2. A bar of dark chocolate could put a spring in your step
The health benefits of dark chocolate have long been established but one study has found eating dark chocolate helps over-60s with artery problems in their legs walk longer and faster. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association researchers found over-60s with peripheral artery disease (PAD) were able to walk better unassisted after eating dark chocolate, while milk chocolate made no difference.
Scientists suggested compounds found in cocoa, known as polyphenols, could reduce tissue damage, and improve blood flow in peripheral arteries. The dark chocolate consumed in the study had a cocoa content of more than 85 per cent, making it rich in polyphenols.
The improvements, although modest, were "of potential relevance for the quality of life of these patients", according to the study's co-author Dr Lorenzo Loffredo, an assistant professor at the Sapienza University of Rome.
3. Statins could reduce the risk of breast cancer
A major study has found a link between breast cancer and high cholestrol meaning that statins could be used to lower the risk of developing the cancer. An association between high blood cholesterol and breast cancer has been found in a study of more than one million patients over a 14 year period in Britain.
Dr Rahul Potluri, the study's lead author, said: "Statins are cheap, widely available and relatively safe. We are potentially heading towards a clinical trial in 10 to 15 years to test the effect of statins on the incidence of breast cancer. If such a trial is successful, statins may have a role in the prevention of breast cancer especially in high risk groups, such as women with high cholesterol."
The research was due to be presented at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology in Barcelona, Spain on Friday.
4. Tips on how to reduce your sugar intake
Laura Thomas offers her advice on how to lower your sugar intake following the recent draft report from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SCAN) urging people to halve their sugar intake. The tips come after parents were advised to only serve water with meals and ban fizzy drinks and juices from the dining table in order to reduce their children's intake of sugar by the Government's chief obesity adviser, Professor Susan Jebb.
One simple way to reduce consumption is by changing your taste preference for sugar in drinks such as tea and coffee. Maybe one teaspoon rather than two?
Other top tips include embracing savoury foods by trying different foods you may have not given a try before and to remember to be aware of total sugar (especially fructose).
5. Cheeky glass of wine at 14 could lead to binge drinking down the line
Early alcohol experience as well as risk and family history are just some factors that can be used to identify future binge drinkers. The issue becomes a growing problem with debates surrounding the price of alcohol in supermarkets, but now one study has found a glass of wine or beer at 14 could lead to binge drinking in later life.
From a large group of 14-year-olds, scientists could predict with 70 per cent accuracy who would be binge drinking by the age of 16 during the study, the results of which are published in the journal Nature.
Source : http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568612/s/3c2dfa24/sc/14/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Chealth0Chealthnews0C10A9462360CDrink0Elemon0Ejuice0Eeat0Edark0Echocolate0Eand0Ereduce0Eyour0Esugar0Eintake0Bhtml/story01.htm