Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acid supplements, the type of oil found in fatty fish such as salmon may decrease the risk of heart disease and heart attack in people with low fish intakes, says a new study from The Netherlands. Daily intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) of about 240 milligrams from supplements was associated with a 50 % reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), compared with intakes of about 40 milligrams.     Furthermore, the highest average intake of DHA and EPA from supplements was associated with a 38 % reduction in the number of heart attacks, said researchers from Wageningen University following a study with over 21,000 people between the ages of 20 to 65 with low fish intakes.

    Small amounts of chocolate if very rich in Cocoa antioxidants may be enough to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. The statistics evaluation was performed by scientists at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, Germany, assessed the health and habits of 19,357 people aged from 35 and 65, and evaluated their chocolate consumption for a period of at least ten years.     The researchers found that those who ate cocoa rich chocolate - an average of 7.5 grams a day - had lower blood pressure and a 39 % lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least amount.

    Red Yeast Rice was supplemented to elderly Chinese individuals who had survived a heart attack and presently were being treated for high blood pressure. In this placebo-controlled, randomized trial 1530 elderly (over the age of 65) with a history of heart attack were supplemented with either placebo or Red Yeast Rice daily for 4.5 years on average.     Red Yeast Rice significantly reduced the risk of dying from heart related events by 29.2% compared to placebo.

     Researchers from the University of Nottingham have found that a rare, wild mushroom called Cordyceps sinensis is an effective treatment for cancer. Commonly used in Chinese medicine and throughout regions of Asia and India, Cordyceps inhibits the growth, division, and proliferation of cancer cells in the body.      Cordyceps was originally formulated into a cancer drug called cordycepin back in the 1950s.

     Drinking one cup of green tea daily may improve dental health and reduce the risk of loosing teeth by about 20 % according to a new study from Japan and drinking more cups appears to confer additional risk reductions, with five or more cups a day associated with a 23 % reduction in risk, according to findings from the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study. The link does appear to be biologically plausible, state the authors, led by Yasushi Koyama from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. Previous studies have reported that green tea catechins may inhibit the action of oral bacteria linked to the development of periodontal disease, they said.