Eating just one cup of leafy green vegetables a day may lower your heart disease risk, suggests a study published online April 21, 2021, by the European Journal of Epidemiology.
The study included more than 53,000 people who took part in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health study over a 23-year period. When the study began, their average age was 56, and none had heart disease. Researchers found that people who ate the most nitrate-rich vegetables (especially leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce) had a 12% to 26% lower risk of cardiovascular disease over the course of the study. One cup of greens per day appeared to be the optimum amount, as people who ate higher amounts didn’t further lower their risk.
The heart benefit may stem partly from the slightly lowered blood pressure observed in those participants. During digestion, nitrate found in foods is converted into nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes and widens blood vessels.
While these observational findings can’t prove that leafy greens lower heart disease risk, they jibe with findings from similar studies.
Bible verses for today’s meditation and inspiration: Matthew E. McLaren
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:6
“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.”- Proverbs 16:3
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24 – Luke 12:24
Recommended contacts for prayer request and Bible study
https://www.hopechannel.com/au/learn/courses
https://3abn.org/all-streams/3abn.html
http://www.nadadventist.org/article/15/contact-us
https://www.adventist.org/en/utility/contact/
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.