grains.

        • Zinc: seafood, turkey, pork, soybeans and mushrooms.

Shelf help

        New edition: Men's Private Parts (Fireside Original; $12) by Dr. James H. Gilbaugh Jr: The title says it all in this newly revised and updated guide to prostate, urologic and sexual health. Topics include AIDS and other STDs, impotence, prostate cancer and non-malignant prostate disease, vasectomy and urinary problems.

Siting

        Density: Check out www.osteo.org, the Web site for the National Institutes of Health's Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center. The site includes research and treatment updates, facts sheets, a mailing list and links to other sites.

Calendar

        Inward: Theresa Horan-Sapunar will lead “The Journey Home,” a daylong retreat for women, June 2 at Grailville in Loveland. Cost: $65. Registration: 791-7915 or cpsgonline@fuse.net.

        Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: pofarrell@enquirer.com.

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