Following a post about the bad rap that fat has gotten over the years, I felt the need to point out that it is, in some ways, warranted. This is not to say that I am recanting my statements about the benefits of certain good fats, I'm just pointing out the fact that bad fat can have adverse affects on your health. There, my own version of a disclaimer. Good, now I can move on --

For most of us, eating red meat or most other foods found to be higher in fat can add triglycerides to your system. Not a huge problem if you are exercising and eating healthy most other times. But, for the 10 percent of Americans who have elevated levels of fat in their bloodstream, this could be a bit more problematic. Fortunately, a research team from the University of California, San Diego discovered another possible reason for these unexplained cases of elevated triglyceride levels.

It is known that high-triglycerides can be related to diabetes, diet, or drug and alcohol consumption. It is also known that it is something that can run in a family. But, what the researchers discovered is that sugar is another significant factor. We're not just talking about any ol' sugar here, though. We're talking about a complex sugar called heparin sulfate -- which is produced by all cells in the body and is related to the anti-coagulant heparin.

The researchers found that heparin sulfate in the liver helps clear triglycerides and cholesterol from the blood. Their full details of their findings can be found in the January issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation.

New research has revealed information as to why shift workers; people who suffer jet-lag; people with sleep disorders or people advancing in age seem to have more heart disease compared to people in other groups.

Researchers have discovered there is an internal body clock that regulates enzyme production in the liver. These enzymes determine how the liver handles the food we eat and potentially toxic metabolites. The problem is the enzymes function at different levels depending on the time of day.

According to Dr Michael Hastings, who led the research, "Circadian rhythms or our internal body clock adapt us to the solar and social 24 hour world by driving our daily rhythms of behaviour, physiology and metabolism. When these natural cycles go awry we perform less well and feel dreadful. In particular, when our body clocks are disturbed so as to cause a mismatch between when and what we eat and what the body is able to process at meal times, nutrients are handled less effectively, for example fats will not be cleared from the blood stream and blood sugar levels will not be regulated appropriately." This research is published in the journal Current Biology.

The first beating heart transplant took place in the UK two weeks ago. The 58-year old recipient is in excellent condition, with no signs of rejection.

Usually, donor hearts are given a large dose of potassium to halt their beating and then packed on ice for transport. The donor heart for the Cambridge transplant was transported in a sterile chamber where it was kept warm and beating by pumping oxygenated blood through it. The old method only allowed a four to six hour time frame for donor hearts to be transported and then transplanted to the recipient-- not allowing hearts available in remote regions to be utilized as transplants, as most are transported by road in the UK.

The new system will triple the number of transplants possible, enabling donor hearts to be kept longer without any damage, as well as provide an opportunity to be inspected for complete compatibility. Transplants quadruple with the ability to resuscitate hearts that are currently unsuitable for transplant and reverse deterioration. Future plans for the new system also include a higher number of successful liver transplants.

Eating a diet rich in plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, will lower your cholesterol naturally. Plant sterols are most commonly found in vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Cholesterol is essential for metabolism and is safely present in all our cells. However, low density lipoprotein (LDL), found in animal products, is known as bad cholesterol because it causes arterial build-up leading to heart attacks. Plant sterols actually block the absorption of LDL, it also blocks re-absorption into the bile in the liver. This lowers the LDL levels in the blood.

Studies have shown that total cholesterol levels can be lowered 15 percent in only 2 weeks by incorporating food products that are supplemented with plant sterols (you still have to get that 30 minutes of exercise a day of course). You can find plant sterol enriched orange juice, yogurt, salad dressing and more at Corowise.com.