Folic acid has long been heralded as an important pregnancy vitamin by preventing neural tube defects in infants. But now it seems to be attributed to reducing the incidence of stroke also. 

A review in the June 2 issue of The Lancet medical journal states that it has been found that supplementation of the vitamin may reduce the risk of stroke by 18 percent or more, but it's not clear whether it boosts outcomes for other cardiovascular conditions.

A study published last year in the journal Circulation found that there was a significant drop in stroke death rates in Canada and the United States after both countries mandated folic acid fortification of cereals and breads in 1998.
For the new research, a U.S. team reviewed eight studies of folic acid supplementation, which lowers concentrations of homocysteine in the blood. High homocysteine levels are believed to increase the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and deep vein thrombosis and found that folic acid supplementation reduced the risk of stroke by an average of 18 percent.
Even greater risk reduction were noted when treatment lasted more than 36 months (29 percent lower risk); when homocysteine levels were reduced by more than 20 percent (23 percent lower risk); or if a patient had no previous history of stroke (25 percent lower risk).
In regions that did not already have supplementation via fortified foods, the introduction of folic acid supplementation reduced stroke risk by 25 percent.

Got the evening munchies? It may be because you are not eating breakfast.
Research consistently shows the more food you eat earlier in the day the more quickly you will fill up at dinner … and you won’t be hungry in the evening. While you sleep, your body is still burning calories, so you eventually will get hungry. But since you are still sleeping, your body goes into “fasting” mode.

In the morning, break your fast by literally waking your stomach up. You do not need to eat immediately upon waking, but try to eat something small within an hour or two of getting up.

Follow breakfast with your largest meal of the day at lunch. Your metabolism peaks in the middle of the day, so take advantage with a nice lunch.
At night, have a reasonable dinner. Your metabolism and waistline will both thank you.

Burger King Hit With Trans Fat Lawsuit

Burger King is Biggest Chain Without Firm Plans to Convert to Safer Alternatives to Partially Hydrogenated Oils

In Washington today, Burger King has had a lawsuit filed against them as they continue to use partially hydrogenated oil and therefore is knowingly increasing its customers' risk of heart disease and early death.  The CSPI is asking a District of Columbia Superior Court judge to order the restaurant chain to stop using the deadly trans-fat-laden ingredient, or at least to require prominent warning notices on Burger King’s menu boards. According to CSPI, Burger King is the biggest restaurant chain that is not fully committed to getting rid of the artificial trans fat found in partially hydrogenated oil.

Emma Buckley B.Sc