EATING THE MEDITERRANEAN WAY PROMOTES STRONG BONES
Here’s more good news for the Mediterranean diet which many experts tout as being one of the healthiest in the world. According to a recent German study women who eat such a diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil and whole grains, are less likely to suffer a hip fracture. The reason? It’s thought the nutrients in these foods may help protect against the bone thinning disease osteoporosis, the risk of which goes up after the menopause.
ANTIOXIDANTS HELP YOU STAY YOUNG
Want to hold back the years? Eat more vitamin-rich healthy fruit and veg suggests a recent Japanese study. Blueberries, beetroot, spinach, garlic and blackberries, for example, are packed with antioxidants, which are thought to help prevent or slow down cell damage and therefore ageing.
LYCOPENE LINKED TO PROSTATE HEALTH
Here’s some positive news for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. According to a recent analysis high levels of plant compounds known as carotenoids including lycopene are linked with less risk of having an aggressive form of the disease. Lycopene is found in tomatoes – especially when cooked – as well as in supplements.
ECHINACEA REDUCES INCIDENCE OF COLDS
Summer sniffled and sneezes can put a real damper on hot sunny days, but dosing up with echinacea could help to stop them in their tracks. A study from the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) supports the long-held belief that echinacea can help reduce the incidence of colds.
