Do You Get Enough of the Anti-Stroke Mineral?

Our moms always told us to eat our greens and beans.. and now a recent study reveals yet another important reason why these wise women were right. People who consume plenty of foods rich in magnesium-such as leafy green veggies and legumes-appear to have fewer strokes.

Researchers analyzed data from seven studies involving a total of 241,378 people from the US, Europe and Asia who were followed for an average of nearly 12 years.

What they found: For every additional 100 mg of magnesium consumed daily, a person's risk for ischemic stroke the most common type, which is caused by a blood clot) was reduced by 9%.

Concern: Study participants from the US fell far short of the ideal, consuming foods that provided, on average, just 242 mg of magnesium per day-though the RDA is 320 mg for most adult women and 420 mg for most adult men.

Because this study focused specifically on food, researchers did not make a recommendation regarding the use of magnesium supplementation. However, it is easy to boost your intake of the brain-protecting mineral with food. For instance, you can get about 100 mg of magnesium each from...

• Beans (black, lima, navy, white), 1 cup.
• Beet greens, 1 cup cooked.
• Bran cereal, % cup.
• Brazil nuts, 1 ounce.
• Cashews, 1% ounce.
• Halibut, 3 ounces.
• Lentils, 194 cup.
• Okra, 1 cup cooked.
• Spinach, 4 cup cooked.
  

Loud Traffic Noise Increases Stroke Risk

Previous studies have linked traffic noise with heart attack risk and increased blood pressure, and a recent study shows that persistent exposure to loud traffic can significantly increase the risk for stroke in people older than 64%. Every 10-decibel increase in traffic noise increases the risk for stroke by 27%. Researchers theorize that persistent road noise disrupts older people's sleep patterns (which already tend to be more fragmented). which in turn increases stress hormones, blood pressure and heart rate.