The “Is Our Heart Raising Alarm? – What Is Really Stressing Our Hearts?” talk discussion organized by Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Science Communication Office in collaboration with Lefke Municipality received strong participation. Held on Thursday, 8 May 2026 at Lefke Cittaslow Hall under the communication sponsorship of North Cyprus Turkcell, the event was organized with the objective of promoting public awareness of healthy lifestyle practices. The speakers included Assist. Prof. Dr. İlker Yatar and Assist. Prof. Dr. Nezire İnce from the EMU Faculty of Health Sciences.
EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç was also present at the event and engaged with participants. During the discussion, attendees had the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into current health topics from distinguished academics specializing in the field.
A Focus on Heart Health
The discussion explored the impact of contemporary lifestyles on heart health, highlighting the importance of health dietary habits, regular physical activity, and key factors to be considered in everyday life. The speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced and varied diet for protecting heart health, recommending the consumption of fish at least twice a week, the inclusion of nuts rich in healthy fats in daily nutrition, and the regular intake of legumes. They also highlighted the need to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, noting that this amount may be increased to as many as eight servings.
Moreover, it was also recommended choosing whole wheat bread over refined alternatives, opting for bulgur instead of rice, and limiting the consumption of red meat and processed meat products. In addition, they highlighted the beneficial effects of lettuce, celery, beetroot, onions, and garlic on heart health and blood pressure regulation.
Emphasizing the role of nutritional variety in promoting health, the speakers stated that the daily consumption of six to ten different food items is beneficial for both the immune system and general health. The discussion also covered the nutritional value of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and red- and purple-colored fruits and vegetables, including blackberries. In addition, yogurt was identified as a key element of a well-balanced diet.
Physical activity was another key topic addressed during the discussion. The speakers recommended that adults engage in minimum of 180 minutes of exercise per week, explaining that this could be achieved through three weekly sessions of one hour each or by dedicating around 36 minutes to exercise on five days of the week.
Officials from the EMU Science Communication Office stated that the Science Cafe events are designed to bring science closer to the public and raise awareness on issues that directly affect everyday life. They also noted that similar events will continue to be organized in different regions.
