Need a quick hit of fitness and health information? Today’s article is just for you!
Fish for brains
The Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago found you can slow age-related cognitive decline by a whopping 10% simply by eating fish once a week.
Smoke gets in your eyes
Cambridge University has found that smoking triples your likelihood of suffering age-related macular degeneration – a disease of the retina which can lead to blindness.
Small investment – big pay off!
Moderate exercise for 20 minutes, 3 times per week has been shown in numerous studies to lower the risk of “all cause mortality”. In other words, 1 hour a week of exercise can add years to your life!
Eggs are excellent
In addition to being a great source of protein; studies done by the University of Connecticut have found that consuming 3 eggs a day will significantly reduce the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome – diabetes, hypertension and obesity. After a 12 week trial, it was reported that participants HDL (good) cholesterol increased by 20% whilst LDL (bad cholesterol) levels either remained unchanged or went down.
Good news for coffee consumers
Dr Paul Nghiem of the University of Rutgers has studied the effects of caffeinated drinks on human health and the results are very interesting. The often maligned coffee bean is in fact beneficial for reducing cancer risks, promoting cell repair and as an antioxidant so, providing you tolerate caffeine and have no heart or blood pressure related issues, a daily cup of the brown stuff will do you good!
It’s even better news for the great British cuppa
2 cups of tea a day can cut your risk of heart disease by 44% according to studies by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in the US. The bioflavonoids found in tea are also linked to reduced cholesterol levels, reduced blood clotting and lowered blood pressure.
Bad news for soft drink consumers
Researchers at Sheffield University have discovered a link between sodium benzoate, a preservative used in the manufacture of soft drinks, and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, liver cirrhosis and cancer. In addition, carbonated drinks can cause the leeching of calcium from bones and thus increase the risk of developing osteoporosis or brittle bone disease.
Laugh for longer life
Laughter really is the best medicine! Researchers at the Loma Linda University in California have found that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and boosts immune function while also triggering the release of feel good hormones called endorphins. Make the effort to laugh at least once a day – after all, it’s free!
An apple a day really can keep the doctor away
A study revealed at the Experimental Biology Conference in 2009 revealed that habitual apple eaters were 36% less likely to have high blood pressure and 27% less likely to suffer metabolic syndrome – a condition associated with modern diets and sedentary lifestyles. In addition to their healthful benefits, apples also contain plenty of soluble and insoluble fibre to keep your digestive tract healthy and are low in calories making them the dieter’s friend.
A little of what you fancy does you good!
Chocolate, in particular the 70% plus cocoa solid containing variety is a very rich form of antioxidants which can lower the risk of developing various cancers and reduce free radical damage. Dark chocolate also contains chemicals called catechins which are also found in green tea and boost metabolism. However, even dark chocolate contains sugar and fat so beware of over-consumption and eat in moderation.
