Vitamins, minerals & supplements Archive

Don't let misconceptions about these medications prevent you from taking them. 

Q. I had a heart attack several years ago and have been taking low-dose aspirin ever since to prevent a second one. But I keep hearing about the bleeding risks caused by aspirin. What should I be watching for? 

A. Aspirin prevents tiny cell fragments in the blood called platelets from clumping together and forming clots. But it also increases the risk of minor bleeding. You may notice that cuts bleed a little longer than usual. Bruises, which happen when blood leaks out of small vessels (capillaries) after an injury, may also be more noticeable.

Confused about fats? Learn the latest on which fats offer the best health benefits.

There used to be one simple rule—all fat is bad. More recently, we've been told that fat is absolutely essential to our health, especially polyunsaturated fats in plant-derived oils. But, as research piles up, the picture of fats and health has sometimes become blurred.

Potassium chloride salts are one option, but many people prefer herb and spice blends.

If you have high blood pressure, scaling back the sodium in your diet is a smart move. Excess sodium (a main component of salt) makes the body hold on to extra water, which can elevate blood pressure. And most of us consume more than double the limit of 1,500 milligrams per day of sodium recommended by the American Heart Association.

Whole grains, including brown rice, are part of a healthy diet. However, health advocates have raised concerns about the tiny amount of arsenic that rice plants absorb from the soil. Also, a handful of studies have linked rice consumption to cardiovascular disease, although the evidence is preliminary and inconsistent. But now rice eaters can rest a little easier, thanks to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.