Heart Attack Grill's 'Bypass Burger' Claims Second Victim

The Heart Attack Grill, Las Vegas' shrine to unhealthy eating, said another diner had to be wheeled away from the restaurant on a stretcher after chowing down on one of its infamous "Bypass Burgers" -- the second since February.

RoadFish.com hopes that these back-to-back incidents will spark awareness in people to take good care of their health, and evaluate what they are putting into their bodies. RoadFish.com believes that you can't put a price tag on a healthy diet, and that good health, wealth, and happiness go hand in hand.

RoadFish.com men's lifestyle and finance magazine was fairly appalled to learn of the second diner in the span of two months collapsing during a meal at the Heart Attack Grill and being rushed to the hospital.

Owner Jon Basso told KVVU-TV that the patron, believed to be in her mid-40s, was eating a Double Bypass Burger when she suffered an apparent heart attack.

"I would say the woman gave her body every single thing it could handle, and it finally gave out," Basso told the TV station.

There is a sign at the Heart Attack Grill that issues the warning, "This Establishment is bad for Your Health." Items on the menu include burgers with names such as the "Triple" and "Quadruple Bypass Burger," and lard-cooked "Flatliner French Fries." The quadruple bypass burger has even been named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most caloric sandwich in the world, coming in at 10,000 calories for the 4-patty burger topped with layers of cheese and bacon. 

The Heart Attack Grill is no stranger to controversy, with slogans like, a "Taste worth dying for!" and a house policy that allows diners weighing more than 350 pounds to eat for free.

Basso said the diner was also drinking alcohol and smoking before falling onto the floor unconscious.

It's the second time in three months that one of the restaurant's customers has collapsed while devouring one of its signature burgers. A man in his 40s was enjoying a 6,000-calorie Triple Bypass Burger when he began sweating, shaking and experiencing chest pains. He was hospitalized and released.

RoadFish.com hopes that these incidents will raise awareness and prompt people to look closely at their health and eating decisions. RoadFish.com's senior staff writer is quoted saying, "Two major keys of being healthy include getting enough nutrients through food and water, and not taking in toxins. Another one is getting enough exercise. I don't know the lifestyles of the people who collapsed at the Heart Attack Grill, and how healthy and fit they were before their respective incidents. But I do hope that these unfortunate events have sparked some awareness in others to take really good care of their health, and eat 10,000 calorie meals sparingly."

According to the above-mentioned Reuters article, restaurant Joe Basso is quoted saying of the female customer who collapsed on Saturday, "She was eating, drinking, smoking, laughing, dancing, and having fun. But when you treat your body like that day in and day out, eventually your body is going to give out."

"We attract an avant-garde clientele -- thrill seekers, risk takers," Basso told the Los Angeles Times. "It attracts people who don't really take good care of their health."

Basso said he's been following the woman's condition and that she is recovering at an area hospital.

Autism risk tied to mom's obesity during pregnancy

Autism is more likely to occur in children whose mothers were obese while pregnant, new research suggests.

The study, one of the first of its kind, involved about 1,000 California children, ages 2 to 5. Researchers affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute looked at their mothers' medical records and examined the association between obesity and autism. Women who were obese during pregnancy were about 67 percent more likely than normal-weight women to have autistic children, the study showed. Obese moms also faced double the risk of having children with other developmental delays.

Children born to obese women are more likely to be diagnosed with autism or related developmental delays than the children of slimmer mothers, according to a U.S. survey. 

The research, which appeared in Pediatrics, was looking for the impact on childrens' cognitive development from a variety of "metabolic conditions" in the mother, including high blood pressure or diabetes. The strongest links were found between obesity and autism-related disorders.

Although the study cannot prove that one condition causes the other, its authors caution that even the possibility is worrisome in the light of rising U.S. obesity rates.

Obesity isn't the only risk factor found for pregnant moms in the study. Researchers also looked at prevalence of gestational diabetes and found pregnant moms with diabetes had nearly 2 1/3 times the chance of having a child with developmental delays compared with healthy mothers. Although the proportion of diabetic mothers who had a child with autism was higher, the numbers did not reach statistical significance.

The study was published online in the April 9 issue of Pediatrics.

Among the children in the study with an autism spectrum disorder, 48 were born to mothers with Type 2 or gestational diabetes, 111 to mothers who were obese and 148 to mothers with any sort of metabolic condition, like high blood pressure.

For children with a developmental delay, 20 were born to mothers with Type 2 or gestational diabetes, 41 to mothers who were obese and 60 to a mother with any metabolic condition.

What explains the results? Researchers say the study does not indicate cause and effect - and further research must be done to confirm the results. But the authors theorize that obesity - generally about 35 pounds overweight - is linked with inflammation and sometimes elevated levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar and inflammation-related substances in a mother's blood may reach the fetus and damage the developing brain, study author Paula Krakowiak, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, said.

Of those children, 517 had an autism spectrum disorder and 172 had developmental delays. For Krakowiak's study, the children's diagnoses were confirmed by a re-evaluation at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Milder versions of autism, such as Asperger's syndrome, form a "spectrum" of autism-related disorders. In addition, impairments in any one of the autism-related cognitive skill areas are considered developmental delays.

On average, women face a 1 in 88 chance of having a child with autism, according to recent CDC figures. The new research suggests that obesity during pregnancy would increase that to a 1 in 53 chance, the authors said.

"Over a third of U.S. women in their childbearing years are obese and nearly one-tenth have gestational or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy," Krakowiak said in a written statement. "Our finding that these maternal conditions may be linked with neurodevelopmental problems in children raises concerns and therefore may have serious public-health implications."

Previous research has linked obesity during pregnancy with stillbirths, preterm births and some birth defects.

"There is a lot that is unknown and studies like these really help us figure out the questions that need to be answered," Gardener said.

But she warned that researchers are far from understanding what might create a link between obesity and autism.

U.S. autism rates have increased along with obesity rates, says Dr. Daniel Coury, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He said the research suggests that may be more than a coincidence.

If mothers' obesity is truly related to autism, it would be only one of many contributing factors, said Coury, who was not involved in the study.

What other factors have been linked to autism? Genetics, mothers' illnesses and use of certain medicines during pregnancy are a few, according to the CDC.

Although the study looked at obesity in the mothers, it lacks information on women's diets and other habits during pregnancy that might have influenced fetal development.

The CDC has more on pregnancy complications, including obesity and gestational diabetes.

Eating red foods for healthy heart

Are you worried about your heart? Don't feel blue. Go red, and eat red foods for your heart.

This novel idea comes from the American Heart Association, which advocated that men and women eat red-colored foods to protect their hearts.

1. Red apples. Apples are rich in quercetins, a substance known to protect against Alzheimer's disease and many cancers. Studies show that people who eat an apple a day have lower chances of getting lung cancer and Alzheimer's disease when compared to non-fruit eaters. Even smokers who often eat apples can somehow minimize the risk of getting cancer. Apple skins contain pectin, which some studies show can lower bad cholesterol by as much as 16%. Apples may also prevent diabetes and childhood asthma. Eating the fiber-rich skin of the apple also has additional health benefits of having better skin, more regular bowel movement and lower risk for colon cancer.

2. Red watermelon. According to the US Department of Agriculture, watermelon may be beneficial for the heart and blood vessels. Researchers report that eating watermelons increases our body's argentine levels, an important amino acid Arginine is a component needed to produce nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes the blood vessels, improves blood flow and may protect us from a heart attack and stroke. 

3. Red grapes. Red grapes contain falconoid which increase good cholesterol levels in the body and prevents blockage of arteries.

4. Red wine. Red wine contains reservation which also increases good cholesterol levels and blocks fat in the body. But be sure to follow the recommended daily intake. Men can have up to 2 glasses per day while women can have 1 glass per day.

5. Tomatoes, Red tomato, catsup or tomato sauce.  Researchers have found that these are also healthy for the heart. Consume 10 spoons per week to avoid heart problems.

A terrific source of vitamin C with a touch of vitamin A, potassium and fiber thrown in for good measure, tomatoes don’t just taste great, they’re also good for you. (Hard to believe that at one time they were thought to be poisonous!) Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that fights skin aging and may be beneficial against cancer and heart disease.

6. Cherries: Rich in antioxidants, such as anthocyanin (believed to reduce pain and inflammation), cherries have been purported to fight myriad diseases, including diabetes, cancer, arthritis and gout. Cherries are also a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin A.

7. Pomegranate: A near-icon of fertility in much of its native range (Iran to the Himalayas), the pomegranate also has come to represent good health. Studies have shown that the fruit may help to reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries and lower blood pressure. Other research hints that pomegranate juice may help manage prostate cancer, diabetes, arthritis and erectile dysfunction. Experts believe that pomegranate’s benefits come from its powerful punch of polyphenols—including anthocyanins (found in blue, purple and deep-red foods) and tannins (also found in wine and tea).

8. Beets: With an earthy flavor that gets super sweet when cooked, beets are very nutritious: 1/2 cup of cooked beets has just 29 calories but boasts 2 grams of fiber and provides 19 percent of the daily value for foliate, a B vitamin needed for the growth of healthy new cells. Plus their beautiful color comes from betanin, a photochemical that’s thought to bolster immunity. Roast them, pickle them or shred them raw and dress them with citrus for a refreshing salad in these 4 quick and easy beet recipes.

9. Chile Peppers: Capsaicin, an antioxidant in chilies, thwarts food spoilage and may protect blood vessels. It also makes peppers hot—in more ways than one (hence the spicy folklore that piquant peppers rev up sexual desires). Studies show that capsaicin increases the body’s metabolic rate and may stimulate brain chemicals that help us feel less hungry. In a 2005 study in the International Journal of Obesity, people ate 16 percent fewer calories at a meal if they sipped tomato juice spiked with hot-pepper extract (versus plain tomato juice) a half hour earlier.