Study Suggests Frozen Veggies Worse Than Common Wisdom Says Frozen Asparagus Zucchini and Green Beans Lose More Antioxidants During Boiling

Green asparagus from the fridge and  from the market are not created equal - at least not when they finally end up on your plate after a short bath in hot water.

You just have to watch one of the consumer report shows on television to hear it: "Frozen veggies are way better than their reputation would suggest." Actually, here in Germany this sentence has been repeated to soften that Ive even heard people say theyd buy the frozen broccoli because it contained "more vitamins and the other good stuff, you know." And you know what? For some veggies like spinach, for example, this may actually be the case. For others, like broccoli or peas, the nutrient status of the frozen and the raw uncooked vegetable appears to be more or less identical (Favell. 1998). But thats something you cannot say for the green asparagus stems, zucchini and green beans in a recent study from the Università degli Studi di Parma in Italy.

Warning: Dont take this article as an excuse and stop eating veggies completely. The frozen stuff may lose more vitamins, when you boil it, but (a) you can still blanch it and (b) even with significantly reduced antioxidant effects veggies are still among the healthiest things you can eat.

I am not an asparagus expert and can still tell that the cell structure of the Transverse  sections boiled (C - from raw | D - from frozen) is profoundly messed up compared to the raw (A) and blanched (B) variety | legend: c = collenchyma; vp = vascular bundle; p = parenchyma; f = fissure.

In the corresponding experiment, the Italian researchers bought Green asparagus stems (Asparagus officinalis L., var. Grande), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L., va Quine) and green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., var. Giamaica) from a local producer and processed them within 24 hours from harvesting. For each of the veggies four samples were prepared: Raw/uncooked  (R), raw/boiled  (B), blanched (BL) and industrially frozen/boiled (FB)

The raw (ten kilograms of each vegetable), blanched (five kilograms of each vegetable) and industrially frozen  samples  (five  kilograms  of  each  vegetable) had been transported were  transported  to  the  University of  Parma laboratories  under  adequate  refrigerated conditions to avoid the exuberant nutrient loss that occurs upon inadequately slow (re-)freezing.

SuppVersity Suggested Read: " Conventional vs. Organic: Its Not About Getting More, But Getting Less For Your Money. Less Pesticides, Dioxins & Co" | read more if you want to know if the claim "organic is always better" is a similar misconcept as "frozen over fresh".

If you "freeze" your veggies in the freezer compartment of your fridge, this will make the cells blast, so that even before they are cooked, and the nutrients flow out. It is generally assume that the latter would not happen, if the veggies are shock-frosted.

Figure 1: Total antioxidant capacity of green asparagus, zucchini and green beans raw, blanched, boiled and frozen and boiled (Paciulli. 2014); as the data tells you frozen veggies with similar  icy grease on them like you see on the right may not really be a better source of antioxidants than fresh veggies from the farmers or even the supermarket.

If we look at the data in Figure 1, though, it would appear that the cells may have "cracked" already so that they are more susceptible to the subsequent heat assault and the frozen + boiled samples end up having consistently lower total antioxidant (Figure 2) and feric acid reducing capacity than their raw + boiled counterparts.

For a similar reason (nutrient retention), the blanched samples have been cooled immediately after blanching in an ice-water bath for 3 min before they have been transported to the laboratories, where their analysis shows that only the Zucchini lost a small, but significant amount of their total antioxidant activity.

Figure 2: It would be interesting to see if the negative effects of freezing and boiling occur in all vegetables. In view of the fact that previous studies compared raw vs. frozen, but nor raw + cooked vs. frozen + cooked, frozen Broccoli + cooked broccoli could be exactly as "bad" as asparagus, zucchini and green beans.

The thing that is of most practical relevance, tough, is the significant negative effect of freezing + boiling on both, the total antioxidant capacity (Figure 1) and the ferric reducing capacity (Figure 2) of all three vegetables.

The previously "cited" statement that youre better of with the "fresh" frozen veggies is thus probably only right, if you eat them raw. Compared to fresh veggies, the previously frozen asparagus, zucchini and green beans lost almost 11-30% of their antioxidant prowess during the cooking process - and the same may well happen to other veggies, including broccoli, which have been compared in previous studies only on a raw vs. frozen, but not on a cooked vs. frozen + cooked basis. Unless youre afraid that all the good veggies may limit your gains due to their potent anti-oxidant effects, it appears smart to stay away from their frozen varieties.

References:

• Paciulli, Maria, et al. "Impact of the industrial freezing process on selected vegetables Part I. Structure, texture and antioxidant capacity." Food Research International (2014).

Heart Palpitations Irregular Heartbeats are Common at Menopause

Are you a woman age 35 years or older who sometimes experiences skipped heart beats or a racing heart even when you’re not exerting yourself? Do you sometimes awaken with a racing heart? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you are likely experiencing common symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.

Normal heart rate

The heart’s rhythm is coordinated by its own electrical system. With each heartbeat, the electrical impulse begins at the sinus (or sinoatrial, SA) node, also called the heart’s natural pacemaker. The SA node is a cluster of specialized cells, located in the right atrium. The SA node produces the electrical impulses that set the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. The impulse spreads through the walls of the right and left atria, causing them to contract, forcing blood into the ventricles.

The impulse then reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node, which acts as an electrical bridge allowing impulses to travel from the atria to the ventricles. There is a short delay before the impulse travels on to the ventricles.

From the AV node, the impulse travels through a pathway of fibers called the HIS-Purkinje network. This network sends the impulse into the ventricles and causes them to contract. The contraction forces blood out of the heart to the lungs and body. The SA node fires another impulse and the cycle begins again. The heartbeat is triggered by electrical impulses that travel down a special pathway through your heart muscle.

What are heart palpitations?

Palpitations are irregular heartbeats that can include skipped beats, extra beats (as many as 8 to 16 beats a minute), and a racing heart (as many as 200 extra beats a minute). Many people suggest that having palpitations makes them "aware of their heart beating."

Women and men can have heart palpitations. In healthy people, they are most common in perimenopausal and menopausal women as a result of fluctuating hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Some perimenopausal and menopausal women suggest their palpitations occur during or after a hot flash.

"Palpitations usually last only a few seconds to a minute or two," says Summit Medical Group cardiologist Andrew D. Beamer, MD, FACC. "If you have palpitations that are frequent and last for long periods, you should see your cardiologist immediately. Even if your palpitations are associated with perimenopause or menopause," says Dr. Beamer, "there are treatments such as beta blockers that can help reduce their frequency and intensity."

Symptoms of irregular heart rhythms

An arrhythmia may be "silent" and not cause any symptoms. A doctor can detect an irregular heartbeat during an examination by taking your pulse, listening to your heart or by performing diagnostic tests.

If symptoms occur, they may include:
* Palpitations -- a feeling of skipped heart beats, fluttering, "flip-flops" or feeling that the heart is "running away"
* Pounding in the chest
* Dizziness or feeling light-headed
* Shortness of breath
* Chest discomfort
* Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired)

Symptoms of palpitations represent 15-25 percent of all the symptoms reported by female heart patients. 

They are associated with:

* Premenstrual syndrome

* Pregnancy

* Perimenopausal period

When palpitations are present, the doctor begins his or her evaluation by looking for underlying heart disease. The importance of palpitations and the need for treatment is determined by the presence of underlying heart disease, the type of irregular heartbeats that are occurring and other symptoms that are present.

Common causes

Common causes of heart palpitations include:

* Alcohol

* Caffeine

* Pseudoephedrine, a stimulant in decongestants

* Dehydration, causing an electrolyte embalance

* Phentermine, ephedrine, and caffeine in diet pills

* Emotional stress, which releases adrenaline

* Hormonal changes

* Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially when first beginning treatment

* Monosodium glutamate in Chinese food, processed foods, canned vegetables, canned soups, and processed meats

* Nicotine

In most cases, palpitations associated with menopause are not an indication of heart problems. Palpitations often go away after several months, but even they can recur from time to time.

Although heart palpitations can be disconcerting, remember that most often they are a normal part of aging. Try to remain calm when you have them and focus on your breathing. If you have heart palpitations when you are active, stop what you are doing and sit down or lie down and breathe deeply and slowly through your nose and out your mouth. Your normal heart rate should return within a few minutes.

Why does menopause cause irregular heartbeats?

During the menopause, the amount of the hormone estrogen gradually declines. However, this decline is not steady and often there are erratic fluctuations during the perimenopause and menopause.

 Estrogen has an effect on the dilation of the coronary arteries. When low, the arteries contract, and when high, they dilate. This can lead to changes in blood pressure and heart rhythm.

Estrogen also has an effect on the autonomic nervous system which regulates the unconscious functions of the body such as heart rate and breathing. Changes in oestrogen levels mean that the nervous system fluctuates between being highly stimulated to being stimulated very little, having a direct impact on heartbeat regularity.

How are arrhythmias diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of an arrhythmia, you should make an appointment with a cardiologist. You may want to choose an electrophysiologist, a cardiologist who has received additional specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.

After evaluating your medical history and discussing your symptoms, a physical exam will be performed. The cardiologist also may perform a variety of diagnostic tests to help confirm the presence of an arrhythmia and determine its causes.

If your heart rate is very fast,

if you are feeling dizzy or faint,

or if you feel tightness or pain in the chest or neck,

you should get immediate emergency treatment.

Underlying Dangers of an Irregular Heartbeat

Experiencing an irregular heartbeat during menopause is not something that is dangerous in itself. Usually, irregularities in your heartbeat will last between a few seconds and several minutes, but they will correct themselves. Irregular heartbeats as a result of menopause will usually come to an end once you reach postmenopause.

However, though irregular heartbeats can often pose no danger, they can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as:

* Overactive thyroid. This will also be accompanied by other symptoms such as mood swings, diarrhea, and hyperactivity.

* Anemia. Hair loss, itchy skin, and headaches will usually accompany this condition.

* Dehydration.Dehydration is associated with tiredness, a dry mouth, and concentrated urine.

If you are concerned that your irregular heartbeat is a symptom of another condition, then you should consult a medical practitioner.

Emotional Impact of an Irregular Heartbeat

An irregular heartbeat does not just have an effect upon your physical health; it can also present dangers to your emotional and mental health as well. Suffering from an irregular heartbeat can heighten stress levels, since they may make you worry about what it is and what is causing it. Stress itself heightens your risk of suffering from an irregular heartbeat, so it can become a vicious circle. Heightened stress, anxiety, and panic can lead to panic attacks, which cause heart palpitations as well as nausea and fear, symptoms that have been known to be confused for heart attacks.

What Can You Do about an Irregular Heartbeat?

Despite an irregular heartbeat not being dangerous the majority of the time, it is worth avoiding lifestyle habits that could trigger them. Try to cut down on caffeine and alcohol, as well as rich, spicy foods. Smoking or the use of recreational drugs can easily exacerbate the problem, as well as precipitating more dangerous conditions. Maintaining a regular exercise regime will work toward keeping your heartbeat steady and will improve your overall health at the same time.

The most immediate way to deal with rapid or irregular heartbeat when it occurs is to try to relax. Take deep breaths, practice yoga or meditation, or employ other relaxation techniques.

Experiencing an irregular heartbeat can be frightening and stressful. Fortunately, irregular heartbeats during menopause are usually caused by hormonal imbalances and present no danger. However, if you are experiencing irregular heartbeats regularly, if they are accompanied by dizziness or shortness of breath, or if you are concerned about your symptoms, then it is best to consult with a physician.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/article/Heart-Palpitations-in-Perimenopause-and-Menopause/

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/electric/women-abnormal-heart-beats.aspx

http://www.avogel.co.uk/health/menopause/symptoms/irregular-heart-beat/

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/irregular-heartbeat/articles/dangers-of-an-irregular-heartbeat-during-menopause.htm

http://www.menopausehealthmatters.com/menopause-heart-palpitations.html