Eat more vegetables can reduce vascular disease

A medical study pointed out that about one-fifth of a citizen's body has "homomotypic homocysteine" on the high side, and has a higher chance of suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, if there is more absorption of folic acid, it can increase the chance of disease. reduce. Nutrition experts say that each person needs about 200 micrograms of folic acid per day, which is equivalent to 150 grams (approximately 32) of spinach or greens.

"Homocysteine" is an amino acid produced during the metabolism of meat or milk. High amino acid levels lead to weakened arterial endothelium, atherosclerosis, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Professor Hu Jinsheng, a professor of internal medicine and drug treatment at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who was in charge of the investigation, said at a press conference yesterday that they had sampled 160 local citizens and found that more than 30 people had high amino acid levels, and the ratio was about 100 percent. Nineteen.

They followed up with investigations of 18 people with high homocysteine ​​levels. They are between the ages of 20 and 60. Nine of them consume ten micrograms of folic acid daily outside the normal diet, and the other half do not increase their folic acid intake. Eight weeks later, the researchers measured the intima-media elasticity of each carotid artery and found that the vascular elasticity of those who consumed folic acid increased by an average of 35%. The vascular elasticity of the other group did not increase. This is the first time that studies have shown that folic acid can reduce the chance of atherosclerosis in humans.

Liao Ziying, a research assistant at the Hong Kong Nutrition Research Center, pointed out that the most abundant folic acid is green vegetables such as spinach, green beans, and green radish, while red radish, potato vines, broccoli, etc. contain less folic acid. She said that each person needs to absorb about 200 micrograms of folic acid per day, and pregnant women will need more intake. In order to avoid the loss of folic acid in the vegetables, the public should not cook the vegetables too well.

For some of the market's milk powders that contain high folic acid, Hu Jinming believes that people do not need to drink this kind of powder specifically to increase the intake of folic acid, because enough of folic acid can be consumed in a balanced diet. And milk powder contains animal fat. If you drink too much, you may lose out.