The lead author of the study, Dr. Earl Ford, says for most United States adults achieving low-risk status is a "distant and challenging" goal. He adds that the strides made in the past few decades have been "eroded by the increases in excess weight, diabetes and hypertension."

The report, which examined data from several national surveys on low-risk adults, finds women are more likely than men to be considered low risk. White people also had lower risk than both African Americans and Mexican Americans.

Low-risk criteria includes not smoking, having total cholesterol below 200 mg, having blood pressure below 120/80 and having never been diagnosed with diabetes.

Natural therapies, including exercise, a low-fat diet and taking nutritional supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids may further lower the odds of developing heart disease.

The alkaline diet, which is rich in citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts and legumes may also be beneficial.

A new study in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that researchers are trying out an estrogen replacement therapy for those who are beginning to go through menopause or have had their ovaries removed. This treatment is not suited for those who suffer from estrogen dominance, as it would only further their problem.

A previous study that dealt with hormone replacement found that it actually increased the risk of stroke, but new findings may have filled in the gaps that were missing in the older study.

It was noted that in the previous study when estrogen replacement was delayed for 10 weeks, it was essentially useless. The new findings suggest the treatment must be given soon after the arise of menopausal symptoms or ovary removal.

"That seems to the fit the data that there is something estrogen is doing that is necessary to maintain the receptor at the proper levels," wrote author Dr. Darrell Brann.

Researchers have found that a compound known as "trig," which is found in coffee beans, may be able to help prevent colon cancer.

"We’re seeing very interesting information as far as tumor formation and the ability of phytoestrogens to prevent colon cancer formation. So any other new, natural phytoestrogen that we are able to identify and relate to the diet, that would be the model we’d bring it into," said researcher Clinton Allred.

Researchers are currently looking at using the compound in medicines that would focus specifically on the colon, in hopes that it will do its prevention job and not affect any other organs.

While this may be good news for some, those facing problems of estrogen dominance and other estrogen-related conditions such as breast cancer may want to avoid consuming the compound as it may increase their levels.

In a study that appears in Alternative Therapies in Heart and Medicine it was found that a yoga trial helped those who were suffering from lower back pain but couldn’t afford treatment.

The researchers broke individuals suffering from back pain into two groups, a trial yoga group and a control group that met with doctors and received medication.

The trial group attended 12 weekly 75-minute yoga sessions taught by professional yoga instructors. Participants were also encouraged to practice from home for 30 minutes, and were provided with class audio, a yoga mat, a block and a handbook for various positions and techniques.

It was found that the amount of lower back pain of those who participated in yoga declined one-third when compared to the control group. It was also noted that the yoga participants decreased their pain medication by 80 percent, while pain medication usage did not decrease for the control group.

In addition to yoga, taking nutritional supplements for back pain may help decrease the discomfort and keep pain medications away, as some people are concerned about the addictive side effects.

A new study from Johns Hopkins finds that lowering the intake of dangerous fat can cut a risk for prostate cancer by 60 percent.

Lowering cholesterol may keep one’s PSA levels down, which is what keeps the prostate healthy, and leaves the individual with a less risk of cancer.

The study looked at 5,586 men over age 55 who were enrolled in the Prostate Prevention Trial. It was found that men with a lower cholesterol level with under 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) had a 59 percent lower risk of developing a high-grade prostate cancer.

Research found that having lower cholesterol may interfere with the cancer development, leaving it at a low grade.

"Cholesterol may affect cancer cells at a level where it influences key signaling pathways controlling cell survival," explained study head Elizabeth Platz.

There are currently many nutritional supplements to help lower cholesterol for those who don’t wish to take the medication route, as it may have more harmful side effects and restrictions.

The study was conducted by specialists from Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine and the Heart Institute of Sheba Medical Center using 56 healthy volunteers.

Participants were divided into four groups—one which ate a cornflake mush mixed with milk, another one which ingested a pure sugar mixture, the third which consumed bran flakes, and the placebo group which was given water.

After four weeks, the researchers tested the volunteers using a cuff on the arm, like those used to measure blood pressure, to visualize arterial function in real time.

They found that before eating, the patients’ arterial function was similar. However, afterwards, except for the placebo group, all had reduced functioning due to distended brachial arteries for several hours.

"We knew high glycemic foods were bad for the heart. Now we have a mechanism that shows how," says Dr. Shechter.

Other risks for heart disease include a high-fat diet that may increase the level of LDL cholesterol which over time forms plaque that can block arteries.

In addition to cutting out the carbs, those who would like to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease may also consider nutritional supplements containing fish oil.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine analyzed more than 1,000 pregnant women and found those who ate the most fruits and vegetables were 26 percent less likely to develop URTI than those who ate the least.

As a result, the scientists recommend this group consume at least seven servings per day because, in the words of Martha M. Werler, professor at Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University and senior study author, "pregnant women may require more fruits and vegetables than usual because of the extra demands on the body."

Among dietary regimes that rely on fresh produce is the alkaline diet, which is also believed to boost bone health. Meanwhile, those who would like to boost their immunity may consider adding nutritional supplements with vitamin C.

Researchers from Iowa State University and the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid examined the link between sedentary behavior – such as watching TV, playing video games, painting or sitting – and elevated blood pressure in 111 children aged 3 to 8.

"TV viewing and screen time [defined as the total amount of time spent using a TV, video, computer or video game] were positively associated with both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure after adjusting for potential confounders," the authors wrote in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence which suggests that although there are genetic factors contributing to an elevated blood pressure, lifestyle choices such as physical activity or diet seem to be relevant contributors as well in children and adults alike.

Among natural remedies for circulation problems are nutritional supplements containing folic acid. According to About.com, an informational website, it may help lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Florida conducted a study which found patients who had exercised regularly before a stroke occurred were significantly more likely to have milder impairments and were better able to care for themselves, compared to those who exercised rarely or not at all.

"It makes complete sense that a person who exercised before a stroke would recover quicker," says Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. James Meschia, the study’s lead investigator.

"A brain that generally has good blood and oxygen flow from aerobic exercise will be in a better position to compensate for neurological deficits caused by a stroke," he adds.

According to the National Institutes of Health more than 780,000 Americans die of stroke each year, making it the third leading cause of mortality.

Some people have turned to nutritional supplements that may normalize circulation and promote blood vessels function, including horse chestnut, ginger and ginkgo biloba extracts.

A team of scientists from the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, fed mice a diet with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and noticed a slower lesion progression as well as improvement in some lesions. The mice also had lower levels of inflammatory molecules and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules, which may explain this protective effect.

The study’s conclusions suggest "a diet enriched in EPA and DHA can ameliorate the progression of retinal lesions in mouse model of AMD."

The National Health Institutes estimates AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It affects some 10 percent of people between the ages of 66 to 74, making it difficult for them to read or even recognize faces.

Dietary sources that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish, but nutritional supplements are also a good alternative.