Want to beat stress? Live near the sea
Eating fruits can lower risk of breast cancer and regular intake of seafood can lower risk of age-related memory issuesstudies and research tips for a healthier you
High fruit consumption in youth can cut future risk of breast cancer
Eating a lot of fruits in adolescence can lower the risk of breast cancer in later years, a US study suggests. Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined a longitudinal study involving 90,000 women in the age group of 27 to 44 years. The participants’ food and drink consumption was recorded every four years from 1991 to 2013. The researchers found that three servings of apples, bananas and grapes in a day can lower the risk of breast cancer by 25% in later years. These fruits contain flavonoids and vitamin C which act as antioxidants and lower the risk of cancer. The study was published in the British Medical Journal. Read more here.
Living near the sea can lower stress
People living near the sea are less likely to experience mental stress, an international study suggests. Researchers from Michigan State University went through data gathered for a New Zealand Health survey which used the Krissler Psychological Distress scale to measure anxiety and depression in people through a questionnaire. The researchers used topographical data to assess the subjects’ proximity to the sea. The findings showed that living close to the sea promotes greater psychological well-being than living in a green neighbourhood but far away from the sea. Researchers believe it is because green areas include a lot of man-made green spaces, whereas a view of the sea is more natural. Read more here.
Regular intake of sea food can cut risk of memory loss in old age
Having seafood at least once a week can protect against age-related memory loss and decline in mental capacity, a Dutch study suggests. Researchers from the Wageningen University and Rush University Medical Centre enlisted 915 elderly adults without any history of dementia and divided them into two groups. People who had more seafood showed less decline in semantic memory (memory of verbal information), lower decline in a test of perceptual speed (ability to quickly compare letters, pictures, objects and patterns) compared to those who ate less seafood. Seafood contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acid which is considered good for the brain. The study was published in the journal Neurology. Read more here.
Lack of neighbourly support can up risk of psychotic behaviour in children
Lower social cohesion among neighbours and higher crime rates can increase the risk of psychotic symptoms in urban children, a study suggests. Researchers from Duke University followed 2,232 British twins from birth to age 12. Children’s psychotic symptoms at age 12 were assessed through in-home interviews. Psychotic symptoms include paranoid thoughts, hearing or seeing things that others do not, and believing others can read one’s mind. The researchers found that 12-year-olds in cities were two times more likely to experience a psychotic symptom than those living in non-urban areas. The study was published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin. Read more here.
City dwellers in poor countries face greater risk of diseases due to air pollution
People residing in cities face greater risk of stroke, heart disease and lung cancer due to increasing air pollution, particularly in many of the poorest cities in the world, a World Health Organization study warns. The study points out that global urban air pollution rose 8% from 2008 to 2013, and nearly all 300 cities in low- and middle-income countries had air-quality levels below World Health Organization standards. The air in these cities had high content of pollutants such as sulphates, nitrates and black carbon. Urban residents in poor countries are the worst affected as 98% of cities in low- and middle-income countries are in the danger zone. Read more here.
Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar
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