NUTS CAN HELP REDUCE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Described by some doctors as ‘natural health capsules’, a handful of nuts a day could cut your risk of heart disease by up to a quarter. So says a recent study from Harvard University of more than 200,000 people[i]. The researchers found that found those who ate walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans and peanuts two or more times a week were 23 per cent less likely to develop coronary heart disease and 15 per cent less likely cardiovascular disease.
The same amount of peanuts – which strictly speaking are a legume – also reduced the risk of the conditions by 15 and 13 per cent respectively. The benefits are thought to be down to the vitamins and healthy fatty acids found in nuts, which help cut down cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
MAGNESIUM FOUND TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE
If you have pre-diabetes, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes it’s especially important to keep blood pressure down. In a recent study from Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington[ii] people with these conditions taking a magnesium supplement significantly reduced blood pressure after just three months. Worth a try.
GETTING BACK TO NATURE CAN BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS
Up your happiness quota this Christmas by taking time out to appreciate the natural world around you. Lead researcher Holli-Anne Passmore, from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Canada, found that spending just a few moments every day noticing how things in nature make you feel will make you happier as well as boosting your overall well being.
SIGN UP FOR ‘DECEMBEARD’ AND SUPPORT BOWEL CANCER RESEARCH
Grow a beard for December and help raise money to fund the fight against bowel cancer. Already bearded? Just dye, ditch or decorate it to join the campaign. To find out more visit the bowel cancer website
[i] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.09.035
[ii] http://blogs.iu.edu/iusph/2017/08/17/study-shows-positive-effect-of-magnesium-on-blood-pressure/
