Evidence Based Research | Patient Resources

Flaxseed: What is it? Flaxseed is a grain that contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (so-called “good fat”), and fibre. For the study, 110 patients with high blood pressure and peripheral artery disease added 30 grams of milled flaxseed to their diet each day for six months. Results were compared to a similar group of people who added a placebo to their diets. The group with the flaxseed in their diet showed a measurable decrease in blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure...

When a parent develops cancer, children and adolescents are more likely to miss school, visit emergency departments, and experience negative mental health consequences, a new study shows. "Everyone who has ever been touched by cancer knows the havoc it can wreak on individuals and families," lead author Zhiyuan Zheng, PhD, senior principal scientist and health economist at the American Cancer Society (ACS), said in a news release. "Our study clearly shows the devastating effec...

A healthy diet, physical activity, and cognitive training help extend life expectancy — and those extra years are more likely to be dementia-free — new research suggests. An analysis of nearly 2500 participants in the Chicago Health and Ageing Project (CHAP) showed those who had a healthy diet, got plenty of physical activity, and took part in cognitive exercises lived longer than those following a less healthy lifestyle. In addition, the number of years living with dementi...

When the bacterium Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach, it causes gastric inflammation and increases the risk of stomach cancer. A team of researchers have been able to explain characteristic changes which occur inside the gastric glands during an H. pylori infection. The researchers discovered a novel mechanism which, by restricting cell division in healthy stomach tissue, protects the stomach against cancerous changes. An inflammation of the stomach, however, de...

If you're managing higher levels of stress these days, there's a tool we all have immediate access to: breathing.  It might sound simple, but when done properly, breathing can make the difference between panic and resilience. Research shows that different emotions are associated with different forms of breathing.  For example, when you feel anxious or angry, your breathing becomes irregular, short, and fast. When you feel joy or relaxation, your breathing will be regular, ...