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News: July 2018

DELAY THE MENOPAUSE BY EATING OILY FISH

Oily fish could delay the menopause by up to three years. So says a study of 914 UK women aged between 40 and 65[i]. The researchers found those who ate more oily fish and beans and supplemented with zinc and vitamin B6 reached the menopause later compared with a group of women who ate more refined carbohydrates, like rice and pasta.

EATING MORE NUTS CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED ISSUES

A bowl containing a variety of nuts

More good news for nuts. Snacking on a handful a day (20g) could slash the risk of a slew of age-related problems, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as lowering risk of premature death by more than a fifth. So, says a new analysis of current research from Imperial College London and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology[ii]. A plentiful supply of fibre, protein, ‘good’ fats and a wealth of antioxidants is the secret, say the researchers.

A WEEKEND LIE-IN CAN UNDO DAMAGE OF POOR SLEEP IN THE WEEK

Woman hugging pillow whilst sleeping in bed

Missing out on a good night’s sleep can have a negative impact on our long term health but the good news is you can undo some of the damage if you have a lie-in at the weekend according to a recent Swedish study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. ‘The assumption is that weekend sleep is a catch-up,’ said the study’s lead author.   Meanwhile, if you are looking for a natural way to help you slumber the herb valerian could be the answer. Studies[iii] show that it can help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep as well as lengthening the time you stay asleep. Alternatively a mug of camomile tea before you go to bed can work wonders.

FROZEN ORANGE JUICE CONTAINS MORE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

A jam jar filled with orange juice surrounded by cut-up oranges

Strange though it may seem, drinking orange juice that has been frozen and then defrosted to room temperature or in a microwave may have more health benefits than the fresh or pasteurised stuff. The reason? According to a study carried out at Seville University[iv], deep-freezing orange juice can increase the bio accessibility of the carotenoids -beneficial compounds found in the juice -meaning they are easier for the body to absorb.

 

[i] Dunneram Y, Greenwood DC, Burley VJ et al. Dietary intake and age at natural menopause: results from the UK Women’s Cohort StudyJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Published online April 30 2018

[ii] https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/176317/handful-nuts-cuts-risk-wide-range/

[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4394901/

[iv] University of Seville. “Deep-freezing of orange juice can increase the absorption of beneficial compounds.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 June 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180611133520.htm>.

 

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