Eating fish can help support your brain health
Fish is a great food for the middle-aged brain suggests recent research published in the journal Neurology[1]. In the study the researchers found eating salmon, sardines and other fish rich in omega-3 in your 40s and 50s resulted in a healthier brain structure and more agile thinking including the ability to understand complex ideas.
This adds more weight to the idea that most adults would benefit from at 2 servings of omega-3 rich fish a week. Nuts and seeds (such as flaxseeds, chia and walnuts and their oils) and fortified foods such as omega-3 eggs, and dietary supplements are other good sources of omega-3.
Drinking coffee could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Here’s more good news for coffee drinkers. Dinking two or three cups a day could help you to live longer and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease according to a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology[2].
The researchers found that the risk of an early death was reduced by 14 per cent in those who drank decaffeinated coffee, 27 per cent in those who drank ground coffee and 11 per cent in those who drank instant coffee, compared with non-coffee drinkers.
“Our findings indicate that drinking modest amounts of coffee of all types should not be discouraged but can be enjoyed as a heart healthy behaviour,” commented study author Professor Peter Kistler of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.
The secret of coffee’s benefits is thought to lie in the hundreds of plant chemicals it contains rather than its most famous ingredient, caffeine.
Menopause Matters: health checks for those approaching menopause
After a year-long inquiry, a report from the Menopause All-Party Parliamentary Group[3] is suggesting women in their mid 40s should be offered a health check as they approach the perimenopause (the years leading up to the menopause). This is when hormones start to decline and typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats start to kick in. The hope is this useful check will arm women with the right information and treatment options as they approach this important transition in life.
Meanwhile, there are several herbal remedies that may help to keep symptoms at bay. Try black cohosh for hot flushes, night sweats, low libido and anxiety, sage leaf extracts for night sweats and agnus castus for mood swings. In addition, a short course of St John’s wort may help to lift the spirits.
[1] Neurology, 2022 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201296
[2] https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwac189
[3] www.pslhub.org/learn/patient-safety-in-health-and-care/womens-health/all-party-parliamentary-group-on-menopause-inquiry-to-assess-the-impacts-of-menopause-and-the-case-for-policy-reform-conclusions-12-october-2022-r7898/
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