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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview With Lisa Drayer
Aired February 16, 2002 - 07:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: You know, it's heart month. Did you know that? I didn't know that. Anyway, joining us to talk about the dos and don'ts for a healthy heart is Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and she's with the e-counseling program director for Dietwatch.com. What is e-counseling anyway? What does that mean?
LISA DRAYER, DIETWATCH.COM: E-counseling is Diet Watch's program for anyone who is looking to watch their weight, watch their calories, and also decrease the risk of heart disease.
O'BRIEN: I mean, is it on the Web? Is that why it's e- counseling?
DRAYER: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: Oh, OK. I got it. Yes.
DRAYER: You can just go to DietWatch.com.
O'BRIEN: All right. And meanwhile, your blood pressure goes up when you're e-mail crashes, which is what just happened to me. But that's neither here nor there. All right. Obviously we want to out fatty foods, right?
DRAYER: Absolutely. But the truth is there are good fats and bad fats. And we want to avoid the bad fats, and those are the saturated fats and the trans-fats. Saturated...
O'BRIEN: Wait, wait. Can I eat those Biggie fries that I like so much? Is that good or bad?
DRAYER: You know, believe it or not, French fries actually have these trans-fats in them, and trans-fats can increase risk of heart disease, so if you do enjoy fries, eat them in moderation.
O'BRIEN: OK. So those are bad fats. Give me a good fat.
DRAYER: Some good fats are monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.
O'BRIEN: Yes, but what -- how do I know where to find that?
DRAYER: Sure. Well, monounsaturated fats, they are found in nuts, such as cashews and almonds and peanuts. Also olive oil and canola oil are also good sources and fatty fish. Studies show that eating fatty fish up to two times a week can significantly reduce risk of heart attack.
O'BRIEN: Which is a fatty fish? What are some of the fatty fish?
DRAYER: Fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, those are great fishes. Definitely include then in your diet on a regular basis.
O'BRIEN: All right. What else do we need to be thinking about? Oh, we've got to talk about chocolate and sweets. We sort of tease that chocolate thing. Chocolate really can be good for your heart? I mean, is it time to go out and buy just a case of Hershey bars and start stocking up?
DRAYER: Well, I wouldn't go that far. I wouldn't go that far. But if you are a chocolate lover, then definitely you can enjoy some chocolate every now and then without the extra guilt. Recent research has shown that chocolate contains anti-oxidants, and these are chemicals similar to the chemicals found in fruits and vegetables and also tea and red wine. And they can help, because what they do is they lessen the potential for bad cholesterol to do its damage. There is LDL cholesterol that can build up in our arteries and block blood flow into the brain and the heart. And chocolate has these anti- oxidants as does fruits and vegetables. That can help to lessen that damage.
So bottom line is enjoy your chocolate, but don't do too much, because chocolate is high in calories. And certainly, the excess weight, being overweight can put us at increased risk for heart disease.
O'BRIEN: So eat your chocolate, Johnny, that kind of stuff. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what about kids though? Do we -- I've read some stuff recently about the health of children in this country and the diet that in particular children...
DRAYER: Right.
O'BRIEN: ... and teens have, and how we really are laying the groundwork for heart disease at a very young age here. But when you look around at the food that's available on the average strip mall, there aren't many choices. What is a person to do to try to circumvent the fast food nation that we have?
DRAYER: Yes. That's a really difficult problem, and it's true. Children are more overweight than ever. There is a higher problem with the diabetes among children, and it's also increased cholesterol levels. The key is really educating children at a young age, and also getting involved in school lunch programs. Most schools are required to meet regulations according to the government to have nutritious options available.
So it's really important as a parent to be involved with your children and even form a nutrition committee. Many schools have nutrition committees and it's very important that you see exactly the choices that your children are being exposed to, and of course physical activity as well is half the battle. So being physically active, participating in sports is definitely important and to start when you are young.
O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about exercise for a moment for the rest of us, for we adults. What is an appropriate amount? You know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) presume some aerobic exercises is what we are talking about here. Thirty minutes is usually a good number.
DRAYER: That's right.
O'BRIEN: But how often do you have to do it really?
DRAYER: You know, the surgeon general says 30 minutes on most days, but the truth is the more active you are, the better you are going to be. And even if you can't get to the gym, if you can just be more physically active on a daily basis, whether that's taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking an extra block to work, getting off at a subway stop sooner. The more active you are, the better you will be.
And exercise interestingly has shown two increase HDL or the good cholesterol level. So it's definitely an important factor, not only for keeping weight in control, but also to reduce our risk of heart disease and also diabetes.
O'BRIEN: So I can run to get those Biggie fries. Is that what I can do? No?
DRAYER: Well, it will help if you are going to have those fries. But my advice to you is...
O'BRIEN: Stay away.
DRAYER: ... if you enjoy the fries, do it in small amounts.
O'BRIEN: In moderation. That's OK. All right. Lisa Drayer, thank you very much. It's heart month, and we appreciate you plugging us into our tickers, so to speak. Thanks for joining us this morning on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
DRAYER: Thank you.
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