Chocolate and wine lovers rejoice! Current studies are showing that the consumption of these once thought to be unhealthy vices can actually provide multiple health benefits.

So raise your glass and indulge to your heart’s content!

The high content of polyphenolspresent in grains, fruits, vegetables,

nuts, tea, and cocoa has been reported to play an important role in reducing

the risk of CHD.

Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, thereby

reducing the risk of CHD.

Flavonoids Exert antioxidant protections against

free radicals. Help reduce platelet activation. Contribute to vasodilation to

improve blood flow. Positively influence production of

eicosanoids to foster their role in cardiovascular health.

Studies have shown that the habitual consumption of wine ( 1 to 2 glasses a day) is associated with a lower risk of Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, such as colon, basal cell, ovarian and prostate carcinoma.

Those that drink 1 to 2 glasses of wine a day may have a lower risk of

Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, such as colon, basal cell, ovarian and

prostate carcinoma.

References: Crit Care Nurse. 2007 Feb;27(1):11-5. ; Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2011 Dec;13(6):447-52. ; J Intern Med. 2009 Sep;266(3):248-57.; Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007; 146:10-19.; Nature. 2006 Nov 30;444(7119):566. ; Diabetes Care. 2005 Dec;28(12):2933-8.; Neuroepidemiology. 2006;27(4):201-7. Epub 2006 Oct 16.

IIn a 9-year Swedish study of more than 31,000 women, those who ate one or two servings of dark chocolate each week cut their risk for heart failure by as much as

a third.

Mostofsky E, Levitan EB, Wolk A, Mittleman MA. Chocolate intake and incidence of heart failure: a population-based, prospective study of middle-

aged and elderly women. Circ Heart Fail 2010;3:612-6..

L to R: Mark Sharpe, chair, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners; USF President Judy Genshaft; Will Weatherford, speaker, Florida House of Representatives; Dr. Stephen Liggett, vice dean for research, USF Health MorsaniCollege of Medicine; Dr. Harry van Loveren, interim dean, Morsani College of Medicine; and Dr. Arthur Labovitz, chair, USF Health Department of Cardiovascular Sciences.

On December 17th, 2013, the University of South Florida broke ground for the innovative USF Heart Health Institute, $50-million, five-story, 100,000-square-

foot facility will be built at the center of the university’s health campus .

The USF Heart Health Institute will focus on advancing the research of cardiovascular disease and initiating important clinical trials that will lead to

new and improved treatment methods.

A radiologist at the institute scans a CT of the heart.

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death with over 600,000 deaths a year.

In Florida there are 40,000 deaths from heart disease.

Heart disease affects women more than men.

The most common type of heart disease is Coronary Heart Disease- which causes heart attacks.

Anyone including children can develop heart disease.

(CDC Heart Disease Facts 2013).

USF Plans to invest $25 million in resources for genomics-based medicine research and

recruitment of faculty.

The molecular and genetic aspects of the causative agents of heart disease are largely

unknown.

The research will help lead to the creation of new and improved treatments based on

genetic signatures and other biomarkers of disease.

USF Health recently began its first genomic trialthat links DNA analysis from blood samples to the American

College of Cardiology’s clinical database of millions of patients with heart disease.

Interesting avenues of exploration include investigating the potential of gene therapy or stem cells to repair a damaged

heart.

Special Thanks to, USF Health Communications and Eric Younghansfor the information and photographs they provided.