Statins need your help to do their job

Theplant-centric,fiber-rich Mediterranean diet, which includes healthy oils, legumes, cereals, fish, lean proteins and not much meat or dairy, provides what you need to have a healthy heart and agile muscles and bones.

If you have had a heart attack or stroke and are taking a statin to help lower your lousy LDL cholesterol level and avoid a future blockage or clot, the Med diet can help save your life.

Unfortunately, many folks who take a statin think it’s a green light for eating inflammatory, high-sat-fat foods. One study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that caloric and fat intake increases significantly over time for folks taking statins!

If that’s you, cut it out and listen up! In a new study in the International Journal of Cardiology, Italian researchers found that combining statins and a Mediterranean diet reduces bodywide inflammation big time. That’s good news if you’ve previously had a cardiovascular event because if you’ve got a lot of inflammation, your risk of premature death doubles!

Lutein to the rescue

Researchers from Sweden’s Linkoping University have studied the nutrient lutein — a fat-soluble pigment that is abundant in darkgreen vegetables — and found that it tamps down inflammation in immune system cells and your body stores it to use if needed to help cool heart-damaging inflammation.

That made them wonder: What’s the best way to prepare lutein-rich foods tomakesureyougetthe most of that nutrient in every tasty mouthful? So, for a new study, published in Food Chemistry, they fried, boiled and steamed baby spinach and then measured the surviving lutein content. They compared that with raw spinach and found that the highest lutein levels were maintained when uncooked spinach was chopped into tiny pieces — like when it’s added to a smoothie. So, try our favorites!

Dr. Mike’s daily dinner green drink! For three to four servings, blend: 2 cups spinach; 2 cups cucumber; 1headofcelery;1/2inch or teaspoon ginger root ; 1 bunch parsley; 4 teaspoons psyllium fiber (sugar-free Metamucil); 2 apples; juice of 1 lime; juice of 1/2 lemon.

Dr. Oz’s spinach shake recipe: In a blender put 3 cups spinach; 2 cups ice;

1/2 banana; 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk. Now you’re a Smoothie Operator.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.